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project info
Start date: 1 October 2014
End date: 31 January 2018
funding
Fund: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Total budget: 1 357 682,64 €
EU contribution: 677 966,10 € (50%)
programme
Programming period: 2014-2020
Managing authority: Tillväxtverket
European Commission Topic

Young Digital Idea – Värmland

Communicare is a non-profit association that works to stimulate entrepreneurship, energy and motivation among young people. During 2011-2014 communicare ran the project Tillväxt Värmland, where the goal was for young idea-bearers to concretise ideas for sustainable business ideas and create growth in existing solo companies. In the project, 715 individuals were coached, of which 188 have started companies. An important part of the positive results has been local accessibility. In '14, a feasibility study “Young Idea Bearers” was conducted. It shows that there is a very small number of young people with an idea that takes it further into the counselling system. The main reason for not taking it further is lack of self-confidence. The second biggest reason not to take their idea further is that you do not get support from their surroundings. More women than men started companies in Tillväxt Värmland. This is the opposite of what you see in the kingdom. The project will look at why more women than men started companies and want to learn from the results. One will also look at the opposite, why didn't as many men as women started companies? The three parts of the main problem – The first part that needs to change is the attitude of what an entrepreneur is and what opportunities instead of obstacles to working on with an idea. The second part that needs to be improved is to make the support system (which communicare is part of) more efficient and clear. — The third part of the problem picture that has been observed mainly through the project Tillväxt Värmland is that young people do not choose to go to Karlstad to get support in an idea. As a result, Värmland is missing out on a large number of potential companies in case parts of the advisory system will not be more accessible outside Karlstad Municipality. Causes of the main problem – The pre-study Young idea-bearers show that in Värmland there is no tradition of taking advantage of young people’s ideas both in terms of the school’s side, as well as from parents and relatives. To some extent this is due to the use mentality of many of the county’s municipalities and a long tradition of a job “is the best solution” when it comes to making a living. — Young people don't know where to turn to get help to move forward with their idea and they think the support system is unclear. — The organisations working to help idea carriers are located in Karlstad, which means that the service is worse out in the county. Effects of the main problem The effect of the main problem is that many young people do not move forward with their idea and thereby lose Värmland growth in the form of start-ups and created jobs. The project’s overall goal – The number of companies is increasing in Värmland municipalities and thus contributes to creating more jobs which leads to more young people choosing to remain in their municipality of residence in Värmland. The project goal – More young people (16-35 years old) will choose to start a business in Värmland. The milestones – To reach young people with an idea out in Värmland municipalities and get them to participate in the project. Young idea carriers participating in the project will start a business. In order to achieve this goal, previous projects Growth Värmland have shown that it is crucial that the service for idea carriers exists in the municipality and that it is adapted to the needs of the local and individual. The project will have manned offices in the municipalities included. The office is staffed with an Idélots 1 day/week whose main tasks are outreach work and individual coaching. The structure of the individual coaching is guided based on the need for support from the idea carrier. The outreach work consists of a work of attitude change that contains two parts: 1, Implement attitude change campaigns that will have a local appearance. Highlight local entrepreneurs and, in a long-term perspective, change the view of idea/entrepreneurship. Attitude change will also be directed towards parents and close relatives. 2, Spread information about the project at different venues where you directly or indirectly meet the target group.

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