ORGANISATION OF SELF-EMPLOYED
ENTREPRENEURS
CONTENTS
1.
UNIZO’s Mission
2.
Profile of UNIZO’s Members
3.
UNIZO Works Geographically
4.
UNIZO Works Via Target Groups
5.
UNIZO Works Via Sectors
6.
UNIZO Works Around Themes
7.
UNIZO Events
8.
UNIZO Membership
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4/8/2015
UNIZO’S MISSION
UNIZO is the independent organization of and for
self-employed entrepreneurs who run a business at
their own risk and using their own resources.
UNIZO aims to unite, advise and inform
entrepreneurs as well as to promote their socioeconomic and societal interests.
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UNIZO’S MISSION
Anyone who runs a business at their own risk and
using their own resources is welcome at UNIZO
of and for selfemployed
entrepreneurs
• Starters, one-man businesses, growth SMEs, liberal
professions
• Active in the local, regional or international market
• From all sectors
The entrepreneurs themselves run the
organization
• Local associations of entrepreneurs
• UNIZO regions
• UNIZO national
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UNIZO’S MISSION
Unite
Unite, advise
and inform
• Trainings and information sessions
• Networking and activities
Advise
• UNIZO 24/7 Service Centre
• Personal advise at regional offices
Inform
• A network of websites, newsletters and magazines keeps
the UNIZO members up-to-date on a daily basis.
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UNIZO’S MISSION
UNIZO represents self-employed entrepreneurs wherever
their interests are at stake
Promote socioeconomic and societal
interests
• Lobbying with political leaders and administrations
• Representations in numerous consultative bodies
- High Council for Self-Employed Persons and SMEs (Hoge Raad
voor de Zelfstandige en de KMO)
- Council for Consumption (Raad voor Verbruik)
• As a social partner:
- at the federal level in the GROUP OF 10 (GROEP VAN 10)
- at the Flemish level in the SERV
In municipalities, Flanders, Brussels, Belgium and Europe
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UNIZO’S MISSION
Positive proposals aimed at securing and improving the
position of self-employed entrepreneurs
Promote socioeconomic and societal
interests
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Equal pension and disability insurance
Social protection in the event of payment difficulties and bankruptcy
Good financing possibilities
An agile government at the service of entrepreneurs
- company friendly and transparent taxes
- no excessive paperwork
- one unique enterprise counter
• A smaller difference between gross and net salary
• Strengthening of local commercial hubs
• More and better equipped SME areas
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PROFILE OF UNIZO’S MEMBERS
Entrepreneurs who build a business at their own risk, using their own capital
By staff
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39%: no staff
35%: 1 to 4 staff
16%: 5 to 20 staff
4%: 20 to 49 staff
2%: more than 50 staff
4%: not known
By sector
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32%: Hotel and catering/garages/wholesale and retail
23%: Construction
22%: Liberal professions/real estate
5%: Services/banks/insurance companies:
5%: Metal/chemical
4%: Food/textile
11%: Other
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4/8/2015
UNIZO WORKS GEOGRAPHICALLY
278 local associations of entrepreneurs
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Voluntary deployment of 3,800 entrepreneurs
Networking and promotion of interests at the local
level
Actions: - information and training initiatives
- networking for entrepreneurs
- promotion of the local economy
- studies and surveys
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UNIZO WORKS GEOGRAPHICALLY
11 UNIZO regions with 23 regional offices
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First-line advice to all entrepreneurs
Networking and promotion of interests at the
regional level
Enterprise counters and guidance for starters
Support for local associations of entrepreneurs
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UNIZO WORKS GEOGRAPHICALLY
National secretariat in Brussels
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Managing director and staff
HRM, Finance and ICT
UNIZO Training Department
Marketing and Product Development Department
Communication and Media Department
Study Department
Sector Operation Department
Target Group Operation Department
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UNIZO WORKS VIA TARGET GROUPS
1. Candidate Starters
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www.startersservice.be: knowledge platform, advice,
online guidance, starter mail
Information sessions, textbooks, …
Flemish Starters Day (reaches 5,000 candidatestarters)
2. Starters (0-2 years)
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Starter pass with benefits
www.starterscoach.be: god-parenthood project
through monthly meetings with an experienced
entrepreneur
Experience sharing and information sessions
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UNIZO WORKS VIA TARGET GROUPS
3. Growth Companies
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SME Contact:
- SME information sessions and conferences
- experience sharing through round-table discussions and company
visits
- network activities and contact drinks
- SME Contact Pass
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UNIZO Enterprise Coach
- god-parenthood project: monthly meetings with an experienced
entrepreneur
- information folders and online tools
- HRM Coach, Quality Coach, Energy Coach, Takeover Coach etc.
