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

Executive summary

Introduction

Entrepreneurship has never been more important than it is today. The current
complex and insecure economic environment requires individuals with
capabilities for solving new problems through independent and responsible action
(Mittelstädt and Cerri, 2008a; Volkmann et al., 2009). Qualities, such as
creativity, problem-solving and a spirit of initiative, can be useful in all aspects of
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work and daily life (European Commission, 2004b) ( ). Europe’s competitiveness,
innovation and economic growth depends on being able to produce future
leaders ‘with the skills, attitudes and behaviour to be entrepreneurial and to act at
the same time in a socially responsible way’ (Volkmann et al., 2009, p. 42).
The European Commission and Member States have been working together
since the 1990s to develop an entrepreneurial education and training agenda in
Europe. However, to date no studies have been undertaken on the role of
guidance in supporting entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial education. This
Cedefop study aims at better understanding how guidance supports
entrepreneurship learning and contributes to the development of entrepreneurs’
career management skills.
The aims of the study were threefold:
• to illustrate and assess the role of guidance in supporting entrepreneurship
learning in initial vocational education and training (IVET) and higher
education (HE);
• to examine the availability and role of enterprise start-up guidance and support
for IVET and HE students;
• to analyse the availability of guidance and other support to develop career
management skills of aspiring and novice entrepreneurs.
The study covered the European Union (EU) countries, plus Iceland,
Liechtenstein and Norway.

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( ) Note: From here on, an abbreviation EC will be used to describe European Commission when it
is referred to as a source.

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