Blog

Resilience is key to overcoming setbacks, uncertainty, and the daily challenges of running a business. In this blog, communication expert Emma Ewing and well-being coach Tammy Barter break down what resilience means, why it’s crucial for success, and how to build it – so you can make better decisions, stay motivated, and tackle tough situations with confidence.

Colombia is quickly becoming a go-to destination for entrepreneurs, thanks to its prime location, booming economy, and talented workforce. Ready to dive in? Here are 5 must-know tips from our local business experts to launch your dream venture in Colombia.

Krill Design, a start-up in Milan, turns food waste into 3D printed, stylish homeware. Discover their inspiring journey and get 5 insider tips on how to incorporate eco-design into your business.

Embedding sustainability into your daily business operations is not only beneficial for the environment, but can also improve your brand reputation, reduce costs, and attract socially conscious customers. In this article, we’re sharing 5 strategies that will help your business become more sustainable.

Intellectual property is a powerful tool that can help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) thrive in a fierce business world. Small businesses drive innovation, job creation, and economic growth. Yet, many of these ventures face a common hurdle: the lack of resources and know-how to protect their valuable intangible assets. Join us for a conversation with Christina Deyl, Internationalisation adviser for Enterprise Europe Network Hessen, as she shares her insights on how to make the most of your intellectual property.

As clean beauty is reshaping the cosmetics landscape, Four Starlings – a family-owned soap-making business in Poland – emerged as a rising star in the industry. We talked to Grzegorz Sienkiewicz, Managing Director of Four Starlings, and Anna Wrzesińska, Chief Specialist for International Cooperation at Podlaska Regional Development Foundation and Business Adviser at the Polish branch of Enterprise Europe Network, to find out how the Network helped the company grow into an international success.  

In 2018, a group of Greek farmers created Proud Farm Group of Farmers to drive sustainable sheep and goat farming forward using new technologies. The Network’s business advisers at ANKO Western Macedonia – Organisation for Local Development helped the company reach its ambitious goals.

Finnish entrepreneurs Veera Ylikotila and Jenni Hakkarainen set up Xeraliving in 2020. Their bold mission is to contribute to a sustainable and transparent interior design industry through items that combine the versatility of natural materials with sleek contemporary style. Working with local and European manufacturers, they produce home accessories and small objects, all with practicality and sustainability at their core. Enterprise Europe Network offered the young company advice on outsourcing, building international networks, and finding new business partners. Hanna Riski, Senior Adviser at the Network partner Business Finland, met with Veera Ylikotila, co-founder of Xeraliving, to share with our readers how they worked together to achieve success.

What is sustainable architecture and how can it help designers, architects, builders, and clients minimise harmful energy consumption and pollution? Katarína Jelenáková, Manager for International Cooperation and Support of SMEs at the Network partner Slovak Business Agency, interviewed architect and structural engineer Martin Pribila, the creator of the 'Krtkodom' concept – an alternative housing solution using less land mass and energy and creating a healthy biophilic environment for its inhabitants. Remarkable in its simplicity, the 'Krtkodom' is a thriving business that makes a serious case for a greener life.

Small businesses in Europe are under more strain than ever before. The ravaging war in Ukraine – adding to a dramatic slowdown in China’s economy, the pandemic, and the climate crisis – is rocking global supply chains, affecting industries from semiconductors to food. In this period of disruption, enhancing the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to bounce back from crises is crucial for Europe's rapid recovery.