As MobiliseSME’s latest edition concluded after an impactful 32 months (from August 2020 to March 2023), the resounding success echoes through the collaborations of over 560 companies, creating a thriving network across the European Union.
Thus, more than 790 companies have become part of this expansive network, with over 560 actively participating in international collaborations, joint projects and training initiatives.
As a result, we have gathered 30 inspiring experiences that show the transformative impact of cross-border collaborations, which you can discover through the MobiliseSME Success Stories Booklet.
Looking ahead to new horizons
Although the latest edition of MobiliseSME is no longer open to new participants, as it was a pilot project that ended in March 2023, prospects for the future are already in motion.
For those European SMEs, self-employed, employees and CEOs eager to embark on a continuous journey of professional growth, knowledge exchange and international collaboration, here is your chance!
Express your interest – take the survey!
To gauge the interest and expectations of potential participants, MobiliseSME crafted a survey dedicated to those eagerly anticipating the next possible chapter of our programme.
By filling out this short survey, you are not just providing your insights; you are securing a spot to be among the first to know how MobiliseSME will continue and thus be able to take advantage of new cross-border labour mobility experiences.
What to expect
Currently, there is not an estimated date on what will happen in the next months. The project has certainly been a success, but internal discussions are taking place on how to better continue this initiative, if at all. However, your participation in the survey ensures you will be among the first to receive updates as news come up.
By participating in this survey, not only do you express your interest in joining the next MobiliseSME, but you also play a vital role in helping us design and tailor the programme. Your insights will contribute to the development of new options, ensuring it meets the needs and expectations of participants like you.
Stay involved and be part of MobiliseSME’s evolution!
Therefore, MobiliseSME is more than a European programme; it is a community committed to fostering growth, collaboration and labour mobility. As we venture into this exciting new phase, we extend our gratitude for your interest and engagement.
For any further inquiries or support, our team remains at your disposal. Your journey with MobiliseSME continues, and together, we look forward to exploring the boundless opportunities that lie ahead.
Thank you for being part of the MobiliseSME story!
At the heart of MobiliseSME lies a commitment to nurturing skills and fostering cross-border collaborations among professionals across Europe.
As an initiative launched by the European Union, MobiliseSME significantly contributed to enhancing the expertise and capacities of staff members from various companies, including employees, managers, and business owners.
Over the 32 months of its implementation, spanning from August 2020 to March 2023, MobiliseSME facilitated a remarkable 286 cross-border secondments involving 572 SMEs across different EU countries. These secondments have empowered CEOs, managers, and employees to exchange knowledge, refine their skills, expand their competencies, and explore new markets.
Yet, behind these impressive statistics lie numerous captivating personal stories that underscore the programme’s impact and the transformative experiences of its participants.
The Stories Behind the Numbers
We are thrilled to introduce the MobiliseSME Success Stories Booklet, a compilation of 30 inspiring narratives showcasing the remarkable achievements and diverse experiences of programme participants. These stories reflect the enriching journeys, learning opportunities, and professional growth that our participants undertook through their cross-border secondments.
The stories featured in this booklet serve as a testament to the success and positive outcomes achieved by those who have engaged in the MobiliseSME programme. These inspiring tales demonstrate the tangible benefits and real-world impact of cross-border mobility, highlighting the invaluable lessons learned, partnerships formed, and markets explored.
A Journey Across Borders
The Success Stories Booklet is thoughtfully organized, with stories categorized by country, allowing readers to explore and appreciate the breadth of experiences across different regions of the EU. From innovative business strategies to cultural exchanges, each story encapsulates the unique perspectives and contributions made by our participants.
This compilation serves as a testament to the power of cross-border collaboration and the transformative effects of international mobility. It reinforces MobiliseSME’s mission to empower professionals, foster innovation, and drive economic growth by facilitating cross-border exchanges within the EU business community.
OUR Role in the European Single Market
At the core of MobiliseSME’s success lies a powerful connection to the European Single Market. The programme’s achievements exemplify the opportunities available to companies and employees, allowing them the freedom to work, move, set up and navigate across the EU seamlessly.
MobiliseSME’s impactful cross-border exchanges not only drive professional growth but also reinforce the ideals of freedom of mobility for workers, collaboration, ongoing training, and coordination among EU member states at the heart of the Single Market, contributing significantly to its vibrancy and strength.
By facilitating this dynamic mobility, MobiliseSME actively supports the essence of the Single Market, enabling businesses and employees to thrive in a unified and interconnected Europe.
For a detailed overview and access to the Success Stories Booklet, please visit:
Explore these stories to discover the myriad ways in which our programme has positively impacted individuals, businesses, and European collaborations.
As we celebrate these successes, we invite you to delve into these narratives, celebrating the spirit of innovation, knowledge sharing, and collaboration that lie at the core of MobiliseSME!