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4/8/2015
UNIZO WORKS VIA SECTORS
113 affiliated sector organizations
• 95 sector organizations from industry, construction, distribution, agri-food, services
and electro-technical professions
• FVIB: umbrella of 18 sector organizations of liberal and intellectual professions
Two affiliation options
• integration: affiliation with both the sector and UNIZO via a single membership fee
• association: the sector organization remains independent from UNIZO
UNIZO supports the sectors by:
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defending their interests with the government and at social consultations
giving legal advice and information
offering sector trainings: e.g. Construction Coach, Retail Coach, …
supporting the secretariat
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UNIZO WORKS AROUND THEMES
1. Doing Business Internationally
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Trainings in export management and export formalities
Collaboration projects: Go North, Grenswijzer, …
International luncheons: A taste-of-business
www.unizo-internationaal.be
2. Proper Management
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Buysse Code: code of conduct for adequate management
www.codebuysse.be
3. Doing Business in a Socially Responsible Way (DBSRW)
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Training, information sessions and publications
‘MVO Loont’ (‘DBSRW pays off’): support for implementation
www.unizo.be/mvo
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UNIZO WORKS AROUND THEMES
4. Takeover/handover
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www.overnamemarkt.be: online trade platform
www.overnamecoach.be: advice, training and experience sharing
5. Education & Entrepreneurship
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• Learning enterprises in schools
• Suitcase full of Entrepreneurship
• Vocational expert’s route
• UNIZO Enterprising School Award
www.ondernemendeschool.be
6. Psychological help for self-employed entrepreneurs
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www.tussenstap.be: help for bankrupts
www.zenitor.be: career coaching
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UNIZO WORKS AROUND THEMES
7. Job Channel
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Extra recruitment channel for disadvantaged groups
(ethnic minorities, people aged 50 and over, the disabled)
www.jobkanaal.be
8. UNIZO Crisis Coach
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Recession survival kit
Positive solutions to weather the recession
Recipes for financing, personnel management, energy policy,
marketing, government support etc.
Inspiring examples of successful entrepreneurs
Information sessions and activities
www.crisiscoach.be
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4/8/2015
UNIZO EVENTS
Day of the Customer
• Self-employed entrepreneurs thank their customers for the trust
• Expert’s route
Flemish Starters Day
• Information day for candidate-starters
• 5,000 visitors in five Flemish provinces
Awards
• SME laureate = election of SME of the year
• ‘SME for Kyoto’ Ambassador= doing business in an energy- and environmentconscious way
• Enterprising School Award
Week of the Entrepreneur
• 2009 theme: Week of the female entrepreneur
Ring your bell on the way to the shop
• Annual campaign to promote shopping while riding bicycles
4/8/2015
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ADVANTAGES OF THE UNIZO MEMBERSHIP
Free annual subscription to:
• UNIZO Entrepreneurs Net
- national portal site www.unizo.be
- theme-based websites
- regional sites and division sites
- daily news, advice and online tools
• UNIZO Advice & News
- biweekly electronic newsletter
• Z.O. Magazine
- biweekly business magazine for the self-employed entrepreneur
- biggest business magazine in Flanders
• Entrepreneur TV
- weekly video reports at unizo.be and msn.be
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ADVANTAGES OF THE UNIZO MEMBERSHIP
Free Advice
• UNIZO Service Centre (24/7)
• Personal advice at regional offices
Free tools
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Model letters and contract
UNIZO collection service for unpaid invoices
Free .be domain name and website
‘personal finance’ entrepreneurs guide
Discounts
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Trainings and events
Base business subscription
Holiday camps ‘Sporta’ and ‘Idee Kids’
Etc.
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UNIZO
8 Spastraat
1000 BRUSSELS
Tel: 078 35 39 39
Fax: 02 230 93 54
E-mail: service@unizo.be
Website: www.unizo.be