Dutch Committee for Entrepreneurship presents ‘State of SMEs 2023 – Trust in entrepreneurship’ | News item

News item | 15-11-2023 | 1:00 pm

Action agenda for SME services

The Action Agenda arises from the advice ‘Service-oriented Services’ from the Dutch Committee for Entrepreneurship and is in line with the cabinet program ‘Work on Implementation’ (WaU). The aim is to better tailor government public services to the expectations and needs of entrepreneurs. The Action Agenda focuses on both short-term actions and structural strengthening of entrepreneurial services, with a focus on the broad SME sector. Six ‘opportunity maps’ form the basis, including the flourishing of entrepreneurial communities, demand-oriented support for SMEs, and the use of data for collaboration and innovation.

Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate:

“I am pleased that steps are being taken to improve government services to entrepreneurs. The Action Agenda, supported by municipalities, provinces, Chamber of Commerce, RVO, ROMs and MKB-Nederland, is a necessary step to tackle the challenges in the renewal of the economy. A strong economy requires strong SMEs and a government that more closely meets the needs of entrepreneurs. Confidence in entrepreneurship, offering more space to entrepreneurs and better coordination with practice are essential. The Annual Report of the Committee for Entrepreneurship offers insights into this. The collaboration between government, entrepreneurs and education in Economie071 has impressed me. The Committee’s Annual Report also contains inspiring examples. There is room for significant improvements. As the government and the region, we are committed to achieving these improvements through the SME Services Action Agenda.”

Rob Schouten, quartermaster for SME services:

“Recent research shows that four in ten SMEs have insufficient capacity to change to make the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy. Entrepreneurs can inspire each other and learn from good examples. The government can stimulate and incentivize. Responding clearly and helpfully to the needs of entrepreneurs. Working together as one government. That doesn’t happen all by itself. It’s good that there is that awareness. And now let’s get to work.”

Yvonne Salvino, councilor of Sittard-Geleen:

“The Action Agenda is demand-oriented and therefore focuses on the needs of SME entrepreneurs. That is essential. We want to serve entrepreneurs better in 40 regions around large and medium-sized cities in three years. That is a major ambition, around 2,500 SMEs per region. We are starting pilots in 6 regions, including around Sittard-Geleen. Together we will learn, achieve results, move forward and apply them in more and more regions.”

‘State of SMEs 2023’: Power of collaboration in networks

The Annual Report State of SMEs 2023 emphasizes the power of collaboration in local and regional networks. Reports from network initiatives show the impact of collaboration between entrepreneurs, trade associations and SMEs in the Netherlands. Essays by Kim Putters, chairman of the Social-Economic Council (SER), and professors specialized in networks provide in-depth insights. The importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in networks is underlined for smaller SME entrepreneurs, who often have little time but can gain crucial knowledge and contacts through local and regional associations and networks.

Jacques van den Broek, chairman of the Committee: “Business is necessary for the major transitions of sustainability and digitalization. And activity offers opportunities: more productive SMEs provide more added value and greater prosperity. We can expect entrepreneurs to take their responsibility. And from the government that it is in line with the power of entrepreneurship and cooperation. This requires both space and direction.”

Jacco Vonhof, chairman of MKB-Nederlandstates in the interview with him: “We are one low trust society become. And that’s a shame. The government has become too cautious and wants to eliminate any risk through legislation and regulations. The starting point is not the large majority who do it right, but the few bad guys who do it wrong. We have to go back to high trust. And yes, also to high penaltyif the rules we have agreed are really violated.”

Strong SMEs

A strong, healthy and agile SME is important for the renewal of the economy. SER chairman Kim Putters emphasizes in his essay the value of the Dutch consultation economy and the “human scale” in these turbulent times. The Annual Report shows CBS figures that highlight trends in SMEs, including an increase in the number of bankruptcies and challenges in staff recruitment. In the Committee’s view, it remains useful and necessary to closely monitor developments in SMEs. The first Annual Report ‘State of SMEs’ was published in 2014. The Committee calls on the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to further strengthen the data and knowledge infrastructure so that there is better insight into developments that are relevant to SMEs.

The annual report of the Committee for Entrepreneurship can be read at https://www.staatvanhetmkb.nl/jaarbericht.