Get training before you start a company
An entrepreneur is the only master on board and must have entrepreneurial skills which include creativity, a spirit of initiative, the ability to solve problems and mobilise resources as well as financial, commercial and technical skills. Entrepreneurs must update their knowledge continuously through training.
As a novice entrepreneur, you should make up any missing skills before or while you’re setting up your project. Later, when your nose is to the grindstone, you probably won’t have any time for training.
Management skills
As of 15 January 2024, proving basic business management skills is no longer a prerequisite for starting a business, whether as a self-employed individual or as a company. However, the challenges faced by entrepreneurs remain the same. A significant number of business failures are due to inadequate preparation or a poor grasp of the financial figures.
The good news is that, if you're in the Brussels-Capital Region, there's a wealth of resources to help you prepare including training programmes, coaching and diagnostic tools.
Accelerated training
You've mastered the basic management skills programme, but your goals are such that additional training in areas including financial management, human resources management, sales strategy and others would be helpful...In this case you can take a look at the entrepreneurship training provided by ICHEC-PME or Solvay Entrepreneurs’ Création & Croissance programme.
Themed workshops
A number of support organisations, chambers of commerce, vocational training centres and sector and small business organisations provide short workshops on a range of topics. The workshops are usually free or inexpensive. The Espace Formation PME’s (EFP) special Passeport Réussite programme (FR) will help you develop your skills and strengthen your entrepreneurial abilities via modules à la carte.
You will find many practical workshops under the Events section of this website. They are also included in the bimonthly newsletter from 1819.
Online resources
If you don’t have much time to travel to a training centre or to take classes on a set schedule, you can take classes online. Many websites provide entrepreneurship MOOCs, and YouTube has videos, webinars and podcasts which can be a real source of inspiration. Accelerators and private organisations offer free online programmes, such as a start-up school, entrepreneurship training, etc.
Sustainability
Sustainable and socially-oriented economic activities in Brussels will be given greater financial backing. That concept is called exemplarity. So ideally, it would be best to include these aspects in your business concept from the start. Free tools exist to help you understand the principles of sustainability. Get inspired by a range of actions, testimonials and e-learning modules.
Click here for a list of tools.
Training: help from the region
Regardless if you want to perfect your management skills or develop more specific expertise (in languages, IT, sales techniques, or other), the Brussels-Capital Region provides financial aid of 40 to 70% which you may be eligible for. However, since this aid is not specifically for company founders, you will only be able to apply when you have a company number (unless they benefit from a premium for wanna-be entrepreneurs).
If you are a jobseeker residing in the Brussels Capital Region and you intend to become full-time self-employed, you can apply for free language training (French, Dutch or English) via Actiris’ Chèque-Langues Matching programme.
As you know, continuous improvement is a requirement for entrepreneurs, and it must be a constant concern. However, skills aren't only acquired via training and management books. Networking and exchanging experiences with peers via participation in business plan contests, after-work gatherings and other events is always enriching. In other words, every occasion is good to learn and become a better entrepreneur!
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