STIMULATING AND SUPPORTING NEW BUSINESS IN IRELAND

New toolkit to promote entrepreneurship

By Joan Fahey, September 5, 2011

A new toolkit has been developed by the ITILEE Project to promote and encourage entrepreneurial activity. Initially developed on a pilot basis to support older people to return to employment or to start their own enterprise, the toolkit has potential for much wider application.

The main aim of the ITILEE Project is to transfer innovation between the partner countries in support measures for older people (aged 45+) who are not in the labour market. The project shared and developed innovative resources and training materials designed to address the barriers facing older people who are experiencing unemployment. There was a particular focus within the project on exploring inter-generational approaches through training and supporting older people to become mentors, and in helping older people to consider enterprise as an alternative form of employment.

The ITILEE project (Inclusion Through Inter-generational Learning about Enterprise and Entrepreneurship) was a transnational partnership project supported through the Leonardo da Vinci programme which is part of the European Union’s Lifelong Learning Programme. The project partners were Business Support Kent and The Gilfillan Partnership in the UK, WESTBIC Innovation and Management Centre in Ireland and Debegesa in Spain. The project ran from 2009 to 2011.

If you would like further information on this programme, please contact Seamus McCormack: smccormack@westbic.ie

Link to ITILEE Toolkit Download file