1. Unilob – Artur Nowicki Istitutional Support System for Business Support Organisations in Poland Example of National Services Network for SMEs Artur Nowicki UNILOB Based on materials from Polish Agency for Enterprise Development

2. Unilob – Artur Nowicki r Over 3.000.000 registered SMEs r about 70 % of GDP generated in the enterprise sector r 7.000.000 employed SMEs in POLAND

3. SME SUPPORT INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE IN POLAND CONSULTING POINTS providing free of charge basic information to operating and start-up bussineses National SME Services Network (KSU) cooperating as a network of not-for-profit institutions audited & accredited "LONG LIST" Consultants/Firms accredited to perform services under specific instruments LOCAL LEVEL counselling, information, training and financial service providers with expertise in the SME area providing direct services to SMEs REGIONAL LEVEL Regional Financing Institutions (RFIs) one in each voivodship, cooperating with PAED in implementing national programmes managing implementation of regional programmes towards SMEs, "First Contact Points" for businesses seeking public assistance NATIONAL LEVEL Polish Agency for Enterprise Development government agency responsible for implementing sectoral policy

4. Unilob – Artur Nowicki BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS – their role in programme implementation information and direct contact with potential beneficiares advisory, coaching, training individual and common projects strengthening institution / system / network managing implementation / evaluation, monitoring, etc.

5. Unilob – Artur Nowicki NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK associates over 175 institutions Services for SMEs: advisory training financial information KSU guarantees: integrated offer high quality of services business-friendly pricing policy easy access

6. Unilob – Artur Nowicki NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) 175 organisations registered in KSU, providing services in 182 localizatoins accross Poland:  122 in area of general consulting services  18 in area of consulting services focused on innovation  156 in area of training services  149 in area of information services  9 in area of finance services – loan guarantees  37 in area of finance services – loans as of 17 July 2007

7. Unilob – Artur Nowicki NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) Network of organisations which cooperate and create a system Main purpose of activities within the system is to enhance competitiveness of Polish SMEs by providing a complex offer of high quality services connected with entrepreneurial and business operations Register of organisations on the basis of the Law on establishing the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development and the decree of Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labour

8. Unilob – Artur Nowicki NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) Criteria and conditions providing services (at least one of 4 categories: advisory, training, information or financial) to micro, small and medium companies and to start-ups acting as a non-profit organisation or allocated profits to the objectives corresponding with the activities undertaken by the PAED technical and economical capacity necessary for providing the services in the proper way services provided by qualified experts the quality management system according to the ISO standards the rules of professional ethics, in the conduct of their activities

9. Unilob – Artur Nowicki NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) What can be financed coordinating and promotional activities for the KSU network (meetings, conferences, information brochures, information service – including information website) maintaining of system for the exchange of information within KSU network (database, information sets) preparation of model documentation regarding quality managements systems; registering audits participation of the KSU members’ consultants in the information and advisory sessions support for institution running Consulting Points and for other institution for their individual projects co-financing of services for entrepreneurs (grants for entrepreneur awarded in the open competition)

10. Unilob – Artur Nowicki NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) What can be financed What can be financed for KSU members:  support for institution running Consulting Points network (subsidies for KSU members – awarded in the competitions)  the costs of remunerations of the consultants providing services in Consulting Points  support for other institution (subsidies – awarded in the open competitions)  costs of Regional Financial Institution connected with implementation of the regional programmes  co-financing of services for entrepreneurs (subsidies for entrepreneur awarded in the open competition)

11. Unilob – Artur Nowicki NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) Sources of the financing of the KSU system:  Projects financed from the structural funds (ERDF) – since 2005  State budget funds (until 2004 also subsidiary for the PAED)  PHARE programme sources

12. Unilob – Artur Nowicki 199619971998199920002001200220032004 NATIONAL SME SERVICES NETWORK (KSU) 1996 -2005 KSU Accreditation 2005 KSU Registration

13. Unilob – Artur Nowicki The KSU Network members delivered in total 253 787 services: 178 558 for SMEs (70%) 9157 for start-ups (4%) ACTIVITIES OF THE KSU NETWORK MEMBERS Number of Services provided in 2005

14. Unilob – Artur Nowicki Total number of clients: 224 879, including: 134 327 SMEs (60%) 23 663 start-ups (11%) ACTIVITIES OF THE KSU NETWORK MEMBERS Number of clients in 2005

15. Unilob – Artur Nowicki ACTIVITIES OF THE KSU NETWORK MEMBERS - SERVICES - Services in the categories provided in 2007

16. Unilob – Artur Nowicki ACTIVITIES OF THE KSU NETWORK MEMBERS - CLIENTS - Clients in the target groups provided in 2007

17. Unilob – Artur Nowicki THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION