Strengthening BSOs to Deliver Better SME Support

 

We help business support organisations (BSOs) strengthen their strategy, services, advisor capabilities and delivery systems so they can deliver more effective support to SMEs. Our work combines diagnostics, service development, advisor training and institutional strengthening to improve competitiveness, exports and long-term impact.

What We Strengthen

A practical approach to strengthening institutions, improving SME support services and building the capability of BSO advisors.

We have supported chambers of commerce, industry associations, export promotion agencies and SME support organisations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

 

BSO Assessments and Roadmaps

  • Capacity needs assessments
  • Review of SME support services
  • Identification of service gaps and opportunities
  • Roadmaps and prioritised action plans

    • Service Portfolio Development

  • Design of SME support and export advisory services
  • Development of fee-based services
  • Member and client service improvement
  • Sustainable & scalable service delivery models

    • Advisor Capacity Building and Training

  • Training for BSO staff and advisors
  • Coaching on delivery of specialised SME services
  • Practical advisor tools and templates
  • Training-of-trainers programmes

    • Sustainable Delivery Systems

  • KPI and monitoring frameworks
  • Digital and blended service delivery
  • Pricing and charging models
  • Sustainability and scale-up planning
    • Typical Programme Outcomes

     

    • Stronger BSO strategy • Improved SME support services • Better-trained advisors • More effective SME delivery •

    • Stronger business growth support • More measurable institutional results •


    SME programme design

    BSO capacity building

    SME competitiveness

    Export training

    Programme Impact Examples

    Delivering measurable results across regions and programme types.

    🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi

    SME Export Matching Programme

    Export Development / B2B / Matching

    • Export readiness assessment & segmentation
    • Buyer identification, trade missions & B2B meetings
    • Accelerating export sales in target export markets
    AED 343m+ exports generated
    🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi

    SME Champions Programme

    Supplier Development / Corporate Linkages

    • SME assessments and capability upgrading
    • Engaging with corporate buyers to understand requirements
    • Structured B2B matchmaking events focused on sales
    AED 70m+ SME contracts secured
    🏴 Scotland

    Preparing to Export Programmes

    Export Training and Coaching

    • Cross-sector and sector-specific programmes
    • Practical export plans
    • Award-winning blended learning programme
    1,000+ SMEs supported
    🇺🇦 Ukraine

    BSO Capacity Building (EU4Business / GIZ)

    15 Ukrainian BSOs & Associations Supported

    • Internationalisation roadmaps developed for each BSO
    • BSO advisors trained to provide export support services
    • BSOs and SMEs prepared to do business in Europe
    MoUs for BSOs and export sales for Ukrainian SMEs
    🇯🇴 Jordan

    International E-Commerce Capacity Building

    Needs assessment and capacity building

    • Ecosystem mapping and capacity building of BSOs
    • SME selection and prioritisation
    • Supporting SMEs to develop digital export plans
    SMEs supported to enter online cross-border markets
    🇻🇳 Vietnam

    ARISE+ Programme Formulation (EU)

    Policy and Programme Design

    • Export competitiveness analysis
    • Sector and value-chain prioritisation
    • Programme architecture and results logic
    Evidence-based export support framework