General and specialised advice back-up these facilities, together with a wide range of best practice guides. By providing resources and advice, the business incubator allows ideas to grow and finally reach fruition. The second part of the project provides a 'mentoring and mutual support network' where established entrepreneurs can share the benefit of their experience with up and coming businesswomen. Through use of the internet, the support network has also taken on an international dimension, allowing an exchange of views with entrepreneurs in other EU countries as well as creating new business contacts across Europe. On the one hand women can improve their business acumen, particularly in areas such as marketing and negotiation skills, which in turn boosts the contribution they can make to their spouses' firms.
Further advice is at hand through 'business growth workshops'.
These have proved especially popular with available places having to be doubled due to high demand. As with other Community Initiative projects, transnational co-operation played an important part in encouraging an exchange of experience with entrepreneurs in other Member States. Mrs Fassoula was facing difficulties running a small child-care centre in Thessaloniki. I was on the verge of closing down when I heard of this ESF financed project. The ideas and advice I received helped my centre to survive.