30 January, 2019

Travelling to Lille in Northern France, the Hincks Centre team attended the second partner meeting of the Interreg Europe SilverSMEs project - January 29 and 30. With the aim of identifying and implementing regional policies to support the silver economy deriving opportunities to engage SMEs in growth and entrepreneurship spirit, this exciting pan-European project is well underway.  The Hincks Team presented an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the silver economy from eight regions of Europe.  The report highlights the positive environment and policy attitude to encouraging active ageing, though national differences do exist in terms of how older people are regarded.  The full report will be available online shortly.    

Having ratified the Composite SWOT analysis, partners presented the first of their national good practices to the group.  What a fantastic variety of practices supporting the silver economy resulting in SME growth and entrepreneurship.  The Hincks were very proud to present details of the CourtMacSherry Community Shop as a great example of a good practice, where the West Cork village are ‘doing for themselves’.  For more information on this cooperative shop click here https://courtmacsherry.ie/

For more information about Silver SMEs click here or email us at hincks@cit.ie. To go directly to the Silver SMEs website click https://www.interregeurope.eu/silversmes/