Abstract:

The aim of the research is to propose young entrepreneurs best practices in Europe to inspire and encourage young people to follow their innovative ideas and transform them into business. The study was performed within the ERASMUS+ Programme SPARK “Strengthening Entrepreneurial Sparks” project. The SPARK project aim is to develop entrepreneurship skills and competences of young people contributing in their education and employability possibilities.

The SPARK project addresses the difficulties of youths in moving their ideas into business due to a lack of knowledge in human, financial and societal capitals (OECD, 2012). The effects of the financial crisis (2008) have also had repercussions on young people in Europe and younger age groups suffered most the crisis (ILO 2014). Increase youth entrepreneurship could represent a possible path to integrate young people into labour market (Green, F., 2013). The decision to become an entrepreneur is complex and is determined by several factors that can influence the choice. A young person setting up a new business may provide demonstration of lessons learned and may act as a role model for other young people (Green, F., 2013).

SPARK project is focused on the exchange of best practices in entrepreneurship polices with the aim to develop and share a handbook among young people and encourage them to follow their innovative idea. To reach this goal a semi-structured interview has been administrated to 3 successful young (aged between 18 and 30) entrepreneurs in four-partner countries: Italy, Portugal, Greece and Turkey.

The semi-structured interview is planned in relation to the previous outputs of the project and in order to detect different aspects of young entrepreneurs.

Inventor and innovator, the idea of the entrepreneurs, background, working skills and obstacles are the topics treated during the interviews with the aim to identify the successful process of young entrepreneurs.

The handbook carried out in the SPARK project represents a framework to delineate promising recommendations for the potential young entrepreneurs with the aim to inspire and encourage young to follow their innovative ideas and transform them into business, drawing from the experiences and advices of other young entrepreneurs.

Keywords:

Best practices, young entrepreneurs, ERASMUS+.