Independence for SPARK Business Start-up Centers in South East Europe
Since April 2007, four SPARK funded Business Start-up
Centers (BSCs) in South East Europe have assisted local start-up and newly
created businesses with consulting services and business plan competitions. These BSCs, located in Bitola (Macedonia), Bar
(Montenegro), Zenica (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and Kragujevac (Serbia) are now
becoming self-managed centers. From
January-February of 2010 these centers will be independent, with SPARK assuming
the role of a donor, solely providing technical assistance, when requested by
the BSCs. SPARK will also continue to supervise the shared regional Southeastern
European Business Start-up Network (SEBSN) project activities.
The BCSs provide consulting services, training opportunities
and financing for business ideas in order to encourage entrepreneurship and
spur job creation in the region. Between 2006 and 2009, 11,500 people have
participated in business skills training at the BSCs, including a fifth center
in Kosovo, creating over 750 jobs.
During this period 800 business plans have been submitted and 260
start-up and/or existing businesses have received consulting, finance and
registration assistance. Furthermore, 30 start-up and existing businesses have
been offered incubation space and services through the BSCs.
The SEBSN BSCs in South East Europe also join a fifth,
already independent, Business Center in Kosovo attaining
self-management. All
five BSCs are financed by the Government of the Netherlands
international
development funding.
The BSCs will now be independent entities and have the power
to manage their centers according to the needs and visions identified in the
local communities, and by the Steering Boards (former BSC Coordination
Committees) , that will take ownership of each local entity. The Steering
Boards consist of public, private and educational institutions that all have a
vested interest in supporting job creation initiatives.
SPARK is proud to announce this latest development and has
great faith in the locally installed Steering Boards and their aim to
continue
and offer business development services in their communities.
Picture: BCS Zenica - one of five newly independent BSCs
South East Europe Business Start-up Network 
Since April 2007, four SPARK funded Business Start-up
Centers (BSCs) in South East Europe have assisted local start-up and newly
created businesses with consulting services and business plan competitions. These BSCs, located in Bitola (Macedonia), Bar
(Montenegro), Zenica (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and Kragujevac (Serbia) are now
becoming self-managed centers. From
January-February of 2010 these centers will be independent, with SPARK assuming
the role of a donor, solely providing technical assistance, when requested by
the BSCs. SPARK will also continue to supervise the shared regional Southeastern
European Business Start-up Network (SEBSN) project activities.
