Istitutional Support System for Business Support Organisations in Poland

1. Istitutional Support System for Business Support Organisations in Poland Example of National Services Network for SMEs Artur Nowicki UNILOB Based on materials from Polish Agency for Enterprise Development

2. SMEs in POLAND • Over 3.000.000 registered SMEs • about 70 % of GDP generated in the enterprise sector • 7.000.000 employed

3. SME SUPPORT INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE IN POLAND NATIONAL LEVEL Polish Agency for Enterprise Development government agency responsible for implementing sectoral policy REGIONAL LEVEL Regional Financing Institutions (RFIs) one in each voivodship, cooperating with PAED in implementing national programmes managing implementation of regional programmes towards SMEs, "First Contact Points" for businesses seeking public assistance LOCAL LEVEL counselling, information, training and financial service providers with expertise in the SME area providing direct services to SMEs National SME Services Network (KSU) "LONG LIST" cooperating as a network of not-for-profit institutions Consultants/Firms audited & accredited accredited to perform services under specific instruments CONSULTING POINTS providing free of charge basic information to operating and start-up bussineses

4. BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS – their role in programme implementation • information and direct contact with potential beneficiares • advisory, coaching, training • individual and common projects strengthening institution / • system / network • managing implementation / evaluation, monitoring, etc.

5. NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK Services for SMEs: advisory training financial information KSU guarantees: integrated offer high quality of services business-friendly pricing policy easy access associates over 175 institutions

6. NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) 175 organisations registered in KSU, providing services in 182 localizatoins accross Poland: • 122 in area of general consulting services • 18 in area of consulting services focused on innovation • 156 in area of training services • 149 in area of information services • 9 in area of finance services– loan guarantees • 37 in area of finance services– loans as of 17 July 2007

7. NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) Network of organisations which cooperate and create asystem Main purpose of activities within the system is to enhance competitiveness of Polish SMEs by providing a complex offer of high quality services connected withentrepreneurial and business operations Register of organisationson the basis of the Law on establishing the Polish Agency forEnterprise Development and the decree of Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labour

8. NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) Criteria and conditions • providing services (at least one of 4 categories: advisory, training, information or financial) to micro, small and medium companiesand to start-ups • acting as a non-profit organisation or allocated profits to the objectives corresponding with the activities undertaken by the PAED • technical and economical capacity necessary for providing the services in the proper way • services provided by qualified experts • the quality management system according to the ISO standards • the rules of professional ethics, in the conduct of theiractivities

9. NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) What can be financed • coordinating and promotional activities for the KSU network (meetings, conferences, information brochures, informationservice – including information website) • maintaining of system for the exchange of information within KSU network (database, information sets) • preparation of model documentation regarding qualitymanagements systems; registering audits • participation of the KSU members’ consultants in the information and advisory sessions • support for institution running Consulting Points and for other institution for their individual projects • co-financing of services for entrepreneurs (grants for entrepreneur awarded in the open competition)

10. NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) What can be financed What can be financed for KSU members: • support for institution running Consulting Points network(subsidies for KSU members – awarded in the competitions) • the costs of remunerations of the consultants providing services in Consulting Points • support for other institution (subsidies – awarded in the open competitions) • costs of Regional Financial Institution connected with implementation of the regional programmes • co-financing of services for entrepreneurs (subsidies for entrepreneur awarded in the open competition)

11. NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) Sources of the financing of the KSU system: • Projects financed from the structural funds (ERDF) – since 2005 • State budget funds (until 2004 also subsidiary for the PAED) • PHARE programme sources

12. NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) 1996 -2005 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 KSU Accreditation KSU Registration

13. ACTIVITIES OF THE KSU NETWORK MEMBERS Number of Servicesprovided in 2005 The KSU Network members delivered in total 253 787 services: • 178 558 for SMEs (70%) • 9157 for start-ups (4%)

14. ACTIVITIES OF THE KSU NETWORK MEMBERS Number of clients in 2005 Total number of clients: 224 879, including: • 134 327SMEs (60%) • 23 663 start-ups (11%)

15. ACTIVITIES OF THE KSU NETWORK MEMBERS- SERVICES -Services in the categories provided in 2007

16. ACTIVITIES OF THE KSU NETWORK MEMBERS - CLIENTS - Clients in the target groupsprovided in 2007

17. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION