Pink Shoe Club hosted a highly interactive roundtable with an EU Serbian delegation visiting the UK to study Improved SME Competitiveness and Innovation.
The group included representatives of the EU; the Serbian Ministry of Economy & Regional Development; National Agency for Regional Development; and the Association of Management Consultants of Serbia.
It was agreed there were a number of opportunities to work together. Helene Martin Gee outlined the activities of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Entrepreneurship and also how the Pink Shoe Club engages in business mentoring.
Delegates from Serbia then explained a new EU-funded mentoring programme which is already proving a success. The scheme links one private sector mentor and one public sector mentor with an emerging business entrepreneur. The mentor is trained and the business assessed so that success can be measured on an ongoing basis.
After an enlightened exchange of ideas and viewpoints many business cards were swapped and it was decided the meeting will be followed up via electronic media.
Then the Earl of Erroll formally welcomed the delegates, who enjoyed a full tour of the Palace of Westminster including a visit to both the Chambers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.