Internationalisation and changing skills needs in European small firms : synthesis report

The creation of a single market in Europe builds on the wellgrounded belief that the removal of constraints on economic activity between Member States will serve to boost economic prosperity. European businesses, even small ones and those that operate locally, need to understand and even respond to the impact of the European Union integration. The survey, whose results are contained in this Cedefop publication, was carried out in seven EU countries and covered a sample of small firms employing less than 50 persons from various industries. The countries covered were : Greece, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria and the UK. The analysis attempts to provide answers to crucial questions related to the required competences for small firms' efficient internationalisation and the extent to wich such firms do in fact possess them or types of initiatives that could contribute to an improvement of the situation. Analysis of the material collected and the conclusions and recommendations made are believed to have important implications for policy-designers and administrators of support schemes addressed at small firms.