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E.T.C. LAUNCHES "INT" ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME AND MENTORING SERVICES
27/09/2001
The Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) has launched today INT (IbdaNegozju Tiegóek), an Entrepreneurship Programme at a press conference addressed by Deputy Prime Minister Dr L. Gonzi and ETC Chairman Dr R. Tufigno together with Edwin Vassallo, Paliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Services. The conference was held at the ETC Valletta Training Centre.
Dr. Gonzi referred to this scheme as another core element of the European Employment Strategy which identifies entrepreneurship as one of the core pillars which make society more employable and adaptable to the changing labour market trends. Dr. Gonzi referred to the Joint Assessment Paper which has been drawn up between the Maltese Government and the European Commission and which is due to be signed next month. It refers to the need for Malta to increase the share of self-employed persons which is at a low 10.9% when compared to the EU. To do this, the Maltese Government has recognised the need to "encourage, reward and help develop entrepreneurial capacity, and to develop a more systematic approach to education and training for entrepreneurship".
While addressing the media, Mr. Vassallo highlighted the need for continuous training and development for small businesses and well as entrepreneurship skills to ensure competitiveness and market effectiveness. He said that training and development for business will be the main thrust of his secretariat’s efforts for the coming year.
INT – Ibda Negozju Tiegóek is a one-stop Entrepreneurship Programme aimed at promoting an enterprise culture among those clients who are interested in taking up self-employment.
The programme is a direct response to the rapid changes that are occurring
in the local and international labour markets. Among the salient needs are
the ever-growing imperatives of innovation, initiative and entrepreneurship.
The entrepreneurial start-up offers a challenge, and therefore ETC aims to provide advice and training to prospective entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the corporation aims to provide a Unit furnishing advice and assistance services to new businesses. This will assist new entrepreneurs in the running and development of their business.
Client Groups
The Corporation aims to provide a direct follow-up to those who are interested in starting their own business. ETC will primarily target unemployed aged 40 and over and women who seek to re-enter the labour market. But it will target university graduates, vocational graduates, women following ETC’s "Empowerment Skills Women" course, and individuals participating in ETC’s "Start Your Own Business" training programme. Each client group will be assisted through a specific programme tailor-made according to each group's needs.
What will ETC provide
| Training | The Corporation will provide training in all the different aspects of creating and managing small enterprises and not merely vocational skills and new technologies. It will, therefore, provide training in confidence-building and business skills. |
| ETC will also provide individual guidance as | far as possible. Although prior literacy and numeracy skills are important to a successful business start-up, ETC will assess skills of the applicants. It will also provide special practical sessions devised for those who, particularly, show a business sense. |
| Training will also cover legal aspects, | administrative regulations, subsidies and other incentives, social security provisions, preparation of a business plan and other important aspects for the creation of small enterprises. |
| Participants will also have talks and discussions | with instructors specialised in this field on safety and health regulations |
Marketing support
| As a business activity matures, ETC will possibly | provide assistance to cover sales outlets, and to establish linkages with larger establishments and possibly exporters. |
| Small enterprises can and often do render | services to larger production chains. Thus, support will include information and whenever possible assistance to link up with regular sources of supply and demand. Support will also include information on exhibitions and how to market the products and services of the self-employed. |
| Finance | At the end of the "During Start-Up" phase, applicants whose business plan is found acceptable will be recommended to move to the "After Start Up" phase. Eligibility depends upon trainees having obtained the necessary registration and licensing for their business proposals. |
| Those participants who are registered unemployed will | either receive an Enterprise Grant of Lm1000 or an Enterprise Allowance of Lm40 per week for 6 months. |
| The applicant will choose the type of finance from | the two above methods but if one opts for the grant of Lm1000 in full, then one cannot register as unemployed for 6 months from the date of receipt of the grant. |
| A participant, who is already employed, will receive | either a lump sum of Lm500, or an Enterprise allowance of Lm20 per week for 6 months. |
| The grants are paid to assist participants during the | "After Start-Up" phase of their business. This is when the trainees are consolidating their business and operational plans and will set them in motion. |
| When applicants are on training during the first two | phases of the Entrepreneurship Programme, they will not receive any form of financial support. But participants who are registered unemployed, who are already eligible to social benefits will not forfeit these benefits. |
| Mentoring | ETC will run this entrepreneurship scheme by initiating also finance and business mentoring on a voluntary basis. This will supplement the training programmes as no initiative can achieve its aims without incorporating principal disciplines. New entrepreneurs have to work with partners sharing the common aims of helping new entrants in the business world to succeed in building a sustainable livelihood for themselves. Mentors may be experienced and qualified staff running programmes and also persons who proved to become successful role models. There will also volunteer business people with various background including a number who started their activities from nothing. Mentors can offer voluntary business counselling on one-to-one basis; sharing of experience; skills transfer; facilitate networking and also offer hands-on training. They act, therefore, as coaches, counsellors, guides and colleagues. Mentors offer voluntary help because it has been proved internationally that a significant percentage of business initiatives create sustainable enterprises. Most participants consider they have learnt significant lessons through running their own business. The experience and knowledge that enhanced their employability will be passed on to mentees. |
| Also changing patterns of employment mean that | more young people can expect to be self-employed at some time during their life. Training on how to start up and develop a business, empowers young people to have a purpose and to builds self-confidence as well as esteem. |
| On average, a mentor will spend five hours a month in | contact with the new business entrepreneur either face to face or by phone. The mentor will observe progress and a monthly meeting will be held give advice, guidance, information and suggestions. |
| The counselling services will enable the mentees to | identify, scrutinise and solve problems encountered. On the financial side, the mentor will discuss any cash flow difficulties and help plan the growth and development of the business. |
| The mentor is not the owner of the business and he is | there to provide his mentees with objective and genuine advice. Above all the mentor motivates mentees to manage their problems, expectations and opportunities. Often the mentor is there also to help the new businessmen keep a steady head when the going gets tough. |
How will the Entrepreneurship Programme work?
| Participants will be selected after an | interview. Unemployed persons will be given preference but persons who are already employed will not be excluded. |
| The Corporation's Programme will be made up of three | phases: |
Pre-start-up
This phase is likely to last one month. Participants will be allowed to opt out of the programme at the end of this stage.
During start-up
This phase will last about three months. At the end of this phase, business plans will be assessed for feasibility by ETC. If found to be acceptable, then mentees will be recommended to continue the Programme.
After start up
This phase is likely to last six months.
- Unemployed participants stop registering and start their own business
- ETC will provide financial assistance Small business management training is continued through the strengthening of in-depth business and entrepreneurship skills
- Mentoring Consultancy Service is continued
- Outside non-ETC financial assistance if available
Childcare service
In order to encourage individuals, especially women to participate in the Programme, ETC will provide, free of charge, childcare services throughout the three phases of the scheme.
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