V21 Rural Encourages the Creation of New Businesses

Vissaium XXI and the Municipality of Viseu have launched an innovative capacity-building programme. It is called V21 Rural – Entrepreneurship and Business in Rural Areas and aims to help turn good ideas into successful rural companies and new businesses. Those with business ideas who want to launch their company, and established business owners who want to develop new rural-based businesses, now have a programme tailored to them. Capacity building, sharing, one-to-one support, study visits and a placement… Over nine months, the programme will give participants all the tools and the chance to practise and build strong skills for setting up and consolidating a business.

Fully geared towards rural projects, the programme is looking for business ideas in crop, forestry and livestock production; the marketing and packaging of agri-food products; technology-based activities supporting the sector's work; and other related services, from consultancy to rural tourism, crafts and so on. With the motto “the best way to learn is by doing”, the programme is designed so that participants play a very important role at every stage, in order to master every detail of their businesses. It is not only for new ideas — the programme is open to helping existing projects grow.

V21 Rural brings to life the rural incubator located in São Pedro de France (Viseu), opened in July, which aims to give entrepreneurs ongoing support. With several capacity-building moments, this intensive programme will draw on a range of specialists and aims to make a strong contribution to accelerating projects and supporting them in their first months of life. Part of Viseu Rural, this capacity-building programme will work to attract, support and above all build the capacity of and retain business ideas and entrepreneurs in the parishes of Viseu, contributing to a more cohesive and competitive Viseu.

V21 Rural Programme: Stage by stage

Due to start in September, the programme is fully adapted to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19. Divided into three phases, with a strong practical component and personalised support, the aim is for participating entrepreneurs to finish the programme ready to take their projects off the page.

Stage 1: Entrepreneur's Workshop (5 days)

Lasting five days, the Entrepreneur's Workshop is the first stage of the programme. It consists of an intensive capacity-building plan to convey theoretical and practical knowledge about rural entrepreneurship. Alongside classroom training, field visits to successful entrepreneurs are planned.

Stage 2: Business Plan (3 months)

Next comes the drafting of the Business Plan, lasting three months. At this stage, in addition to 6 capacity-building sessions conveying knowledge and tools to support drafting the document, participants will have ongoing support in person and online.

Stage 3: Cooperation and Placement (6 months)

In the final stage, called Cooperation and Placement and lasting six months, a support network will be set up to help the promoter implement their business plan. In a setting of shared experience, participants will have a further capacity-building session to share topics of common interest to the group of entrepreneurs. With one-to-one support from a consultant specialising in rural business management, the programme will also be complemented by study visits to model companies/projects and a placement in a company.

V21 Rural is therefore an innovative entrepreneurship programme developed with the support of RURIS, which contributes to drafting the action plan, structuring the regulations, managing applicants, planning and delivering the activities, and the project's communication and advisory work.