Grants of up to €6,600 are available to early stage entrepreneurs in Ireland under the 2014 ‘Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’ business exchange initiative.
Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Local Enterprise Office Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown launched the initiative today.
Under the International Business Exchange Programme, an entrepreneur intending to start a company or having just started one, can get first-hand, practical coaching from an experienced entrepreneur from another country, by working alongside him or her for one to six months.
New entrepreneurs receive a grant from the European Union for their stay abroad.
The programme is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 65, with around 30 grants up for grabs before February 2016. Entrepreneurs interested in the programme should contact Dublin Chamber or Local Enterprise Office Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, who will help with the process.
Making ideas real
“Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a fantastic initiative that will give participants a unique opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues so that their business ideas can become a reality,” explained Aebhric McGibney, Dublin Chamber’s director of Public and International Affairs.
“Host entrepreneurs will also benefit significantly from the exchange. They can make use of the particular knowledge the young entrepreneur brings, profit from the entrepreneur’s energy and talent, and also explore new markets abroad.”
Since 2009, more than 1,600 exchanges have been organised under the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, with some 3,200 businesses having been created or expanded.
Gerry Delaney, managing director, Kendlebell, who hosted a new entrepreneur from France for three months in 2013, said the programme opened new doors to his business.
“The real long-term value of the programme is to establish a relationship with someone from another country who can help you develop your business overseas,” Delaney said.
“The entrepreneur got great experience working in our company and experiencing first hand all the tasks, roles and responsibilities that come with running your own business. In return we got a young person who was keen to work and learn and we found this brought more to our team. We are looking to partner with another entrepreneur in 2014.”
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