Everyone wins when micro and small businesses grow because they create more jobs and increase productivity in the country. That's why Dalarna Science Park, together with Leksands Sparbank, is now investing in the Navigator Scaleup concept. This involves experienced entrepreneurs, known as Navigator coaches, supporting companies that have the ambition to grow.
The Navigator concept is based on giving established companies with high growth potential access to four external experts, known as coaches, for two years. The four coaches are selected specifically for each participating company. They then contribute their collective knowledge and experience to support the companies and entrepreneurs to take the next step in their development.
When the Navigator concept was introduced in Värmland, then as an EU project, 20 companies in different sectors participated and after two years they had increased their total turnover by 222% and increased the number of employees by 45 people.
Leksands Sparbank is behind the initiative in Dalarna in collaboration with Dalarna Science Park. The savings bank has identified the five companies participating in the first round. Process managers at Dalarna Science Park will then take over to lead the program forward.
- "It's incredibly exciting that we as a savings bank can do something like this for our existing business community. Navigator opens up a range of opportunities for already established companies to grow, develop and expand. In addition, there are figures showing that things happen when you do this. The growth and expansion of businesses means that they employ more people, earn more, generate more turnover and can even create inward migration, making a difference at the community level. It generates a growing and more prosperous village," says Björn Rinstad, CEO of Leksands Sparbank.
- As a meeting place for companies and innovations in Dalarna, we are very much looking forward to linking arms with Leksands Sparbank and supporting their corporate customers with ambitions to grow and develop in a sustainable way. Our experience is that it is often the smaller companies that get the greatest benefit from access to skills, tools and coaching. Now we can offer that support for two full years. This will have a real impact on the entrepreneurs, their companies and the region's growth," says Angelica Ekholm, CEO of Dalarna Science Park.
Briefly about Navigator Scaleup in Dalarna
The pilot project is implemented over a two-year period. Leksands Sparbank identifies potential business customers with ambitions to grow and develop, who can thereby benefit from undergoing Navigator. Dalarna Science Park then coordinates and implements the project. The project is co-financed by Vinnova.
Read more about Navigator Scaleup
