„POWERful in Business” – cost-free training and grant programme for entrepreneurs

Goal 3 - Good health and well-being
Goal 4 - Quality eduaction
Goal 5 - Gender equality
Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth
Goal 9 - Industry, innovation and infractructure
Goal 11 - Sustainable cities and communities
Goal 13 - Climate action
Goal 17 - Partnerships for the goals

On 17 January, the next edition of the 'POWERful in Business’ programme starts. It is a programme for those who want to set up or grow their own business. Participants who take part in cost-free training courses and webinars can also win educational grants. The project is promoted by Santander Bank Polska, the Polish Entrepreneurship Foundation and Polfund FPK S.A.

Training

„POWERful in Business” is a series of 10 free webinars for those who want to set up or expand their business.

The latest PARP report shows that SME companies account for as much as 99.8 per cent of all businesses in the country. They employ more than 6.9 million people. As a bank, we actively support entrepreneurs in their business challenges, and we are committed to creating solutions that make it easier to conduct business and manage the finances of SME companies. The 'POWERful in Business' programme helps entrepreneurs gain competencies and tools in areas such as marketing, new technologies or ESG, which will facilitate the development of their companies.

Filip Jaskuła

from Santander Bank Polska

The partners of the 'POWERful in Business’ programme are Polfund FPK S.A. and the Polish Entrepreneurship Foundation.

People who will share their knowledge with the participants include:

  • Maciej Kawecki – science journalist and technology populariser,
  • Jakub Biel – known for his non-standard approach to marketing,
  • Marek Kamiński, conqueror of the North and South Pole, who created the international LifePlan Academy programme with practical and effective tools for achieving individual goals,
  • Olga Kozierowska, special guest of the project, businesswoman, journalist, social activist, trainer and mentor,
  • Tomasz Piekot, linguist, plain language expert from the University of Wrocław,
  • Tycjan Bielecki and Beata Kubida, ESG experts from Santander Bank Polska.

Participants will learn from them how important it is to work with data, how to promote a business online at low cost, how to deal with difficult situations, why ESG is so important and much more.

The first webinar „Entrepreneurship in the future, or the inner life of algorithms”, hosted by Maciej Kawecki, will take place as early as 17 January. The schedule of all meetings with experts can be found at santander.pl/mocniwbiznesie.

Grant competition

In addition to competence development, current and future entrepreneurs can take part in a competition and win a development grant. All they need to do is submit a business plan with a description of their idea at santander.pl/mocniwbiznesie in one of the following four categories:

  • New business idea
  • An idea for developing one’s business
  • The idea for a 'green’ business supporting our planet
  • An idea for a barrier-free business that takes diverse needs into account and is socially responsible

In each of the 4 categories, grants worth: PLN 12,000, PLN 8,000 or PLN 6,000 can be won.

The organiser and partners of the POWERful in Business project are the Polish Entrepreneurship Foundation and Santander Bank Polska S.A. and Polfund FPK S.A. The project runs between 17 January and 4 June, 2024 while the competition for the best business plan is open from 16 January to 30 May, 2024. The competition regulations can be found on the project website.