panorama

inforegio

41
Spring 2012

en

Targeting results
Fine tuning cohesion policy

Matchmaking agency helps

Spanish SMEs continue under
new management
Re-enterprising (Reempresa) is a new approach
being implemented in the Catalunya region of
Spain for supporting the transmission and successful continuation of small businesses by assisting
new entrepreneurs to take over the helm.
Around 95000 micro enterprises and SMEs in Catalunya close
their doors every year and it is expected that at least 15% will
survive providing continued employment for their workforce thanks to the innovative Reempresa process.
The Centre for Reempresa of Catalonia was launched in
2010 and is supported by the Catalan Employers Association
(Cecot) and a private foundation promoting self-employment in Catalunya (CPAC). It is cofinanced by the Catalunya
Region (Generalitat de Catalunya Departament dEconomia
i Coneixement) and the European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF).
It is both a physical and virtual matchmaking and support
service which helps bring small companies looking for new
owners together with potential entrepreneurs. The target
companies are small, often family-owned businesses, with
transmission or continuation difficulties.

The Centre is the focal point of data and knowledge for the
matchmaking process and supports potential owners with
its re-enterprising methodology. It organises extensive
information programmes to highlight the benefits of the
Reempresa approach for companies seeking to divest their
interests, and for potential re-entrepreneurs.
In 2011 the Reempresa Centre helped engineer 13 SME
matches. As a result, around 145 jobs were preserved. In the
first months of 2012 the number of SME matches is already
higher, indicating the success of the project.
The Centre is helping potential entrepreneurs find a new
business to get involved in and receive guidance on the
business transfer process. The re-entrepreneurs can purchase or lease the assets of an existing company as an alternative to creating a new business from scratch.
Find out more
Reempresa: www.reempresa.org/?idioma=2
Cecot (Catalan Employers Association,
co-initiator of the project): www.cecot.org
CPAC: www.autoocupacio.org
Generalitat de Catalunya Departament
dEconomia i Coneixement: www.gencat.cat
Reempresa on twitter: @Reempresa
Reempresa on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups/
Reempresa-3945960

Existing companies with

continuation problems are
helped exit their business
ensuring its continuity and
bringing a secure future
fortheir employees.

Total cost:

EUR 1700000
EU contribution:

EUR 850000

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