Regional Government creates "Business School" to support entrepreneurship, self-employment and local development - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Qualificação Profissional e Emprego

The Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Vocational Training and Employment, has just created the "Business School" to support entrepreneurship, the creation of self-employment and the development of the local business fabric through the creation of micro and small companies.

This new measure is aimed at unemployed people who have completed their basic education (9th grade), recent graduates (with a qualification equal to or higher than level 4) and trainees who have completed their traineeship less than six months ago. Participants will receive a monthly training grant corresponding to the Social Support Index, explained Maria João Carreiro today.

The Regional Secretary for Youth, Vocational Training and Employment spoke at the "Business School" presentation session at the Anfiteatro Restaurant in Ponta Delgada. According to her, this new measure, promoted by the Regional Directorate for Vocational Training and Employment, will be launched by the end of 2023 with a pilot project in the municipalities of Nordeste, São Miguel Island, and Praia da Vitória, Terceira Island.

The "Business School" is structured in three phases.

In the 1st phase (Business Idea), the goal is to train participants in essential areas of entrepreneurship and business start-up, through specific, tailor-made training, brainstorming sessions with companies already established in the market, diagnosis of local needs and preparation of a business idea to be presented to a jury that will include, among others, a member of the local community.

In the 2nd phase (Business Project), participants will be challenged to draw up a business plan that is economically and financially viable, and likely to promote the self-employment of participants.

In the 3rd and final phase (Opening a Business), financial support is granted to micro and small businesses that, having been implemented following the previous phases, have started their activity and created the self-employment of participants. The support corresponds to 18 times the Minimum Monthly Wage in force in the Region. It can be combined with other investment support, such as the "Young Investor" and "Small Business" measures, which are part of the new Construir 2030 Incentive Scheme.

"Different problems require different responses," Maria João Carreiro said, adding that this new measure includes technical and financial support and "incorporates, entrepreneurship, self-employment and the development of the local business fabric in a single formula." As she highlighted, it also contributes to the "establishment of the population in the most rural municipalities and areas, in addition to promoting social and economic cohesion."

The selection of participants in the "Business School" will be carried out by the training entities involved in this measure, namely in phases 1 and 2, in conjunction with the Training and Employment Centre.

The "Business School" presentation session also included a discussion on entrepreneurship and self-employment creation with João Rocha, founder of The Barbershop by João Rocha, Paula Rego, founder of Queijaria Furnense, and Inésia Pontes, Executive Director of Cresaçor. The session was moderated by Nuno Gomes, Regional Director for Vocational Training and Employment.

The event was attended by the heads of the Regional Office of ANAFRE, Manuel António Soares, President, and José Leal, the President of the Azores Agricultural Association, Jorge Rita, the Regional Director for Youth, Eládio Braga, the President of the Board of Directors of the Azores Qualification Centre (CQA), Acir Meirelles, and students attending the CQA and the Azores Tourism Training School.