Conference Programme

09.00-10.00 Registration 10.10-10.20 Introduction to the conference programme and the main goals of the conference 10.20-11.00 Opening speeches: The importance of operational crisis Ms. Gabriele Fischer, chief editor of “brand eins”, the most progressive economic magazine in Germany Small Business Advice: Key Messages from Research Dr. Kevin Mole, lecturer at the Centre for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises at the University of Warwick, UK 11.00-12.30 Crisis intervention: What works and what doesn’t – panel with representatives of organisations being active in this field (EVERS & JUNG, Germany; ADIE, France; Business Debtline, UK; FACET/SEON, The Netherlands; Un Sol Món, Spain, Unternehmer in Not, Austria)

Success factors and challenges – what are the most important factors?
Financing – how to raise funds for a crisis prevention programme?
Efficient communication channels
Methodological approaches - which ones suit your client best?
Questions and discussion

12.30-14.00 Lunch 14.00-14.30 Mini Meetings with practitioners: Exchange your Know-how within five minutes time 14.30-16.00 Workshops – you in the focus!

How to get a hold on all the data? Efficient technical tools to support a crisis intervention service
What makes a good adviser? Human resources for crisis inter-vention schemes (recruiting, as-sessment, training)
How to motivate your client? Activating advice techniques
How to build up a positive relationship with your loan-client? Crisis intervention for bank and microfinance clients

16.00-16.30 Coffee break 16.30-18.00 Plenary session with policy makers: The role of micro-entrepreneurs in contemporary society and policy actions Questions and discussion 20.00 Social Event

News

European Handbook available

The European Handbook U-Turn: Towards Business Success is now available for download in English, German, French and Spanish! click here

Conference is over!

The "U-Turn: Towards Business Success" conference is over! More than 100 participants attended the conference which was held on Thursday, 20th September at the chamber of crafts , Hamburg. We like to thank all those who took part!

Final conference

Reserve some space in your schedule: The final project conference will take place on the 20th of September in Hamburg. For details, please click here. No costs involved for participation.

Microempresa en Acción starts its services

Microempresa en Acción, the pilot of Fundació Un Sol Món, successfully started on the 27 of February 2007. The service consits of telephone advice (inbound and outbound) for entrepreneurs having received a microcredit from the savings bank Caixa Catalunya.

Three new best practice partners:

The circle of the project team is once again broadend: Zuidweg & Parters (The Netherlands), the Ondernemersklankbord (The Netherlands) and Associaciò de Mentors i Emprenedors (Spain) have joined and raise the number of best-practice partners up to 13. Presentations of our new best practice partnes will be on-line soon.

First pilot project starts its operation:

With SOS-Ondernemers of FACET/SEON, the first pilot project in the frames of the project is set up. The mulichannel approach of FACET will include a website with tools and worthwhile information, an email-consultancy service and telephone advice.