– The MobiliseSME Final Conference highlighted achievements, barriers, and next steps for boosting SMEs competitiveness and enhancing employees mobility
– Experts, policy makers, and business leaders discuss challenges and opportunities for improving the EU Single Market
On 14 March, the MobiliseSME programme held its final conference in Brussels, gathering 76 attendees, among whom were representatives from different sectors to discuss the benefits and challenges of cross-border partnerships in Europe.
The event “SMEs’ Collaboration and Employee Mobility in the European Single Market” kicked off with the speech of Pablo López-Alvarez, President of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, the entity co-leading this European project.
Afterwards, the stage was taken by Lambert Kleinmann, Deputy Head Labour Mobility, Public Employment Services at DG EMPL, and Crispin Waymouth, Deputy Head Industrial Forum, Alliances, Clusters at DG GROW, who shared their insights on the opportunities that European partnerships offer to SMEs and their employees.
The conference continued with the MobiliseSME programme coordinators, Jose Enrique Val (Fundación Equipo Humano) and Noelia Sánchez (Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg), who presented the main results and challenges for the 3-year duration of the programme, and how they have been providing technical and financial support to companies and workers all across the EU.
Carlos Gil (CEO of Yepso!) and Cecilia Sobral (CEO of SPACE-A Food) also shared their experience as participants in the programme, and talked about the great achievements they have made thanks to MobiliseSME. During the discussion, it was highlighted that many companies were surprised at how easy it was to participate in MobiliseSME. The European Single Market was also mentioned as a key player in achieving transitions and promoting skills, with the European Year of Skills being a notable example. Soft skills were also discussed as an essential aspect of personal and professional development.
During the panel discussion “Business and Employee Mobility: Challenges and Future of the European Single Market”, the panelists Paolo Pasimeni (Deputy Head Chief Economist of DG GROW), Noelia Sánchez, Cecilia Sobral, and Jose Enrique Val, shared their experiences and expertise on the topic, and engaged in a lively debate on the future of mobility and professionalization of workers in Europe. It was also considered the importance of policymakers understanding the obstacles companies face when collaborating across borders or going international, and how to address and remove barriers that may arise.
Finally, the conference concluded with an inspiring discourse by Lambert Kleinmann, who offered a broad perspective on the current challenges and opportunities for the EU in terms of training, mobility and professionalization of its workforce. The need for further development of MobiliseSME in the future and linking it with similar programmes, such as Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs, were also discussed.
The MobiliseSME final conference brought together experts and practitioners to explore the state of cross-border mobility for businesses and employees in the EU. The insights and experiences shared during the conference can contribute to the ongoing efforts to strengthen and improve the EU Single Market, by promoting better access to new markets, enhancing cooperation between SMEs, and facilitating the mobility of workers across the EU.
By encouraging cross-border partnerships and knowledge-sharing, MobiliseSME aims to support the growth and competitiveness of SMEs in Europe and contribute to the creation of a more cohesive and integrated European Single Market.
Overall, the MobiliseSME Final Conference was a great success, offering valuable insights and networking opportunities for its participants, and paving the way for further business collaborations and partnerships in the future.
The event will take place at the Renaissance Marriott Hotel in Brussels, but will also be available online for all those interested in the topics to be discussed but unable to travel to the venue.
A MAJOR EVENT IN THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EUROPEAN SINGLE MARKET
For the last 2 years, the MobiliseSME programme has given more than 550 SMEs and their staff the opportunity to participate in cross-border secondments that have strengthened the skills of European SMEs’ and their employees.
The conference will focus on themes such as the added value of EU cross-border collaborations for SMEs staff and the achievements of the MobiliseSME programme, including success stories of employees, managers and CEOs.
Through a panel discussion, the conference will explore the challenges and future scenarios facing the European Single Market, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023, with representatives from DG Employment and DG Growth.
Topics such as employees’ skills, internationalisation, SMEs collaboration, coordination in the EU among Member States and the European Single Market will be at the centre of focus, with the presence of stakeholders from different institutions and organisations across the EU.
SPEAKERS AND FURTHER DETAILS
The MobiliseSME Final Conference will feature key people and organisations in the areas of SMEs and employees’ professional development in the EU Single Market.
Local Contact Points (chambers of commerce, incubators, business associations, and experts in workers mobility and business internationalisation at the EU level) from the MobiliseSME programme will also attend the event.
Moreover, the webinar will also be attended and presented by representatives of the two main branches of business and SMEs in the EU, concretely:
– A representative of Labour Mobility, Free Movement of Workers, EURES Unit from the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, DG EMPL.
– And a representative of the SME Internationalisation Unit from the Directorate- General of Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, DG GROW.
The Final Conference will be held in English.
AGENDA & REGISTRATION
You can check the full programme of the event here.
Below you can check the agenda of the MobiliseSME Final Conference:
– If you are going to attend the event on-site, you can register through this form.
– If you intend to attend the event online, please register here.
Janis Naglis and Arnis Melbardis are the sports director and technical director, respectively, at the football club FK Priekuli (Latvia), which has participated in MobiliseSME as a Sending Company. Hans Eklund is a Swedish former football player who is currently the academy sports director at Helsingborgs IF (Sweden).
Helsingborgs IF hosted FK Priekuli for 1 month in Sweden thanks to the financial support of MobiliseSME.
– Hi, Janis and Arnis! Please, tell us a bit about your organisation and your professional path. Why did you decide to participate in MobiliseSME?
We are a Latvian football club founded in 2005 in the city of Priekuli.
FK Priekuli started from a previous club, Lode, which played during 1995-2002 in Latvia’s 1st division and achieved great results.
We both work in education, and sports and health activities are main targets for our club. Also, youth development is one of our main missions.
On the other hand, we decided to participate in MobiliseSME to have a broader view, to get new partners in sports, as well as experience from one of the best football clubs and academies in Sweden.
We found out about MobiliseSME programme in an EU website for new entrepreneurs.
– How about you, Hans?
My company is Helsingborgs IF, a well-known football club based in Sweden that has been networking with other clubs and interesting people for many years.
Janis contacted us for collaboration and he told us about the MobiliseSME programme.
We had no idea this kind of collaboration was possible and we thought it could be a good idea to expand the partnership with the Baltic countries.
Our main target is to grow as a football club and stabilize our performance in the top division in Sweden.
We also thought that our knowledge about the Baltic countries wasn’t so good in terms of what we can learn from Latvia to develop in our organization.
– From a business point of view, how did the collaboration with the Host Company contribute to your club, Janis and Arnis? Would you repeat the MobiliseSME experience?
The collaboration with Helsingborgs IF gave our company-football club’s administrative staff experience in the field of football in many ways, such as how to organize work in a football academy and how to work in a professional way and make things happen.
In addition, we got new contacts, acquired new and useful skills and a lot of new insights.
We would recommend to participate in MobiliseSME because this experience gives you fresh ideas and can help you achieve your future goals.
Thus, we would repeat this business experience and will continue to collaborate with Helsingborg IF.
– And how has this collaboration helped your professional development?
We got good experience on how football grounds are managed in Sweden and how to improve our FK Priekuli club’s infrastructure.
We got to know what is necessary for an excellent stadium grass growing and everything related to having the best facilities to organise games and trainings in football fields.
As mentioned before, we got about 10 new contacts and a lot of new ideas about football ground maintenance, which we will put into practice in the future work of our football club.
After testing a lot of techniques, you get more experience and knowledge about which ones are working better to fit the best for football ground.
– And with which knowledge, techniques or information have you contributed to the Host Company?
We have provided a lot of information about how we work the football grounds in Latvia.
At the same time, we have improved our knowledge in grass growing, grass cutting, field airing, and a lot of things related to the football grounds and stadium infrastructure in Helsingborg.
We have also improved both our language and professional skills, as well as our knowledge on how football trainings and games are organised in Helsingborg.
Thus, now we know better how to work with fans and game organisation.
Lastly, we informed our club board members and our local sport school members about our collaboration and future steps. We also wrote a newspaper article about our experience!
– What about you, Hans? How do you think this collaboration contributed to your company and personal development? Would you recommend participating in MobiliseSME?
The main goal for us is to have a good connection in the Baltic countries, which is a new market for us in terms of partnership. For example, we could go to the Baltic countries for training camp and footballs tournament.
We will probably go for a scouting and recruitment tour next year, hoping to find new players for our club.
We also got fresh ideas on how to work effectively in our organisation with structure and planning.
On the other hand, we had a lot of discussions about developing work on pitches and what kind of machines fit to the result we wanted.
I am interested in new experiences and projects like the one MobiliseSME offers. However, maybe in our case this kind of programmes are too long.
As a Host Company you need to be available for contributing with activities and help the Sending Company with practical things, but you also need to deliver a good work in your daily life.
Moreover, as a Host Company you also have some expenses in order to be a great host, and we are a football club with a low budget for representation.
Nevertheless, I strongly recommend participating in the MobiliseSME programme for many reasons. In my case, mainly because of the networking, good structure and guidelines received.
– Do you plan to continue the collaboration after the experience with the MobiliseSME programme?
Janis and Arnis: Yes, we plan to collaborate with our Host Company in the future and organise training camps in Latvia for academy students.
We will also prepare friendly games in Latvia against Latvian football academy teams.
At the same time, we will try to organise coach and administrative staff exchange visit in Helsingborg and also perhaps in Latvia for the Helsingborgs IF staff.
Hans: We have spoken about training camps and the possibility to play football tournaments in the Baltic region.
Maybe we will go to Riga for a youth tournament, but it depends on which budget we will have.
For the time being, we have no activities planned up to date but we stay in touch in case something comes up.
In a 3-year vision we want to go to Latvia for getting to know the facilities and the market for football players.
In terms of structure and organisation, we can held a lot of online meetings. If we need to strengthen partnership once more, time will tell.
– Janis and Arnis, last but not least, did you improve your knowledge of mobility of workers within the EU after your participation in MobilisSME?
Surely, as a Sending Company we improved our knowledge of mobility of workers in the European Union after our participation in the programme.
MobiliseSME helped our football club’s administrative staff in the best way to make and plan future collaborations with some new partners and, of course, to continue collaborating with Helsingborgs IF.
We are very grateful that we could take part in the MobiliseSME programme!
We have had many success stories and best practices from all our participants, but we also want to hear from those who have not participated yet.
If you have any suggestions for the improvement of MobiliseSME, we would very much like to hear from you.
We want to make this programme an opportunity worth taking up for all SMEs in the European Union.
There are many benefits you can get from being part of our programme, and no disadvantages. Plenty of testimonies from various European SMEs, freelancers, self-employed and liberal professions endorse what we say!
Your opinion means a lot to us and to the future of this European cross-border labour mobility programme.
Because MobiliseSME does not end here and we do not want anyone to be left behind!
Isabella Mavellia is the CEO of GreenerEU, an SME based in Germany that has recently collaborated with Sergio Pascolo and his organisation, Venice Urban Lab, which has hosted GreenerEU for 6 months in Italy thanks to the support of MobiliseSME.
– Hello, Isabella, tell us a bit about your company and your professional path. Why did you decide to participate in MobiliseSME?
Our mission is to create a greener European Union. The defining task of our time is to address inequality and environmentally related challenges.
GreenerEU multinational team of experts is passionate about contributing to this dynamic, by providing education and guidance in the transition to a green and circular economy, with ecological, economic, and socio-culturally sustainable outcomes.
Hence all of our projects aim at using technology to create a bridge to the understanding of cultural heritage.
We decided to participate in MobiliseSME as Sending Company because it provides an excellent opportunity to work beyond national borders and create new strategic alliances for sustainable change.
I also wanted to be involved with Sergio, who recently published the book Venezia Secolo 21 and has a vision to create greener and more sustainable cities.
– How about you, Sergio?
Venice Urban Lab (VUL) is a non-profit association operating as an independent civic organization that deals with the sustainable transformation processes of the city with a holistic and multidisciplinary approach.
Alongside renowned European universities, institutions and organizations, VUL is an official partner of the New European Bauhaus and strives to tackle global challenges with local solutions.
We decided to participate in MobiliseSME as Host Company with the goal of international cooperation and deepening the opportunities of EU programmes.
– From a business point of view, how did the collaboration with the Host Company contribute to your company, Isabella? Would you repeat the MobiliseSME experience?
The collaboration with VUL was very beneficial and fruitful: it was a great chance to work alongside the professionals within the organisation.
The aim of our collab was to accompany professionals to realise their projects (both urban, architectonic, as well as project development).
Furthermore, our company was able to present our projects at the National Conference of Architects alongside with national ministers, professors, governmental representatives and professionals.
I would definitely recommend participating in MobiliseSME if the participant is willing and eager to explore, conquer new territories and markets, and is not scared to let the circumstances shape their growth and trust the process.
– Sergio, please, briefly describe the matchmaking process and the preparation of activities with Isabella. How did it go?
The mission of GreenerEU is an overarching goal that we share along with initiatives to encourage good practices in the direction of the green economy and overcoming inequality.
We knew each other before, during a previous MobiliseSME experience of Isabella in Venice. At that time, we checked possible synergies as we aim to promote the development of different economies to counteract the tourist monoculture that is leading to the depopulation of the city.
Supporting the artisan economy is one of the directions of the development that we are looking to increase.
– Isabella, how has this collaboration helped your professional development?
On the one hand, I was able to learn how to professionally communicate with institutions, governmental representatives and professionals in Italy.
Furthermore, I learned the legal and administrative processes in which architectonic projects are developed and how they are planned, thought and then carried out.
I really appreciated and had a lot of input from this experience!
– And with which knowledge, techniques or information have you contributed to the Host Company?
Being informed about the current EU funding schemes such as the Recovery Fund, the Next Generation and the Pact for Skills of the New European Bauhaus, I have contributed to the Host Company by informing and building awareness on current opportunities, such as funding and partnership activities.
– What about you, Sergio? How do you think this collaboration with Isabella contributed to your company and personal development? Would you recommend participating in MobiliseSME?
GreenerEU, through Isabella’s knowledge, proposed to do research in European programmes to support our initiatives in the field of education (longlife learning) and, in particular, the dissemination of Baukultur in citizenship.
I would definitely recommend the MobiliseSME programme. We would certainly repeat the experience since this collaboration enabled us to gain more knowledge of EU programmes and the potential for opening up virtuous international cooperation.
– Do you plan to continue the collaboration after the experience with the MobiliseSME programme?
Isabella: Yes, we would love to continue the collaboration from our side by creating EU projects together for sustainable living and youth involvement in shaping the future of Europe, by moving from theory to practice and knowledge transfer.
We are looking out for European grants, projects and opportunities; thus, we hope to create long lasting partnerships for the transition towards green, circular and sustainable economies.
The links and ties among actors and organisations is crucial for the success of this mission.
Sergio: The search for EU programmes to support our activities has been set. We want to continue collaborating to identify concrete programmes and results for our activities, as well as for the development of services.
Our focus on the theme of Baukultur, and the principles of the New European Bauhaus, require a holistic approach, since it concerns the quality of life and living.
This is a reason of universal interest, but it is still little known by citizens and city administrations. Thus, knowledge transfer is one of our goals to be pursued through further collaboration.
– Isabella, last but not least, did you improve your knowledge of mobility of workers within the EU after your participation in MobilisSME? Which role had the Local Contact Points in sharing this information?
Yes, most definitely we, as GreenerEU, learned many things about the mobility of workers starting simply by mobility and transport of train system and the discount schemes they have for frequent travellers for employees.
However, when I tried to receive an Italian health insurance card they informed me that, since I am a resident abroad and I do not have an Italian working contract, they couldn’t treat me as a resident, so I did not have the same rights to see doctors and, in case of need, I should directly go to the hospital. These problems should be tackled urgently at EU level to facilitate mobility and exchanges of workers within the EU.
On the other hand, this experience was a great chance to work internationally, which would have been very difficult without the practical information and the financial support provided by MobiliseSME through its Local Contact Points, which in our case were WKO and Forum AIC.
Myriam Dehmousis a freelance translator from France who has participated in MobiliseSME in order to collaborate withMarcello de Bartolomeo, Board Advisor in the company DBA Consulting srl, based in Italy.
Thanks to MobiliseSME, Myriam has spent 6 months in Rome working together with Marcello. We interviewed them to find out what benefits and results they have gained from their participation in our programme:
– Please, Myriam, tell us a bit about your company and your professional path. Why did you decide to participate in MobiliseSME?
I come from a linguistic background and have a master’s degree in Translation and Intercultural Communication.
I have been working as a freelance translator since 2019. I provide translation and revision services from English and German into French.
In addition, I specialised in institutional and redactional translation, whereby I mainly translate amendments to proposals for a directive, regulation or draft reports from the European Parliament.
For the past three years, I also translated many legal content, many product brochures and more creative content, such as exhibition leaflets and marketing materials.
I travelled a lot during my post-secondary education, whereby I had the opportunity to live in several countries for more than six months, namely in Germany, in the Netherlands and in Malta.
Self-employment has been allowing me to maintain this practice as I am not bound by any subordination link nor schedule.
However, this also means that, unlike my previous experiences abroad, I do not really have access to any institutions or companies when I travel nowadays, thus preventing me to capture the broader picture, educational and corporate institutions being cultural mirrors of everyday society. It is almost as if I could not merge with the country I am travelling in.
This is one of the main reasons why I decided to participate in MobiliseSME as Sending Company, not to mention the desire to start learning a new language and discover a new business sector for the purpose of vocational retraining.
I found about MobiliseSME programme through DBA Consulting’s team who saw an opportunity to deepen our collaboration.
– How about you, Marcello?
DBA Consulting was established in 2002 and currently is amongst the leading national providers of consulting services in the field of cross-border VAT payment & refund, excise duties recovery and management of posted workers in Europe.
In the first decade, our activity focused mainly on consulting road passenger transport companies, taking advantage of the experience gained by the collaboration with trade associations of national importance.
The continuous exchange of synergies with other professionals has allowed to steer the consulting activity also on other economic sectors, from industry to trade, services and the third sector.
We found out about this opportunity thanks to a webinar arranged by MobiliseSME on March 2021.
Our desire to take part in the programme as Host Company was driven by our intention to exchange experiences with young and dynamic new resources for our Italian office, and possibly set up a company branch in northern Europe when time is ripe, and the right entrepreneurial counterpart is found.
– From a business point of view, how did the collaboration with the Host Company contribute to your company, Myriam? Would you repeat the MobiliseSME experience?
As a freelance translator willing to gradually retrain, I gained a valuable business experience from my collaboration with DBA Consulting.
By helping the host company with linguistic matters, I surely acquired a sector-specific and broader terminology and phraseology that gives me the legitimacy to potentially specialise in the translation of tax-related content.
Furthermore, I gained practical knowledge that would facilitate my return to higher education or training in the field of VAT compliance, whereby I learned the difference between passive and active invoices, how to calculate VAT refunds, how to comply with the VAT recovery procedure in different EU countries and how to post workers in different EU countries.
Having the legal status of “self-employed”, I am entitled, under French regulation, to a VAT exemption as long as my yearly revenues do not exceed the relevant threshold above which I have to charge and pay VAT.
It seems that I am approaching this threshold and my stay at DBA has been a wonderful opportunity to understand the whys and wherefores of VAT and to apply the knowledge gained very soon.
I can only recommend participating in MobiliseSME as it provides a significative opportunity to discover a new country, a new language, and a new culture from the “inside”, allowing to link with people that one would have never come upon otherwise and to discover a new business sector on the practical level first, thus reversing the paradigm “first theory, then practice” which seems outdated.
This programme might be an enlightening passing experience for some, or a life-changing one for others, as our main common outcome with DBA is the opening of a France-based branch in the medium term.
– Marcello, please, briefly describe the matchmaking process and the preparation of activities with Myriam. How did the process go?
The matchmaking process was smooth and fast as we had already been collaborating with Myriam prior to our participation in MobiliseSME for around twelve months, but we did encounter some kick-off issues only with respect to our exchange preparation.
These mainly involved complications around the exchange starting date which were, however, readily solved by Forum AIC, our Local Contact Point.
We have originally contacted Myriam for sporadic collaborations as she presented herself as an experienced professional in the field of linguistic translation and interpretation.
Due to Covid-19, some company staff was dismissed leaving a technical gap for what concerns German foreign administrative practices.
We were immediately able to apply her linguistic services to our core business and uphold our collaboration, making us of her fiscal representation services for the primary purposes of having our clientele comply with social legislation in France (posting of workers certificates).
– Myriam, with which knowledge, techniques or information have you contributed to the Host Company? Which functions and responsibilities did you have during this collaborative period?
During this collaborating period, I can say with certainty that I did contribute to the host company by deploying my linguistic and documentary research skills.
DBA Consulting was facing some challenges with the German tax authorities and we managed together, and thank to my knowledge of German, to re-establish contact with the German tax office, allowing us to settle many issues resulting from misdeclaration or delays in the declaration due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We also managed to cut significative costs associated with the posting of workers.
During my stay, besides working on my deliverables that will serve DBA in the near future, I mainly assisted the team in declaring VAT in France, Germany, and Austria, which encompasses calculating the refundable VAT using a specific software, gathering all client’s invoices through DBA’s portal, inputting tax-related data into the relevant national declaration platforms and monitoring the adoption of new legislative requirements by countries.
– What about you, Marcello? How do you think this collaboration with Myriam contributed to your company and personal development? Would you recommend participating in MobiliseSME?
We can say with absolute confidence that our collaboration with Myriam, in particular in the framework of MobiliseSME, was indeed successful.
During her stay in our Italian office, she has mainly supported in establishing, maintaining, and facilitating communication flows between foreign tax authorities on behalf of our clients. She has contributed massively with improving our outdated VAT declarations filing mechanism through our company portal, as well as with modernizing tax refunds requests submitted to several administrations in the Benelux countries.
The benefits we obtained from our collaboration range from being able to offer better services to our clients to having earned potentially new ones, thanks to her geographical and cultural ties and links with foreign companies with whom we will establish future relationships.
For these reasons, we would most certainly repeat the MobiliseSME experience with her or other like minded professionals.
– Do you plan to continue the collaboration after the experience with the MobiliseSME programme?
Myriam: I do plan to further collaborate with Marcello and his company. As the deliverables show, there is a significant growth potential to harvest in France.
In fact, it is worth pointing out that France shares borders with Belgium and Luxembourg in the northeast, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy in the east, the Mediterranean Sea, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra in the south. Passenger road transport is therefore fairly well-developed, not to mention the high prices of rail transport that could lead, if not already, to a modal shift to road transport.
In the medium term, DBA’s team and I aim at establishing a branch in Paris, which would be wholly owned and controlled by the mother company in Italy – DBA – although it must be a distinct and separate legal entity fully able to operate and undertake legal obligations under French law.
The branch will take the form of a “succursale” that operates via a manager – me – subordinated to the mother company acting under his control and dependence.
Our strategy towards building up a customer base still has to be discussed. There is also a market in the sector of translation, whereby we could also offer translation services to foreign companies willing to establish themselves in France and needing several corporate documents to be translated. In that case, we would have obviously to look into ways of certifying our translations.
Marcello: As a matter of fact, we do plan to collaborate with Myriam after this collaboration and are already undertaking concrete steps in that direction, as Myriam previously mentioned.
The resulted branch could be particularly valuable in supporting the mother company in performing core activities, including development and consolidation of commercial relationship and recruit young and dynamic resources for the Italian office.
