THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT UNIT

Services for new companies

The Development Centre will help new entrepreneurs in all matters related to starting a new business.

We will provide the new entrepreneur with:

• confidential evaluation of a business idea
• help to various steps of making a business plan
• help to estimate the profitability, market situation and finance need of the new company
• assistance when deciding the correct form of an enterprise
• information of different financing methods and funding possibilities

Services for existing companies

The Development Centre offers confidential services to all existing enterprises regardless the line of business they are in. The Development Centre provides:

• direct connections to several institutes of higher education and research
• support in technology transfers and protection projects for individual companies
• help in starting off R&D projects
• education and development programmes when developing technology in companies
• development services of the Southwest Finland Centre of Expertise Programme (including services of an industry adviser)
• company based education and development programmes for its personnel

Pii-Profit - The Salo Region Business Incubator

Services, based on business incubator concept by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, for young and starting companies, are among other things:

• analysis of a business idea and survey of needs of development
• planning and implementing the business actions
• profound training of entrepreneurship and business activities
• large national and international contact and co-operation network with other companies, universities and research institutes
• direct contacts with financing organisations and authorities
• on-line information and service system
• ready-to-use offices with fitted IT-connections
• remarkable financial support during the first year in the business incubator

Tourism

The development of tourism industry widens the business structure in Salo region. Importance of tourism is increasing and Salo region takes part e.g. in the development project of rural and archipelago areas in the Southwest Finland.

Special advisory services in rural areas

Farm, forest, business and the Finnish 4H Federations advisers form the team of specialists in the Development Centre, who advice businesses in rural areas. Services given cover all lines of business activities in rural areas, excluding the traditional farming. Rural advice services based on "one-office-system" offer a variety of expert advice from starting and developing a business, to investments, marketing etc. issues.

Education and training

The Development Centre organises education and training to new and existing entrepreneurs as follows:

• starting new business: "To start your own business" -theme days
• existing business: longer training courses and development projects
• updating courses, in-built for staff of an individual company

Regional BSP - Regional Business Service Point is an all-national activity model, which also in Salo region collects all business services provided either by the state or local municipalities to one unit, located in the Development Centre, where the entrepreneurs can find it easily.

The idea of custom based services as well as continuous development of these services is ensured by close co-operation of the Development Centre, Entrepreneur Associations, other interested parties and investor.

One of the emphasis points of the Development Centre is the entrepreneurship education and training for students. The work is done in close and continuous contact with schools and university departments in the area.