The second day of the SME Assembly 2024, on 19 November, was marked by notable discussions, expert insights, and the much-anticipated European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) ceremony.

With a multitude of insightful panel sessions and policy workshops, the day provided valuable insights into the current landscape for SMEs in Europe, highlighting the importance of mental health, sustainability, and the need for economic evolution to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.

The day started with a powerful opening session featuring high-profile speakers, including Hubert Gambs, Deputy Director of DG GROW at the European Commission, Hungary’s Minister for the Economy Márton Nagy, and Julia Faure, Co-President of Movement Impact France. This kickoff set the tone for a day focused on tackling the challenges and opportunities of European SMEs.

"Without SMEs there would be no European economy and resilience. Our society depends on SMEs," said Mr Gambs in his opening remarks, while Mr Nagy stated that "we need more than small packages, we need an economic revolution."

One of the standout sessions was the New Ways of Working panel, where Professor Ute Stephan from King's Business School emphasised the critical need for self-care among entrepreneurs, stating that "self-care is not selfish, it is necessary for the effectiveness of your business." The session highlighted the importance of addressing mental health within the SME community, a sentiment echoed by Dr. Patrik Kovacs of the Business at OECD (BIAC). He underscored the necessity of destigmatising discussions around mental health to foster support networks for entrepreneurs grappling with stress and uncertainty.

The SME ‘Sustainable Enterprise’ Panel was another key highlight, addressing the path towards sustainable practices for SMEs across Europe. Bonifacio Garcia Porras, from the European Commission, stressed the ongoing challenges that SMEs face in becoming sustainable, stating, "SMEs are becoming more sustainable, but the process is not as smooth or fast as we want." Contributions from Marianna Panebarco, founder of Panebarco, and Mariia Alipatova, CEO of Solar Optic, underscored that sustainability and competitiveness are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary—positioning sustainability as an investment opportunity for growth.

Day two programme also included a session on 'Challenges and opportunities of extreme weather for SMEs', which started with a minute of silence in honour of the people lost and affected by the devastating floods in Valencia. The session counted on a video intervention by José Vicente Morata, President of Valencia Chamber of Commerce, who stated: “Our priority right now is to help all these families and businesses get their lives back to normal. Valencia needs more than ever that we all continue to support tourism and local commerce.”

The 'Stories of Success' session showcased fantastic entrepreneurs featured in the upcoming Secrets of Success Brochure. Inspired by the OECD ‘Missing Entrepreneurs’ report, this year's session shone a spotlight on businesses that place inclusivity – and inclusive entrepreneurship in particular – at the heart of their operations.

The second day of SME Assembly 2024 also marked the celebration of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day with an inspiring workshop on empowering women in business. Session speakers and attendees were divided into two groups focusing on skills training and economic empowerment, where they collaborated to find solutions together. Lisa McMullan admitted that “we have to recognise the Impostor Syndrome that we all face.” The importance of role models, female mentors, and having a robust network were emphasised as crucial elements for success. On the other hand, Lola Onipko, 

The day concluded with the prestigious European Enterprise Promotion Awards Ceremony, recognising outstanding contributions to entrepreneurship and small business support across Europe. This ceremony celebrated those who advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship, emphasising the critical role they play in driving economic growth and resilience in the post-crisis landscape. See the dedicated Futurium article on this year's EEPA winners.

Congratulations to the award winners from Germany, Turkey, Serbia, Estonia, and Greece for their inspiring contributions to business growth and innovation! 

In addition to the sessions, participants had the opportunity to tour the Hungarian Military Museum and explore an expo featuring innovative products and services from Hungarian and European SMEs, further enhancing the collaborative and supportive atmosphere of the Assembly.

Check out the Promoting Enterprise YouTube channel to watch the recording of the sessions!

For further insights, slides from the final day's sessions are attached below.