APIS Nymburk, spol. s r.o.

Few people are willing to start their own business and take the risks it involves. Recognising the importance of entrepreneurship for European economies and their competitiveness on global markets (as described among others in the Europe 2020 strategy, the European Employment Strategy and the Small Business Act for Europe), there is a need to address the following shortcomings:

• Significant portion of unemployed people do not see entrepreneurship as a viable alternative to employment and do not recognise the advantages entrepreneurship can offer;
• Employees prefer job security instead of embracing the possibilities of entrepreneurship (e.g. self-fulfilment);
• Entrepreneurs do not see the advantages offered by cultivating the entrepreneurial climate and spreading the entrepreneurial skills.

Women, young people and older persons represent vulnerable groups most threatened by unemployment and at the same time face the most barriers to start entrepreneurship:

• Women are afraid of not having enough time to care for their families;
• Young people feel the disadvantage of having little experience;
• Older persons are afraid of not being successful due to limited time available before reaching retirement age.

Small businesses are dependent on the personality of their owner/founder and therefore not prepared to be transferred or sold to a new owner. Matching transferable businesses with potential new owners is a practice unknown in the Czech Republic, but likely to become more and more sought-after as the first generation of entrepreneurs is reaching the retirement age.