For the seventh year, the successful OPAP Forward programme, which supports entrepreneurship and employment, continues and welcomes new businesses.

OPAP's Corporate Responsibility program, which has so far supported 69 companies, is launching its sixth cycle, aiming to help even more small and medium-sized enterprises to grow, create new jobs and thus strengthen the Greek market.

Businesses interested in joining the OPAP Forward programme can submit applications until Monday 10 July 2023 (closing time 12:00pm). Applications can be submitted online via the OPAP Corporate Responsibility website where all information about the OPAP Forward programme is available at: https://www.opap.gr/etairiki-upeuthunotita-opap

Improved economic performance and new jobs under OPAP Forward

OPAP, true to its strategy of creating value for the Greek society and economy, started implementing the OPAP Forward program in April 2017, in collaboration with the international non-profit organization supporting entrepreneurshipEndeavor Greece.

Over the last six years, the programme has evolved into a growth tool for dynamic and outward-looking SMEs, which form the backbone of the Greek economy.

The 69 SMEs that participated in OPAP Forward in previous years have managed to improve their financial performance and increase their human resources. In particular, they created 2,847 new direct jobs and, through the partnerships developed, they support 23,083 new indirect jobs. At the same time, their total turnover increased by 470 million euros, according to the financial data of the enterprises themselves.

These significant results were achieved through a comprehensive range of services provided by OPAP Forward to participating businesses, including:

• Comprehensive guidance through a network of successful entrepreneurs and senior market executives
• Training seminars in areas such as strategy, finance and HR management, marketing and sales, branding and communication
• Access to financial instruments in cooperation with the National Bank of Greece
• Access to international markets
• Networking activities both with other participants and with other entrepreneurs

As part of the OPAP Forward programme, the following have taken place to date:

• 359 strategic coaching sessions
• 78 seminars and 465 counselling sessions
• networking activities with 125 executives of the Greek market
• 233 contacts with companies and investors in Greece and around the world

Selection criteria for new companies

The OPAP Forward programme is aimed at growing SMEs with a turnover of less than 50 million euros, irrespective of the sector in which they operate. Particular emphasis is placed on those areas where Greece has a competitive advantage, such as:

• the food and drink sector
• the industry,
• trade and catering
• tourism
• the retail
• agricultural production
• and in sectors with growth potential, such as new technologies

The SMEs that will join the sixth cycle of the programme will be selected on the basis of a series of quantitative and qualitative criteria relating to both the business and the entrepreneur. After the initial assessment, businesses that meet the quantitative criteria will be invited to participate in the interview phase, during which they will be assessed on issues such as business strategy, innovation, potential for future growth and business model. Once the interviews are completed, the list of the most suitable companies will be drawn up, from which the final selection of those who will participate in the new cycle of OPAP Forward will be made.