Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB)

According to a recent study conducted by the ILO, an estimated 70% of all jobs are created by micro and small enterprises. As such, supporting aspiring entrepreneurs is key in creating more and better jobs. The ILO’s Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) entrepreneurship training programme was designed as a set of inter-related training packages to support micro and small enterprises throughout the different phases of business development, from business creation to growth and expansion.

First developed in the 1970s, SIYB has been growing and expanding. Over the years, the programme has continuously been updated to adapt to new trends and developments as well as specific sectors and target groups. Most recent additions to the SIYB family include: the e-SIYB modules for online trainings, the ‘Green Business Booklet’ to mainstream environmental issues into SIYB trainings and the ‘Digitalize your Business’ module to help entrepreneurs make the best use of digital tools.

© ILO

© ILO

SIYB at a glance: 400+ Master trainers, 55,000+ trainers, 10,000+ partner organizations, 23.7 million entrepreneurs trained, 10 million+ jobs created

The SIYB core programme is structured into four separate training packages which are designed to respond to the progressive stages of business development. These include Generate Your Business Idea (GYB), Start Your Business (SYB), Improve Your Business (IYB) and Expand Your Business (EYB).

Generate Your Business Idea (GYB) is intended for people who would like to start a business, and who, through the training, develop a concrete business idea ready for implementation.

Start Your Business (SYB) is for potential entrepreneurs who want to start a small business and already have a concrete business idea. The programme is a combination of training, field work and after-training support, and helps participants assess their readiness to start a business and to prepare a business plan and evaluate its viability.

Improve Your Business (IYB) introduces already practising entrepreneurs to good principles of business management. Its six modules (marketing, costing, buying and stock control, record keeping, planning for your business, and people and productivity) can be taught individually or all combined in a full course.

Expand Your Business (EYB) enables growth-oriented small enterprises to develop a business growth strategy through training interventions.

SIYB also includes the SIYB Business Game, a practical simulation tool to help participants understand the realities of starting and running a business.

The package is completed by the recently developed Digitalise your Business tool and the Green business booklet.

SIYB training activities and networks globally are monitored and traced through the SIYB Gateway.

The SIYB programme is complemented by ‘SABY’ – an AI powered business advisor that provides post-training advice and support to entrepreneurs.