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Service offering: Small Business Project Inc. will assess, design and start-up programs devoted to suppliers and subcontractors who work with multinational corporations; also referred to as the “Small Business Linkages Program”.
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The Small Business Linkage Program is based on the philosophy that it makes good business sense and on the understanding that the corporate sector has a role to play in supporting the growth of the small business sector, i.e. "business growing business". Business linkages are mutually beneficial commercial relationships between profit-driven companies. A Small Business Linkage Program, as implemented by the Small Business Project Inc. is, while maintaining the profit motive, in essence a development mechanism to promote the growth of indigenous small firms, ultimately affecting the development of the local economy. Small Business Linkage Program consists of: (1) Suppliers and Subcontracting Assessment, (2) Program Design, (3) Accessing working capital for supplier programming, and (4) Communication Strategy |
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The multinational's/regional company's first task is to identify both a local corporate champion that will lead other partner corporations, and small business opportunities within the supply chains of corporations. For that, a long process of building trust is necessary. This applies to both corporations and SMEs who have to be identified, assessed and introduced to each other. |
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Then the company, acting as a capacity builder, establishes a Business Linkage Center/Catalyst, whose role is to facilitate linkages between local corporations and small business through various techniques (accreditation of SME suppliers, running of a Buyers Forum, identification of support services, etc). |
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It is crucial that linkages programs are located within a supportive environment. It is the role of the Small Business Project Inc. to facilitate a specialized supportive environment characterized by new learning, new approaches and appropriate institutional and individual competencies, and in which all the role players are able to perform their tasks effectively. |
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In short, the Small Business Project provides the expertise to establish the linkage project and to ensure sustainability and growth. Projects are typically three years, after which the Business Linkage Centre/Catalyst should be able to enhance local economic development without the input of the company | | |
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Snezana Selakovic, Manager, Zlatibor d.o.o., Regional SME Development Agency, Serbia
"SBPI has gently helped us to identify our strengths and weaknesses and has encouraged us to plan out and to visualize a five-year strategy for our Agency. The most important is that SBPI has shared with us their positive energy and has empowered us to become more self-confident in order to remain an important change-agent and a catalyst for SME development in the Southern Serbia/ Zlatibor region. In some instances, SBPI has opened our eyes, and we would like to extend our gratitude.” |
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Melanie Webb, General Manager of Sol Fitness Adventure (www.soladventure.com)
“SBPI was instrumental in providing the guidance needed to get Sol started. Although I consider myself to be a talented young professional, I lacked the confidence and support to turn my dreams of owning my own business into reality. Working with a mentor from SBPI felt as if I had a partner, someone who cared as much about Sol’s success as I did. I was instilled with inspiration and motivation from our very first meeting.
One vital component that I needed was the financial realities of running a business. After my mentor ran the financial analysis we realized that our original service, the backpacking trip to Utah, was not going to produce enough revenue to be profitable. The company was barely breaking even. With SBPI’s guidance, we added more services that would create additional revenue streams throughout the year.
Investing in a business mentor from Small Business Project was the most important step taken to launch Sol Fitness Adventures. The value was priceless!”
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