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Guidance supporting Europe’s aspiring entrepreneurs
Policy and practice to harness future potential

information on their website, or merely act as a referral agency to other specialist
organisations, while others provide an integrated service that combines several
different elements and types of support and guidance.
The service delivery models primarily consist of referrals to specialist
agencies, information provision or integrated support and guidance service
comprising several types of support and guidance. For example:
• in Denmark, Luxembourg, Romania and the United Kingdom, aspiring
entrepreneurs are referred to a specialist agency with no service provision
within the PES;
• in Spain, all information is provided on the PES website; the PES does not
provide any other services to aspiring entrepreneurs;
• in Finland and Sweden, a combination of one-to-one adviser support,
provision of internal training courses, written material on setting up own
business and referrals to specialist agencies are delivered;
• in Ireland, the service offer combines internal training programmes with
referrals to specialist agencies, whereas in Malta, training courses are
provided without the referral to specialist agencies.

5.2.3. Business support networks
Business support networks are run by national, regional and local authorities and
organisations such as ministries and other authorities with responsibility for
business or economic development, chambers of commerce, and business
organisations. Their primary goal is to help new business owners with finance
and grants, taxes, payroll and employment issues, sales and marketing, etc.
While their focus tends to be on technical and practical matters, they also help to
signpost entrepreneurs towards more specialist services, inform about
appropriate training opportunities and provide general advice. Many networks
also manage programmes of events for personal and business development.
Such activities can help entrepreneurs to network with potential business
partners and establish contacts with their peers.
Regional consultancy information centres (RCIC) in the Czech Republic offer
introductory advice free of charge to SMEs as well as business consultancy
services at a reduced cost. They provide assistance in drawing up business
plans and implementing projects, arranging bank loans and job creation. There
are 35 county and city enterprise boards (CEBs) in Ireland located throughout the
country. Their role is to provide support for micro-enterprises in start-up and
expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential
and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship locally. Similar business
support networks include Business Gateway in Scotland, Gründer-Service in

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