Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

Europe

Co‑operatives^UK has teamed up with co‑operatives and other business organisations across Europe to launch an exciting pilot project which will enable 800 new entrepreneurs to spend up to six months in another EU country to learn about culture and business there.

'Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs' is a groundbreaking project, financed by the European Commission, involving all 27 EU Member States. It will provide new entrepreneurs of any age with the opportunity to work with an experienced entrepreneur in another EU country for one to six months, to acquire relevant skills for managing and growing a small or medium-size enterprise.

To find out more and to apply to take part in the programme go to the online application form on the main website

The programme uses specific language and abbreviations as follows:

• New entrepreneurs (NE): New entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs who are firmly planning to set up their own business or have already started their business within the last three years. The business can be in any sector. NEs must demonstrate a sound educational and vocational background and a viable business idea.
• Host entrepreneurs (HE): Host entrepreneurs are experienced entrepreneurs who own or manage a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise.
• Intermediary organisation (IO) - Co‑operatives^UK is listed under UK as an IO

The online form should be self-explanatory but below is an example of the type of information requested for NEs (and similar for HEs)

• Contact details: title, last name, first name, organisation name, address, postal code, city, country, phone, email;
• Motivation: expectations, CV, business plan, previous business experience etc
• Languages: mother tongue + languages spoken
• Business sector(s)
• Countries in which new entrepreneur (NE) would like to go
• Duration: the NE and host enterprise (HE) can indicate when they would like to begin the exchange and how long it should last
• Selection: NE and HE have to select the intermediary organisation (IO) - in this case this would be UK, then Co‑operatives^UK
• Summary of the information given: the NE - HE is asked to confirm the registration and receives an email with a weblink to confirm registration

You can download a "User's Guide" pdf document which will provide further information including the subsistence rates relating to each country

A short flyer is also available for download.

For more information about the programme please contact:

Petra Morris,
Projects and New Ventures Officer
Co‑operatives^UK
Holyoake House
Hanover Street
Manchester M60 0AS

Tel: 0161 246 2960
Fax: 0161 831 7684
petra.morris@cooperatives-uk.coop