TUI Futureshapers Greece

In Greece, despite the potential for entrepreneurial innovation in the food and tourism sectors, approximately 30% of young people are unemployed. Often relying on low-paying seasonal jobs in popular Greek tourism destinations, they struggle to find stable, year-round employment. Additionally, many small family-owned businesses, including farmers, food producers, and artisans, face many challenges due to a lack of market access, promotion and capacity building.

TUI Futureshapers Greece addresses these critical issues by providing guidance and support to young entrepreneurs and small business owners. It offers an intensive and practical online educational programme to 1000 participants from all over Greece, to help them launch or improve their entrepreneurial ideas. A team of expert trainers provides practical knowledge to participants, fostering innovation and helping them bring their ideas to life. Additionally, successful entrepreneurs from these sectors share best practices and act as mentors, guiding participants through one-on-one sessions. After completing the course, the top 10 projects take part in a two-day bootcamp in Athens, featuring workshops and inspiring talks, and allowing participants to fine-tune their pitch decks. The teams present their projects, and the top two ideas will receive grants of €1,000 and €500 per month for six months respectively, enabling them to focus on bringing their ideas to life.

The project collaborates with leading Greek universities to promote the programme to students interested in launching start-ups in these sectors. It also works closely with the Greek National Tourism Organisation to ensure broad outreach and support.

The programme also works with 60 SMEs, local artisans, small entrepreneurs, and producers in the popular tourism regions: Zakynthos and Peloponnese, Corfu, Epirus, the Cyclades and Rhodes. Called the EMPOWER Programme, it will offer capacity building training and business opportunities. The training will cover essential topics such as sales, product refinement, marketing and digital campaigns. The goal is to help artisans and producers become more professional and increase their business opportunities. Participants can showcase their products at different events and the most innovative SMEs will have the chance to collaborate with project partner Wise Greece, to promote and sell their products at the ‘Local Gems exhibitions’, where locals, tourists and visitors can buy them.

Wise Greece is a multi-awarded organisation that, in 2020, was one of seven initiatives globally recognised by the United Nations and the World Bank for its work in the implementation of the Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030.

Over the past decade, Wise Greece has supported more than 100 small food producers and entrepreneurs to sell over 2,500 products in Greece and eight other countries, helping them run financially sustainable businesses. At the same time, it donates its profits from product sales to provide food supplies to families, children, and the elderly in need.

To further maximise its social impact, Wise Greece organises educational programmes for children on sustainability, provides upskilling opportunities to unemployed people in rural areas, and empowers women through initiatives aimed at creating new job opportunities for them. Additionally, the organisation collaborates with various stakeholders to promote a more sustainable and inclusive economy in Europe and beyond.