At regional meetings, representatives from across the Netherlands come together to exchange experiences and work on one central question: how can we make services for SMEs better, simpler and more effective?
One thing that keeps coming up is that entrepreneurs want to move forward. However, the support on offer is often fragmented, complex and not always easy to find. At the same time, there is a great deal of energy and willingness to work together to change this.
Within the SME Services Action Agenda, we are working towards three key objectives:
- Stimulating demand – entrepreneurs are thinking about the future of their businesses, and service providers are listening more closely to what entrepreneurs really need.
- Simplifying the range of support – making the range of support clearer and more accessible
- Improving collaboration between stakeholders in SME services – strengthening collaboration within an ecosystem of public and private service provision (entrepreneurs, service providers, public authorities and other partners) at national and regional level.
What is striking is that many regions face similar challenges. The urgency is felt everywhere, but so too is the opportunity. That is precisely why it is valuable to share knowledge and experiences and to learn from one another.
Now is the time to take decisive action. We are tackling this by:
- Not a new service point, but better links between existing services.
- Strengthening local business associations and business park associations as gateways to entrepreneurs.
- A robust regional ecosystem in which entrepreneurs can find the right support from service providers more quickly.
- Developing a blueprint for better collaboration.
Ultimately, the aim is to improve services with a view to better supporting entrepreneurs. This means that an entrepreneur with a query about, for example, staffing, digitalisation, AI, energy or growth does not have to search through dozens of schemes and organisations, but can find the right help more quickly.
To this end, we’d also like to hear about what’s going on in your business. Are you, as an entrepreneur, facing any challenges? Or do you have ideas on how support for entrepreneurs could be made smarter, simpler or more accessible?
Join us in this discussion, because together we can highlight what entrepreneurs need to move forward.
You can get in touch via:
Lifeport@: Kristie Lamers, Marlieke Marcussen,
Startclub Arnhem: Suzanne Ross
VNO NCW: Tjebbe Vugts, Chris Loris
The Economic Board: Jan van Dellen, Annemarie Rasing
