The Prevent Foundation and ESADE launch the 4th edition of the 'Entrepreneurship Class'

08 Jun 2017 | Network Updates
The inaugural class of the joint Prevent Foundation-ESADE programme for people with disabilities highlights the value of leading and mobilising through entrepreneurship.

According to data from the 2016-2017 ‘Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’ report, the entrepreneurial activity rate in Spain is only 5.7%, well below the European average. However, the various entrepreneurs who participated in the inaugural class of the joint Prevent Foundation-ESADE ‘Entrepreneurship Class’ programme showed that starting a business is a good career choice, in addition to a matter of passion, determination and communication skills.

Patricia Pólvora, of Teterum, Hugo Sánchez, of Mabrián, and Oscar Camps, of PROACTIVA Open Arms, shared their experiences with the group of 18 entrepreneurs with various disabilities, discussing the value of teamwork, knowing how to break the rules and learning from your mistakes and showing that any initiative, in any industry, can spark social change. Antonio Llorens, president of the Prevent Foundation, and Oriol Llop, Communications and Brand Director at ESADE, agreed on the value of initiatives that bring together academia, industry and the social sector.

The ‘Entrepreneurship Class’ programme, which is aimed at entrepreneurs with disabilities, has now been held twice in Madrid and four times in Barcelona. It combines classes on theory taught by ESADE faculty with multidisciplinary workshops offered by executives from leading companies and organisations. This latter group moreover participates as tutors and mentors of the students, with whom they share their experience and knowledge in relation to the different business ideas the students present after the course..

Several leading companies in a variety of industries in Spain support the programme, including: Áreas, Cuatrecasas, Esteve, FCC, Ferrero, the Jesús Serra Foundation (Catalana Occidente Group), King, Obra Social La Caixa, OTP, Prevencontrol, Secot, Serunion, Uriach and WiZink. The initiative also has the support of the Catalan government’s Catalunya Emprèn programme to promote entrepreneurship.

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