Creative Entrepreurship is the product of “ CREATIVE CITY ” project, UKSEE, initiated in the British Council Offices in the South East European Countries

In the framework of stimulating the Creative Industries and Entrepreneurs British Council Albania and SIFE Albania organized two training sessions on “Young Creative Entrepreneurs” aiming to:

			Provide young people with a wide range of creative empowerment and educational entrepreneurial support to enable the development of the next generation of trained experts in the creative entrepreneurship sector
			Build partnership and networks in country and between countries in the region and between the region and the UK in the field of Creative industry.

The project targeted young entrepreneurs who either had finished or were about to finish undergraduate business studies. The objective was to create a business advisors/consultancy group of young graduated students who will provide their consultancy service to the small and medium enterprises sector in country for the development of the sector.

About 110 students from 9 Universities applied for the training session. 40 students were selected from 9 Universities in collaboration with SIFE faculty in these universities.  In the first training session 9-10-11 March 2007 took part 19 students from University of Tirana (Economic, Social Science and Law Faculty), Alex Luarasi University, Ufo University and Agriculture University of Tirana. In the second training session 16-17-18 March 2007 took part 20 students, 4 from University of Shkodra, 2 from University of Tirana, 3 from University of Vlora, 3 from University of Korca and 8 from University of Tirana.

During these two training programmes participants were provided with Theoretical and Practical skills on:

			Foundation and legal aspects of Small and Medium Enterprises
			Ownership
			Operations and development of enterprises
			Strategic management
			Marketing plan
			Developing and implementing a Business plan
			Intellectual property rights

All participants worked in small groups to design an entrepreneurial theme for their new business in the creative industries sector and develop their business plan. Participants during their group-work were supported by professors from academic area and businessmen form successful business offering their experience and expertise in their selected sector of the industries.

At the end of each training session they entered into a small competition for the best presentation of the new creative business idea. The winner of the competition was the Entrepreneurial groups with the idea of: BEST (Building Entrepreneurial Skills for Tomorrow) a consultancy service. Have a look at BEST Website. The owner of the enterprise is Lorna Tabaku. Her ambition is to offer training and consultancy to young motivated people on different aspect of how to start up and develop their  creative business idea.  British Council Albania will continue to support her initiative.

For more information please contact the Project Manager Evis Carcani at evis.carcani@britishcouncil.org.al