Ten new small and medium-sized enterprises will join in the 5th cycle of the OPAP Forward program and acquire a unique perspective to grow and create new jobs. As stated in a relevant announcement, the programme Corporate Responsibility of OPAP, that to date, has been on the side of 59 companies, inaugurates its fifth cycle. The aim is to help even more small and medium-sized enterprises to grow, create new jobs and, by extension, strengthen the Greek market.

Businesses interested in joining the programme OPAP Forward can submit applications to participate until Monday 4 April 2022 (closing time 12:00 pm). Applications can be submitted online via OPAP's Corporate Responsibility website at: www.opapcsr.gr . All information on the OPAP Forward programme is available there.

Strong footprint in the Greek economy - 2,260 new direct jobs created

OPAP started implementing the OPAP Forward programme in April 2017 . The program is implemented in cooperation with the international non-profit organization supporting entrepreneurship Endeavor Greece .

The 59 small and medium-sized enterprises that have participated in the programme in previous years have managed to improve their financial performance. At the same time, they succeeded in increasing their human resources. Specifically, they created 2,260 new direct jobs. Through the partnerships developed, they support 20,249 new indirect jobs. At the same time , Their total turnover increased by EUR 242 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, financial and human resources management, marketing and sales, branding and communication
• Access to financial instruments in cooperation with NBG
• Access to international markets
• Networking activities with the other participants as well as with other entrepreneurs

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

• 302 strategic coaching sessions
• 63 seminars and 431 counseling sessions
• networking activities with 90 executives of the Greek market
• 161 contacts with companies and investors in Greece and around the world

Selection process of new companies for the OPAP Forward action

The OPAP Forward programme is aimed at growing SMEs from all sectors of the economy. Particular emphasis is placed on those sectors where Greece has a competitive advantage, such as:

• tourism
• agricultural production
• The food and beverage industry
• as well as industries with growth potential, such as new technologies

Small and medium-sized enterprises, which will be included in the programme this year, will be selected on the basis of a series of quantitative and qualitative criteria that concern both the business and the entrepreneur himself. After the initial evaluation, companies that meet the quantitative criteria will participate in the interview phase, during which they will be evaluated on topics such as business strategy, innovation, potential for future growth and business model. Once the interviews have been completed, a shortlist of the top companies will be drawn up, from which the final selection of the ten companies that will participate in the fifth round of OPAP Forward will be made.

The new cycle of OPAP Forward will be attended by a total of 50 SMEs, as the 19 companies of the first cycle successfully graduated in 2021.