Joint forces for SMEs in West-Flanders and beyond

Bruges, BELGIUM - Syntra West, provider of vocational training and guidance to SMEs, and the West-Flanders Development Agency (POM West-Flanders ) join their forces to improve the competitive advantage of SMEs in the food industry of West-Flanders. Companies will be informed on good practices of internationalization, get the chance to rank themselves against top companies of the food industry as well as receive free guidance to improve their internationalization policy.

Providing answers to the needs
One of Syntra Wests’ activities for the North Sea Supply Connect project, is to organize training courses regarding internationalization for SMEs. Currently, a wide range of competences are being defined and benchmarked by top ranked companies. This enables the further development of the already existing self-assessment tool for SMEs to measure their competences in international business. The content of the training courses,  divided over 5 important topics, will provide an answer to the needs defined by the assessment.

Seminar international business development
Early 2012, a seminar will be organized in West-Flanders for regional companies in the food sector intending to expand their business across the national borders. The event will be hosted by the Flanders House of Food, welcoming some important and remarkable key note speakers who will report on their internationalization expertise in the food sector. In addition, SMEs starting to internationalize can take part in a competition for five sessions of free guidance in important aspects of international business development. 

Best practices
At the next stage, the West-Flemish experiences will be shared within the other partner countries and NSSC regions. Through train-the-trainer sessions, roadshows or workshops, the approach will be unfolded by POM West-Flanders and Syntra West in order for partners to implement the concept in their own areas and regions. NSSC continues to join forces to boost business growth across borders!