Murska Sobota Regional Chamber of Small Business

The Murska Sobota Regional Chamber of Small Business receives the award for outstanding success in providing training programmes for the unemployed and education for small business and business people, thereby securing new qualifications and employment, improving the competitiveness of the small business sector, business penetration and the self-confidence of business people in Prekmurje, raising the educational level, and especially increasing ties with social partners and the willingness to work together to achieve the objectives set. The Chamber, with 1327 members, is designed as a service for small businesses in 12 municipalities in Prekmurje. Its main tasks are to provide advice on tax and labour-law issues, and to represent the interests of the area vis-à-vis the state. For this reason, taking the initiative in the field of education is all the more worthy of respect. In cooperation with schools, companies and the regional Employment Service, the Chamber began to provide some vocational training programmes which had previously been abandoned - stonemasons, carpenters, joiners and appliance installation - but for which there is still demand. One indicator of the project's success is that most of the candidates who successfully completed the course are now employed. A special training programme is intended to keep small businesses and entrepreneurs up to date with legislative changes, and to help them market more successfully and establish better business contacts. Meetings in the form of workshops were the most successful, with participants acquiring professional-theoretical as well as new practical knowledge. Under the leadership of experts with international business experience, they learn to solve cases derived from their own companies.