How to start your own business either craft or cooperatives, these were the topics of the "Counseling in small business development" workshop. The workshop was organized during June for the unemployed women at the EU Information Centre, under the project "Creating New Opportunities in the Labour Market".

Through set of five workshop women obtained information on franchising, cooperatives, character of craft, business and other forms of enterprises, as well as on conditions and measures in our country for opening and running a small business. They also got familiar with SWOT analysis, a powerful technique for understanding one?s Strengths and Weaknesses, and for looking at the Opportunities and Threats one faces at the market, and finally with the business plan as the most important element when starting a business.

Total of seventeen women took part in the workshop. Evaluation questionnaires showed their high motivation on starting cooperatives, as well as satisfaction when it comes to methods of workshop and the trainer itself. Anyway, lack of trust, support and lack of financial means are the biggest obstacles women are faced with, according to the final evaluation.

Trainer of the workshop was Ms Ljiljana Kukec, president of the Croatian association on franchising and president of the Centre for franchises, Pro maturo.

We are thankful to EU Information Centre for providing us with a hallroom and showing a great support during our workshops.