The participation in MobiliseSME only accelerated our intention to set up the company branch in Paris.
As project partners, we have equally concluded that the creation of the branch is a mutual favourable outcome. On our side, Myriam had appeared to be the right profile considering her previous work and professional experience, and we are wholeheartedly happy about the choices we made.
She has completely understood and internalized our corporate values and methodology, and has integrated with our staff and clients showing abilities to undertake responsibilities and meet all deadlines.
– Myriam, last but not least, did you improve your knowledge of mobility of workers within the EU after your participation in MobilisSME? Which role had the Local Contact Points in sharing this information?
I surely improved my knowledge of mobility of workers within the EU as I did not know – before participating in MobiliseSME – that an Erasmus-like programme for small and middle enterprises existed.
CCI Nouvelle Aquitaine, the French Local Contact Point, fulfilled its basic role, although there had been a lack of communication at the beginning, whereby I was awaiting a written confirmation of my participation, which I did not receive, leading to my delayed departure. As the host company and I were very flexible, this was not detrimental to our collaboration.
MobiliseSME’s website, including testimonies of former participants, was also a great source of content that helped me understand the whys and wherefores of this programme.
This time we bring you the interview with two of our SMEs participating in MobiliseSME, belonging to the sustainable tourism and audiovisual industries.
Andrej Curk, owner of the Slovenian SME Videoprodukcija, Andrej Curk s.p., has participated in MobiliseSME as Sending Company.
Read on to find out how their time at MobiliseSME went and what benefits can be gained from joining forces between these two fast-growing industries!
– Please, Andrej, tell us a bit about your company and your professional path. Why did you decide to participate in MobiliseSME?
My company actually provides three services to three different consumer groups: independent video production, agency collaborations and wine wellness equipment supplying.
I was already part of another international project led by the Slovene intermediary organization (BSC Kranj) when I was acquainted with the MobiliseSME programme.
Thus, I had a good experience and trusted the project manager’s judgement – it was an easy decision to participate in MobiliseSME!
I chose to participate in the programme because I have always been drawn to international collaborations and working experiences, and I saw it as a great opportunity to do and see interesting things abroad.
– How about you, Barbara?
Since 2012, I am an entrepreneur in tourism with a special focus in green hospitality and sustainable tourism.
I am also participating in marketing of Turrium Heritage Apartments in Kaštela, where we are implementing sustainable materials and zero waste concept into architecture and everyday business.
I have 10 years of experience in working with tourists from all over the world, which is helpful in marketing and communication. I also have several years of experience with journalism, as I was performing my job in Bologna, Italy.
In addition, I am an expert in decoration for photography and videography.
I decided to participate in MobiliseSME to gain new knowledge and fresh ideas from a professional videographer, to join forces in filming and decoration, to increase the visibility of Turrium Heritage Apartments and to prolong the season from summer months to all-year round.
My business partner, who works for the largest platform of sustainable accommodations, had mentioned the MobiliseSME programme to me and put me in touch with Andrej. This is how our collaboration has started.
– From a business point of view, how did the collaboration with the Host Company contribute to your company, Andrej? Would you repeat the MobiliseSME experience?
My business has acquired new contacts that could potentially turn into new clients regarding video production.
I, as an employee and the company’s representative, have gotten priceless experience of conducting international business and another aspect of customer service.
I would absolutely recommend this experience to everyone as it broadens your horizons and encourages you to think outside the box.
I think we like to think that cross-border or international collaborations are difficult, complicated or sometimes even impossible, but initiatives like this change that mindset into normalizing going international.
As far as repeating the experience goes, I would also love to further participate. At the moment, I am in the process of registering for a MobiliseSME exchange as a Host Company.
On the other hand, the main results and benefits obtained include a promo video to be used in the next tourist season; lots of materials for social media posts and ads; development of soft skills (mostly customer-related); improvement of networking skills and two new actual clients.
– Barbara, please, briefly describe the matchmaking process and the preparation of activities with Andrej. How did the process go?
During the matchmaking process we were communicating via Zoom and WhatsApp.
Andrej prepared the activity plan based on our discussions, needs, desires and future plans.
Basically, he was searching for a Host Company in charge of sustainable accommodation, in order to learn videography tactics for eco hospitality.
My goal was to practice interior decoration, as well as to participate in video scripting and video editing to refresh my knowledge obtained during my work in Bologna.
– Andrej, how has this collaboration helped your professional development?
As I have been the one to bring knowledge regarding promotion and multimedia, I have found to evolved most in the tourism aspect of the experience. In short, I have evolved and improved as a tourist service provider.
The experience also gave me another insight into their services, which I will be able to implement into my own service of supplying wine wellness equipment.
That also includes a higher level of communication with higher-end eco-tourism clients and the option of expanding our services into marketing said eco-tourism.
I have been granted lots of networking and, consequently, potential business opportunities.
– And with which knowledge, techniques or information have you contributed to the Host Company? Which functions and responsibilities did you have during this collaborative period?
We have provided audio-video support to their marketing campaign efforts, combined with software development implemented in the new webpage design.
Therefore, we were crucial in making their marketing materials and, by that, in acquiring new clients for the next season.
We have led an entire set and recording session, which resulted in providing existing and potential customers with proof of high-quality accommodation and added value the Host Company possesses.
We have developed their knowledge and skills in digital and social media marketing, communication, niche marketing, storytelling, while applying the green tourism angle to all of it.
– What about you, Barbara? How do you think this collaboration with the Sending Company contributed to your company and personal development? Would you recommend participating in MobiliseSME?
My collaboration with Andrej resulted in an authentic script for video that enhanced Turrium Heritage Apartment market differentiation and positioning in the green hospitality industry.
We also created an innovative video based on creative storytelling and improved digital marketing by targetly promoting the video towards the segment of responsible travelers.
Andrej gave me new ideas based on green tourism scheme in Slovenia and recommended some of the accommodations in Slovenia for our benchmarking.
I would definitely recommend participating in MobiliseSME and repeat this business experience!
– Do you plan to continue the collaboration after the experience with the MobiliseSME programme?
Andrej: Yes, we are planning to further expand the offer and to prepare for another season. However, we do not have a definite plan yet as it is still in the talking stage.
Barbara: Yes, I am planning to collaborate with the Sending Company also after this collaboration by continuing filming videosand decorating interiors/exteriors for different tourism providers in Split Dalmatia county and Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
It was a great collaboration, full of positivity and new ideas. We really enjoyed the entire process, so thank you for this lovely opportunity!
– Andrej, last but not least, did you improve your knowledge of mobility of workers within the EU after your participation in MobilisSME? Which role had the Local Contact Points in sharing this information?
Yes, my knowledge of possibilities regarding the mobility of workers within the EU has absolutely expanded.
It all seems much easier now; such experiences let you know that we do not need to confine ourselves to our area and stay “inside the box”.
Finding new opportunities suddenly does not sound scary anymore, especially in tourism, as it is very international because of the nature of the business itself.
Our Local Contact Points, BSC Kranj and TERA Tehnopolis, had a crucial role in the whole process, since they were so kind to share all the necessary and additional information needed to open our eyes to all the options, helping with the bureaucracy and easing the transition.
Yepso Solutions SL is a training company that aims to help people pass the EU competitions and get a job in the institutions. It uses technology and educational tools of its training programme to help the candidates boost their performance.
Carlos Gil, CEO of Yepso!, knew about MobiliseSME through a collaborating entity. From a couple of years, the company wanted to explore distance learning, but it could not advance in this field due to various circumstances.
However, the pandemic was the perfect scenario to fully use the potential of distance and online learning – Carlos and his team thought MobiliseSME could be a great opportunity to find a business collaboration to implement it.
Yepso! knew very well Mondeguitta Produçoes (the Host Company) and their projects due to the great work with online videos that they do.
HOST COMPANY
Sociedade Unipessoal LDA, commonly known as Mondeguitta Produções, is a company that provides audio-visual communication services to companies at a global level.
They focus on help companies building strong relations with potential clients through videos, humanising the essential tools to achieve effective communication.
Mariana Figueira da Silva, CEO of the company, found out about MobiliseSME through Yepso! (the Sending Company).
They thought MobiliseSME could be a great experience to obtain a holistic vision of the EU market; to favour their introduction in other countries, such as Spain and Belgium; as well as to enter to a market niche they were interested in: audio-visual communication linked to e-learning training.
Activities developed
Both Carlos and Mariana, with all the team of Mondeguitta Produções, collaborated developing a successful online course that will help Yepso! implementing a distance learning platform.
First, Yepso! adapted the script following the recommendations of Modeguitta Produções team and, after they did some translations –all contents were recorded in English–, they finally proceeded with the video recordings.
In addition, Yepso! contributed to the training course with the technical knowledge and the training materials.
In this process, they implemented some new innovative techniques and got familiar with very specific audio-visual components related to the area of training.
MAIN RESULTS
– Skills gained for Yepso!: Management tools obtained, recording skills, teamwork skills and language skills (B1 in Portuguese).
– Skills gained for Mondeguitta: Video-recording innovative techniques and audio-visual components specific in the area of training.
– Number of new countries covered: Spain, Portugal, and EU countries.
– New services created/improved (Yepso!): Training online course – distance learning course in English.
– New services created/improved (Mondeguitta): Audio-visual pilot of a training programme.
Type of collaboration
– Research and collaboration to find possible clients in foreign markets;
– Development of new products and services;
– Training and knowledge transfer.
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