SPARK IGNITE: Entrepreneurship & Business Training in Kosovo

by Dragan Tomić

In the first half of 2013, the Business Startup Centre Kosovo (BSCK) organized Entrepreneurship and Business Trainings for youth who are ambitious to start up or expand a business. To create awareness about these trainings, the BSCK implemented a nationwide promotional campaign., that included distribution of flyers and application forms in major towns by the public relations team, social media, and an online campaign in the largest news portal in Kosovo.

The campaign generated more than 270 applications for Entrepreneurship and Business Trainings, of which, BSCK selected only 160 applicants with innovative and sustainable business ideas to attend the trainings in 4 locations, namely in Prishtina (2 groups), Prizren, Mitrovica and Drenas. In each location, the BSCK cooperated with local partners, such as the International Business College Mitrovica, in Drenas with the Municipal Assembly and in Prizren with NGO ATA.  157 participants received a certificate for successfully completing the four entrepreneurship and business modules, namely Entrepreneurship and Business Strategy, Marketing and Market Research, Business Finance, and Business Plan Writing.

The BSCK also organized Career Development Trainings, two day training, for students and fresh graduates all of universities in Kosovo. 227 students attended this training in Prishtina and Mitrovica (IBCM students). This training included CV writing, job interview skills and writing cover letters for job applications. As an outcome of this training, each student submitted a CV at the end of trainings.

The Best Innovation Business Idea training was organized by BSCK in cooperation with STIKK.  This three day training included Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Marketing and Social Media, and Business Planning.  18 students attended this training, while only 13 were certified.

From Entrepreneurship and Business Trainings and Best Business Innovation Idea, 86 participants submitted a business plan. These plans underwent an evaluation by an independent jury. Only 22 business plans were approved by the jury. These approved business plans are eligible to apply to the Business Support Package of BSCK that includes loan with 5% interest, free consultancy hours, membership at the Kosova Chamber of Commerce and networking with national and international businesses.

*Dragan Tomić is the Programme Manager and Head of the Mitrovica SPARK office