1. Module No 6: Building Capacity in Rural Micro-Enterprises
MICRO: Enhancing Competitiveness of Micro-enterprises in Rural Areas
Module No 6: Building Capacity in Rural Micro-Enterprises
Prepared by the Consortium for the project: “Irish Rural Link – National University of Ireland Maynooth- CDI – EEO GROUP SA- IHF asbl – IDP - Internet Web Solutions SL”

2. Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Overview
How many slides?
18 slides in total
How long to read and listen?
12 minutes (not including exploring the links provided within slides)
What is the benefit?
See aim and expected learning in following slides

3. Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Unit Aim
This unit aims to outline some strategies rural micro-enterprises can use to co-operate and collaborate.

4. Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module you will be able to:
How to collaborate as a micro-enterprise
Know the benefits of collaboration
Know different models of co-operatives
How Networks can facilitate collaboration

5. How can micro-enterprises collaborate to address issues or gaps
Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
How can micro-enterprises collaborate to address issues or gaps
What are the issues and challenges?
What is the benefit of collaborating?
What do you want to achieve?
Any existing networks that can meet the needs?
Potential for sub groups within existing networks?
Any micro-enterprise support or resource organisations that can meet these needs?
Type of collaborative structure that best meets your needs?

6. Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Why Collaborate?
The purpose of collaboration is to create a shared vision and joint strategies to address concerns that go beyond the agenda of the particular group’s members
Models of collaboration
content/uploads/2012/09/MODELS-OF- COLLABORATION-BG.pdf

7. Issues outlined by rural micro-enterprises
Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Issues outlined by rural micro-enterprises
More networking events to enable people to meet each other, share ideas and be inspired by the creativity and innovative ways of others
Importance of building networks in rural areas so that they can exchange information / services and learn from each other
Training for clusters of similar companies
Micro enterprises often need a cooperative umbrella under which to shelter and thrive

8. Comments from rural micro-enterprises
Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Comments from rural micro-enterprises
“Opportunity to build current network of skills:
-businesses to bring elements together and
provide platform for them to meet and
provide each other with services,
learn from each other and network
The sum of the whole would be substantially more than the sum of the parts and lead to economies of scale”

9. Comments from rural micro-enterprises
Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Comments from rural micro-enterprises
We need networking skills and networking training
Clustering of similar rural enterprise - to reduce cost in purchasing etc
Transport opportunities for small service providers
Distribution is a major problem for rural companies
There are many empty shops here- there could be a gallery/craftshop of local goods to connect us to the customer
Industry specific training topics could be offered as many of the training topics are too broad as they are trying to cover aspects for all different types of businesses.

10. How can micro enterprises collaborate to address SME gaps
Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
How can micro enterprises collaborate to address SME gaps
Co-operative Transport and distribution?
Collaborative marketing and promotion?
Shared spaces – empty buildings – enterprise hubs
Co-operative/clustering training
Sector and industry specific collaboration / networks
Co-operative purchasing (reduce costs if buy in bulk)
Build networks to support and learn from each other
Co-operation to enhance competitiveness

11. Co-operative Structures
Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Co-operative Structures
The Role of Co-operatives in Business
Co-operative - A coalition of small enterprises that combine, coordinate, and manage their collective resources P.3
Many types of co-operatives such as user co-operatives, co-operative banks, business co-operatives, workers' co-operatives (or producer co-operatives), and European co-operative society. Focus here on business related co-ops

12. Business Co-operatives
Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Business Co-operatives
Business Co-operatives - the members run their own businesses. The main types of business co-operatives are: 
agricultural co-operatives (farmers belong to the co-operative), 
co-operative fisheries (made up of professional fishermen), 
co-operatives of small business-owners (they organise services in common), 
co-operatives of haulage contractors (the members are haulage contractors),
co-operatives of retailers (independent shop owners are members of a group)

13. Producer Co-operatives
Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Producer Co-operatives
Producer co-operatives or workers co-operatives are the only co-operatives where the members are the employees, who are majority shareholders. This group comprises workers' co-operatives, known as Scop (Société coopérative et participative), and business and employment co-operatives (coopératives d’activités et d’emploi), which support business start-up. 

14. Multi-Stakeholder Co-operatives
Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Multi-Stakeholder Co-operatives
Multi-stakeholder co-operatives – comprise various stakeholders who have a shared objective and always include the employees and clients of the business. These are co-operative social enterprises, known as Scic (Société coopérative d’intérêt collectif or community-interest co-operative).
More on Multi-Stakeholder Co-operatives

15. Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Business Networks
A Business Network is a complex network of companies, working together to accomplish certain goals.
Networking is cooperation among firms to take advantage of complementariness, exploit new markets, integrate activities, or pool resources or knowledge to achieve economies of scale or address common problems. (Berkley and Henry -2007:315)

16. Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Business Networking
Business Networking is a socioeconomic business activity by which business people and entrepreneurs meet to form business relationships and to recognize, create, or act upon business opportunities share information and seek potential partners for ventures. (
Tips for successful business networking

17. Strategies for Enterprises Co-operating
Training Networks
Training networks are groups of private sector businesses, in the same sector and/or region that have come together to carry out training-related activities that may not be possible on their own.
Member businesses, and their employees, are directly involved in the identification, design, delivery and evaluation of training.
Training Network model –

18. Thank you for your attention 
End of Module
Thank you for your attention 