Finland selects its candidates for the European Enterprise Promotion Awards: Business Lande and Startup Refugees will compete for the Award

The winners of the Finnish competition for the European Enterprise Promotion Award are the Business Lande project, which promotes entrepreneurship among young people in rural areas, and the Startup Refugees entrepreneurship programme, which supports asylum seekers, refugees and other immigrants in the path towards work, entrepreneurship and skills development.

The winners of the Award will be announced in November 2023. The first prize will be awarded to the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurial initiative in Europe.

Business Lande encourages entrepreneurship in rural areas

Central Finland has made efforts to promote entrepreneurship among young people in an innovative way. The Bisnes Lande project of Leader Viisari operating in the area promotes entrepreneurship among young people by bringing together young people interested in entrepreneurship and young entrepreneurs from different municipalities. They have a business team (Bisnestiimi) that anyone under 29 years of age interested in entrepreneurship can join. In addition, the project has established the Bisnes Academy network of regional development entities, educational institutions and municipalities to carry out experiments and events that promote entrepreneurship among young people. 

A key innovation of the project is the use of purchased services to support young people in their first stages of entrepreneurship. In this way, young people can learn about the sales process, pricing and invoicing in practice, as well as gain references for the future.

Inclusive Startup Refugees entrepreneurship programme

The Startup Refugees entrepreneurship programme provides participants information, skills and an approach towards entrepreneurship with the help of training, market validation, business advice and events. Training provides information and develops an entrepreneurial attitude. Business advice provided in several languages and channels promotes the development of business ideas and companies established on a more stable basis. The events improve the entrepreneurs’ understanding of customers, marketing and sales skills and grow their networks. 

One example of the project’s innovative work is the participation of people belonging to the target group in the planning and implementation of a culture-sensitive and multilingual entrepreneurship programme. In 2021, the first fund to support the entrepreneurship of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers was a by-product born out of the project.

Inquiries:
Jaana Valkokallio, Contact person for the national competition, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 064 932
Päivi Hakkarainen, Project Coordinator, Leader Viisari ry, +358 40 542 1432 
Sanna Kiuru, Managing Director, Leader Viisari ry, + 358 400 418 055
Aicha Manai, Managing Director, Startup Refugees, tel. +358 44 555 3220