High proportion of women among new entrepreneurs in the Arena Project

ARENA for entrepreneurship (ARENA för entreprenörskap) is a joint project in Jämtland County, whose objective is to be a gathering point and source of inspiration for new enterprise in the County.

Enterprise in Jämtland County is at a high level, with more entrepreneurs per inhabitant than in most other counties in Sweden. Despite this there are both needs and opportunities to give more entrepreneurs the chance to get started, expand and employ new staff. To do so, coordination and resource optimisation are needed in addition to entrepreneurial thinking and good ideas.

Support and information

In close cooperation with all the municipalities in the county, the Public Employment Service the Jämtland County Council Institute of Rural Development, the Learning Centre and other regional actors, the ARENA for Entrepreneurship is to help to develop new and reliable methods to identify even more people who have an idea and want to start a business.

The project wants to stimulate a higher level of sustainable entrepreneurship and new enterprise — as well as to improve collaboration and create important synergies between actors in the county.

“It has to be easy for entrepreneurs to find support, information and inspiration through the Arena Project," says Gun Myhr, the project manager.

The joint groups have become an important factor for cooperation between different actors in the County, as well as for spreading information about the Arena´s activities and communicating needs and wishes concerning activities to the coach.

More immigrants and women

The project is focusing on targeted activities to stimulate more immigrants and more women to start businesses. It is doing so to enhance positive attitudes to renewal and diversity that contribute to an open and tolerant entrepreneurship climate.

Women account for almost half of the people who have started new businesses and received in-depth advice through the Arena, says Gun Myhr.

“This high proportion is partly explained by the Arena's local presence out in the municipalities. Time with the new business coach is not restricted and sessions ‘are able take the time they take´. The breadth of the seminars arranged by the Arena appeals to women. Surveys show that women want broader knowledge and skills — want to get a fuller picture — before staring up, compared to men."