The NEXTSMES project aims to equip family-run SMEs with tools for successful succession planning, addressing challenges such as professionalism, financial stability, and innovation. By raising stakeholder awareness, we strive to ensure the longevity and prosperity of these businesses.
Goals
- Develop training modules and educational tools tailored to the needs of family-run businesses on the importance of preserving the company, providing the right tools and knowledge to ensure the business’s continuity.
- Support businesses in developing succession plans that emphasize skills and qualifications rather than personal considerations. The goal is to establish efficient strategies capable of managing and mitigating conflicts within families.
- Promote financial strategies that preserve family control while ensuring both growth and financial stability.
- Address the challenges and complexities associated with disagreements in family businesses, particularly those related to control, leadership, and decision-making, while ensuring the company’s adaptability to change.
- Enhance the awareness and proactive engagement of local policymakers in fostering a supportive environment for the development of family-run SMEs, promoting public commitment to providing regulations and financial resources.
Results
- A transnational report that includes an overview of family-run SMEs in each of the participating countries, developed following a comprehensive SWOT analysis.
- A comprehensive training curriculum with micro-credentials, including modules on various crucial aspects for the sustainability of family-run SMEs, such as professionalism, succession planning, financial management, innovation, and governance.
- An online platform (OER) hosting the training modules, lessons, and educational digital content, accessible to SME owners and aspiring family entrepreneurs. Local pilot activities ensure the testing and validation phase of the platform.
- A guide for vocational education and training providers on how to incorporate the training curriculum into their teaching programs.
- A strategic plan for family SMEs’ engagement in succession planning and conflict resolution, presented as a digital self-assessment tool.
