Why it is important to know the entrepreneur?
Introduction
The following chapter is addressed to business advisers and business coaches to help them understand the profile of the entrepreneur in terms of skills and background but also to learn BA how knowing the entrepreneurs will support them to implement AE methodology.
The idea of this section is to present the main findings identified in the State of Art’ review on Entrepreneurship support by pointing out the profile of entrepreneurs from a marginalized group, as it resulted from the research undertook in each partners' country.
Background and context
Between November 2018 and June 2019, the ACCESS partners developed a research and consultation document that included best practices examples, desk based research and analysis, and consultation with members of marginalized groups and policy makers. Besides, seeking to identify the main support provisions, within partners’ countries, the research was designed to inform Business Advisors/Coaches about the training modules that will be developed as part of the second intellectual output “Training Modules and Resources for Business Advisers/Coaches working with people from Marginalized Groups.”
The aim of the research was:
- To identify current business start-up support provision within the partners' countries, to understand the additional training, support and information needed for Advisers to better support people from marginalized groups;
- To understand the barriers people from marginalized groups face in accessing mainstream business start-up and entrepreneurship support services;
- To assess the type of support and methods of delivery which would empower, enable and support people from marginalized groups to develop business ideas and self-employment opportunities.
This European Research Report was composed of two parts: firstly, a review of the National context related to entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs from marginalized groups and secondly, the key findings from consultation research based on semi-structured interviews with business advisers and people from marginalized groups.
The activities undertook by the ACCESS partnership, for the first part of the research were the following:
Activity 1. The current support provision and gaps within the provision for entrepreneurs
This analysis showed that there are entrepreneurship programmes in all countries with special attention to marginalized groups, with specific programmes for migrants specifically in the UK and Spain. In the UK and Portugal support is free to marginalized individuals.
Activity 2. Best Practice Examples Around Business Support, Entrepreneur Education and Associated Tools
The results of this research directly informed the development of IO2,“Training Modules and Resources for Business Advisers/Coaches working with people from Marginalized Groups.”
All entrepreneurship support schemes offer support as follows:
Activity 3. Desk based research into the current demography of entrepreneurs from marginalized groups. This research aimed to understand the demography of entrepreneurs by categories of age, race, gender, disability, cultural identity, and sexual orientation.
Activity 4. Analysis around the local growth sectors
This activity aimed to establish the local economic growth areas within each partner territory, using sources as: Countries Statistics Portals, National and local portals of Enterprise, Research portals
The second part of the European research report explored more in details the profile of potential entrepreneur through several consultations with business advisers and entrepreneurs from marginalized group within each partners country.
According to BA starting a business represents a long process involving specific skills, and knowledge. Entrepreneurs need passion, motivation and willingness to undertake risks. A desire for independence and a strong sense of initiative, leadership, critical and creative thinking, strong communication skills and emotional intelligence are characteristics of a successful entrepreneur.
The following additional elements were considered important by Business advisers for supporting the marginalized groups:
Creation of a friendly learning environment |
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A strong ethical dimension to give honest advice on the viability of the person’s business idea |
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New and innovative teaching methods appropriate for the group |
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Coaching - specially to boost the self-esteem of the entrepreneur and in helping them to set goals |
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Networking with service providers of marginalized groups so that they are provided with all support they need (language courses, ICT skills, soft, accounting skills) |
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Success Stories from other marginalised groups as a way to motivate and inspire them for the entrepreneurship |
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Intercultural and multicultural skilling of the business adviser and mentors |
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Wider practical support (e.g. housing, benefits advice.) |
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Other characteristics of potential entrepreneurs that arose from this research are related with their perception about themselves as persons who lack experience, appropriate training and knowledge about how to develop a business plan from the start to the end funding, as well with the fear of failure. Taking into account these problems and obstacles, it becomes clear that people of marginalized groups have specific and increased needs for training and counseling support.
The research offered a valuable perspective of how the entrepreneurship is perceived in the partners country and helped us to respond to some major questions: What is the country supports for people from marginalized group? Where is more needed to intervene? What are the needs of people from the marginalized group? Why entrepreneur's profile is important?
In conclusion, the research has shown that entrepreneurship can be a viable and effective solution to self-employment for people from a disadvantaged background, but nevertheless, more flexible learning pathways (training, mentoring) and business advisers equipped with tools to support vulnerable, group are required.