Work for an entrepreneur at home or abroad

To work for an entrepreneur at home, take part in the University of Exeter's Access to internships scheme.

To work for an entrepreneur abroad and receive funding to learn valuable entrepreneurship skills in another European Union country, take part in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme.

What is the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme?

The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme is an exchange programme for entrepreneurs, financed by the European Union. It offers you the opportunity to work alongside an experienced entrepreneur in another European Union country and strengthen the skills you need to develop your business. Your stay abroad can last between one and six months.

Why go on an exchange?

As a would-be or newly established entrepreneur, you can find yourself at crossroads. You need first hand guidance. On-the-job training with an experienced entrepreneur will help answer your questions and prepare you to run your own company successfully.

That's not all. You will also:

Develop international contacts
Get to know about another European market and about different ways of doing business
Strengthen your sector-specific skills
Meet successful business people
Discover potential cooperation opportunities
Get a grant from a European Commission programme

You can benefit from the programme as a new entrepreneur if:

You are a ‘would-be’ entrepreneur, firmly planning to start a business or an entrepreneur having started your own business within the last 3 years. There is no age limit!
You are a permanent resident in one of the European Union countries;
You have a concrete project or business idea, reflected in a business plan;
You can clearly demonstrate your motivation and commitment to engage in a business relationship with an experienced entrepreneur from another European Union country;
You are prepared to contribute to the development of the host entrepreneur’s business;
You are prepared to contribute to the costs of your stay abroad exceeding the EU grant.

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs in practice:

The programme is run by a network of local contact points, including Chambers of Commerce, incubators and other organisations supporting businesses, present in the different European Union countries. After you fill in your online application and get accepted for the programme, the contact point you will have chosen in your country will provide you with support and assistance to find your host entrepreneur. You will also receive practical assistance during your stay abroad. For more information about contact points in your country, please visit ‘Your local contact point’ on the programme’s website www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu.

Get involved in just 5 Steps:

Have your CV, motivation statement and business plan ready;
Apply on www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu;
Select a contact point in your country;
Get in touch with a host entrepreneur abroad and agree on the exchange project (i.e. dates, objectives and activities);
Once your relationship has been approved, a funding agreement should be signed with your local contact point.

To find out more about the programme and how to participate download the Users' Guide or visit www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu .