UK has active role in new EU Enterprise Project

The European Commission today launches an initiative to encourage new entrepreneurs to engage with Europe.

The ‘Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’ Programme will support over 800 placements for new entrepreneurs (of any age) to spend up to 6 months in another EU country to learn about culture and business opportunities there. The entrepreneurs will be paired with a local entrepreneur in what will be a two way exchange of knowledge and experience.

The pilot programme will run for the next 18 months and provide opportunities in most EU countries. The programme has created over 20 multinational partnerships involving Chambers of Commerce, Universities and business organisations to deliver the placements, eight of which have a UK member and two of which are being led from the UK. Partnerships, although managed separately, will work with each other to facilitate the exchanges with the help of the European Chambers of Commerce Organisation; Eurochambres.

The entrepreneurs, who will recently have started or be planning on starting a new business, will receive support for their travel and living expenses whilst abroad. During their stay they will be able to discover what opportunities exist for them to exploit and will also provide their hosts the chance to find out about UK business culture and trading opportunities.

Steve Moore of the University of Wolverhampton, which is leading the European project, said: “I am sure that I can speak for all the UK participants that we are excited with the chance to give UK new entrepreneurs the additional opportunity to think of their market as Europe, particularly in these difficult times.”

The development of the ‘Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’ programme has been keenly supported by the UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)

Further information

For media inquiries, contact Vickie Woodward in the University of Wolverhampton Media Relations Office on 01902 322736 or 07973 335112.