It was announced today that Business group Dublin Chamber has launched Eurostart, a new free online practical training programme for startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Eurostart is a European-wide partnership between Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, Hungary and Poland, designed to develop core competencies in young companies and entrepreneurs.

The Eurostart programme will provide companies with training modules across core six business areas that are recognised as being essential for developing and growing a successful business: financial and economic literacy, leadership and initiative, intellectual property rights, project management and planning, creativity, and cooperation and team-working.

The online Eurostart course, funded by the European Commission, is made up of a number of modules, allowing participants to complete at their own pace. Once the course has been completed, participants receive a Europass Certificate – a credential recognised throughout the EU.

The new Eurostart programme was launched at an event in Dublin Chamber’s headquarters in Dublin, where attendees received advice from experienced entrepreneurs about how they have grown their businesses and expanded in to international markets.

Commenting on the programme, Dublin Chamber’s Head of Operations & Member Services, Linda McNulty said, "Dublin Chamber’s aim is to help entrepreneurs and startup operators to flesh out their knowledge and skills base. It’s very common for the founders and managers of early stage companies to lack expertise in certain areas."

She added, "Through initiatives such as Eurostart, we’re aiming to help them to fill those gaps. The Eurostart programme is designed to help participants get to grips with what can be tricky areas to navigate such as communication skills, self-development skills and, perhaps most crucially, management skills."

Source: www.businessworld.ie