Sustainable business in Österlen

New opportunities for companies in Tomelilla and Simrishamn

How can small businesses in Österlen become both more sustainable and more competitive? Through collaboration, knowledge and new meeting places, better conditions are now being created for a viable business community in Tomelilla and Simrishamn.

The project "Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Österlen" aims to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises in the municipalities of Tomelilla and Simrishamn through increased collaboration, knowledge exchange and sustainable business development. Through close cooperation between the municipalities, Företagarna Tomelilla and Företagarna Österlen, more meeting places are created where entrepreneurs can network, share experiences and develop their businesses together.

The project is based on companies' own needs and everyday challenges, such as skills supply, digitalization, sustainability requirements, sales and crisis preparedness. Activities include networking meetings, inspirational lectures, workshops and study visits, both physically and digitally, to reach as many people as possible. A particular focus is on making sustainability understandable and feasible even for the smallest companies, without pointers or unreasonable demands. The project wants to show how economic, social and environmental sustainability can go hand in hand with profitability and development.

Through inclusion, dialogue and collaboration across industry boundaries, the project contributes to a more attractive, innovative and long-term sustainable business community in Österlen, where both companies and the local community can grow together.

The board's assessment

Decision date: 2025-12-17
Total selection criteria: 645 points
The board's justification: The board approves the project because it has a clear bottom-up perspective with expected results based on planned activities that fit well within the framework of the development strategy. The project has clear collaborations across the three sectors and is expected to have ripple effects over time.