EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Network building between employers and retailers

Network building between employers and retailers - The Hague, the Netherlands

Introduction

For (starter) businesses networks are essential. After all, networks provide the contacts that are required to sell a product or service. But networks also play an important role in providing information and cooperative arrangements. Many employers in The Hague Centrum Zuid lack these essential contacts. The mainly immigrant employers are only involved in the trade organisations and local employer associations to a limited extent.

Description

The aim of the project is to increase the networks of (starter) employers in The Hague Centrum Zuid. This will increase the link between employers themselves and the relationship with potential customers. Ultimately this will contribute to a higher turnover in the area and an increase in job opportunities.

Approach

To increase the networks between (starter) employers two activities will be organised each year:

an employers' day in which employers can make national and international contacts and where various workshops will be on offer;
the publication of yearbooks listing new businesses. The yearbooks will be sent to all the large businesses in the region with the recommendation to use the services of the starter businesses.

Results

The expected effects are an increase in turnover, more job opportunties and a reduction in unemployment.

Resources used

European subsidy: € 70.690
Total cost: € 141.380

EU involvement

This project has been partially funded with Objective 2 funds. Since 2000 nine cities have been eligible for the Objective 2 Urban Areas in the Netherlands programme, which forms part of the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD) of the European Union. EFRD is one of the four Structural Funds of the European Commission. The programme helps cities to carry out projects that benefit disadvantaged areas.

In the Netherlands, total European Objective 2 subsidies concern 192 million euros. 4.25% of the Dutch population lives in the selected areas.

The European Commission prescribes that for every euro from the EFRD, a minimum of one euro must be contributed from the government. The cities must therefore add their own public or private funding to the European subsidy. The European programme is linked to the urban plans agreed within the context of the urban policy of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. For this, the cities can make use of funds that have been allocated to them in the context of the national urban policy.

Contact info

Den Haag Centrum Zuid - local programme management
Phone: +31 70 3534228

Project start date

01/01/2003

Links

City of The Hague

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Specific sectors