Företagsnätet EMPAG

Empowerment for partnership and growth

Dnr: A - 1997 - S - 509

Project Description/Background

This project was started at the initiative of four female business consultants in Jönköping, Sweden, hereafter called the co-ordinators. Through the very method they are teaching - empowerment and networking - they were able to mobilise financial resources, knowledgeable sponsors and enthusiastic participants in a very short time.

The application process started in February 1997. The project was finally approved by EU in December and the participants were recruited in early February 1998. The first meeting was held on March 2, 1998, which we consider the formal starting date of the project.

The project leader and representatives from the sponsors form a managing group with ten participants. The group meets six times a year. The meetings consist of information sharing and progress reports. Practical issues are discussed.

A larger group, called the reference group was also formed, which meets at less frequent intervals. The members of the managing group are included, and so are representatives from 15 other institutions. These are both private and public organisations, many of them explicitly aimed at supporting entrepreneurs. The reference group is both a support group, and a way to market and give legitimacy to the project to a wider community.

For details - names and addresses, see Local Partners.