SkillUp Program Directors Reveal the Secret to Their Business Success

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Acquiring new knowledge, personal and professional development, and networking with other entrepreneurs are key benefits of the SkillUp program, a free education initiative by the Ministry of Economy aimed at directors of small and medium-sized enterprises in Croatia.

Selected entrepreneurs from the first group have already started the program and have gone through an intensive working retreat at Terme Tuhelj. There, among other activities, they attended an inspiring lecture by Davor Bruketa, co-owner and creative director of the agency Bruketa&Žinić&Grey, and participated in workshops by Ignition, a company specializing in more effective human resource management. Those particularly interested in artificial intelligence had the opportunity for individual consultations with representatives from Ekimetrics.

Last Chance to Apply for the Second Group of Participants

While the first group is entering the peak of the program, applications for the second group will soon close. Interested parties can apply only until October 6, as the education for the second group begins on October 20 and lasts until November 24. The working retreat is planned from October 29 to 31 in Rijeka.

All those selected for the second group will receive a unique opportunity to join a community of visionary leaders who are aware of the challenges of the new era and an exclusive opportunity for growth and advancement within the SkillUp program.

What Do Participants from the First Group Say?

– The company I lead has been successfully operating for 35 years, but I have been in the role of CEO for a relatively short time. This was my motivation to apply for SkillUp – because being an employee is one experience, and leading a company is quite another. I am aware that I lack certain knowledge for successful management, and therefore this program represents an excellent opportunity for growth and development. The topics it covers, from soft skills to technological trends, are extremely relevant and tailored to the challenges ahead of us. As highlighted during the program presentation: there is no scale-up without skill-up. That is why I believe that the knowledge we gain here is essential for further business growth – stated Emilija Stručić, CEO of Infodesign from Varaždin for IT activities.

– The first association I have with the SkillUp program is – strengthening skills. In business, we work daily with limited resources, and that is why it is crucial to strengthen the skills that bring us better and more effective results. I see SkillUp as a catalyst for business speed and efficiency. The special value of the program is its combination – part of it takes place online, which saves us time, and part in person, which provides an excellent opportunity for networking and exchanging experiences. The lecturers and mentors come from various industries and bring exceptional value to the program with their rich experience – said Marko Šarić, director and founder of Sarmenta from Zagreb, a startup focused on developing innovative self-healing products.

– I applied for SkillUp out of curiosity, primarily due to topics related to AI tools. Through individual work with experts from the French company Ekimetrics, I received concrete advice on how to apply them in everyday business. The lectures on hiring and team communication were particularly valuable to me, as these are challenges we all face. The program also allowed me to meet directors from different industries, with whom I see potential for collaboration in the future. I believe that SkillUp is an excellent cohesion strategy – it connects us, encourages collaboration, and helps us advance with new technologies – added Matej Čuljak, director of Čuljak d.o.o. from Slavonski Brod, which produces and sells household cleaning products.

– I am in the program for two reasons – for my own incremental progress and the growth of my company, and for networking. Most participants are in the phase of expanding their business, so this is an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences. I particularly value that I received training that someone else designed for me and new insights into approaches I had not previously applied. The program allows me to step back from the daily and often stressful business, see the bigger picture, and find ways to improve company management through discussions with others – said Mirna Horvat, co-founder and operational director of the software development company Leapwise d.o.o. from Zagreb.

– SkillUp reminds me of the importance of lifelong learning and preparation for a new era. Our focus is on the digitalization of logistics and production and the transition to Industry 4.0, to accelerate and simplify all processes in the company. The program is an excellent combination of learning and networking, and interacting with other companies from Croatia provides an opportunity for potential future collaboration – noted Zoran Premeru, director of Premis from Makarska, which produces ice cream.

Program Details

The SkillUp program combines masterclasses, workshops, and individual consultations with leading lecturers from companies such as Microsoft and IBM. Over five weeks, through a hybrid learning model, participants enhance their knowledge in software development, tourism, the food industry, and manufacturing through general modules and specialized workshops. The program includes inspiring stories from founders, theoretical-practical workshops from renowned consulting firms, and fieldwork that provides practical learning experience.

Who Can Apply?

The SkillUp program is open for application to executive directors of Croatian companies that:

• employ between 10 and 250 employees,
• achieve a minimum annual turnover of 500,000 euros,
• have been in business for more than three years

The program was launched by the Ministry of Economy, with the support of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and financial backing from the European Union through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO). The program is valued at nearly four million euros but is completely free for entrepreneurs. By the end of the year, it is expected that 150 directors will participate in the program.

More about the program and how to apply: https://skillup.mingo.gov.hr/hr

SkillUp program LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skillup-program

Ministry of Economy social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574910730409

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ministarstvo-gospodarstva/