Scheme for business start-ups by mothers wins top prize

The winners of this year’s European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) have been announced at a ceremony in Naples, Italy.

The top Grand Jury Prize went to a project in Hungary. The winner was ‘Encouraging Business Start-ups by Mothers with Young Children’, which helps mothers to acquire the entrepreneurial skills and mindset needed to start a business and run it successfully. Since 2010, the Mother Company of the Year competition has allowed 443 mothers of young children to present their businesses, whilst the Business Mums’ Conference brings together mothers who are interested in business with those who are already entrepreneurs.

Six other projects from Lithuania, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Germany were recognised for their work on simplifying business creation, promoting business start-ups and fostering entrepreneurial spirit. Projects from the UK, Austria and Portugal also received special mentions from the EEPA jury.

Ferdinando Nelli Feroci, European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: “The winners of the EEPA are shining examples of organisations which promote small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurship across Europe. It is projects such as these which help Europeans believe in entrepreneurship as a viable career option.

“I am delighted to see projects like these EEPA winners working so hard for the future entrepreneurs of Europe. The Commission is backing these efforts through the entrepreneurship action plan: we aim to encourage many more Europeans to become their own boss.”

The awards ceremony took place as part of the SME Assembly, the focus of European SME Week, and is now in its eighth annual year.