Centre SME Governance

The Centre for SME Governance aims to raise awareness of the importance of good governance for SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups. Good governance is sometimes overlooked but is crucial for sustainable growth. This centre supports SMEs on their path to good governance, taking into account the specific challenges they face at each stage of their growth.

We are convinced that each SME and the challenges it faces are unique. That is why GUBERNA aims to guide entrepreneurs in applying pragmatic, flexible and effective governance policies tailored to their needs.

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For whom?

The SME Centre specifically targets SMEs, regardless of their size or number of years in existence, but also focuses on start-ups/scale-ups. The SME Centre targets companies facing a variety of governance challenges.

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SME's

The SME Centre specifically targets SMEs, regardless of their size or number of years in existence. In doing so, GUBERNA seeks to offer a broad spectrum of tools and activities tailored to the unique needs and challenges faced by SMEs.
Start-up & Scaleup

Through this initiative, we wish to bring entrepreneurs and founders of start-ups/scale-ups together with experienced members of our network to exchange knowledge and experiences.

Activities

The GUBERNA SME Centre is fully aware of the need for networking and sharing experiences. That is why numerous activities are organised to improve and develop the governance level of SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups.

Exciting events take place throughout the year to promote good governance, such as the "Board of the Year", the "Womed Award" or an event specially dedicated to governance in start-ups. The SME Centre will also give the floor to renowned SMEs through themed interviews. Tailor-made trainings and inspiration sessions with our partner BDO will also be organised. Finally, our members will have the opportunity to discover our new digital tools (Governance Maturity Scan and Board Self Evaluation Tool), which allow them to accurately evaluate their level of governance and their board or advisory board.

Award - Bestuur van het jaar

Is your board of directors making a difference? Do you create added value for an unlisted company as a complementary and entrepreneurial team? Then register your board of directors for the first edition of 'Board of the Year'.

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GUBERNA Governance Mentoring for SME's

Would you like to further professionalise the management of your SME but do not know exactly how to go about it?
Do you sometimes need an objective sounding board who dares to point things out?
Can an external view on your company add value and provide new insights into your company's challenges?

Meer informatie

Different ways to engage with us

Through the SME Governance Centre, GUBERNA wants to optimise the composition and functioning of boards of directors or advisory councils - as they are a prerequisite for a solid company. More generally, GUBERNA also wants to strengthen the foundations of good governance in the world of Belgian SMEs/start-ups/scale-ups, namely by :

Professional, objective decision-making
Transparency
Definition and delegation of powers
Checks and balances

As a knowledge institute, we try to achieve the above objectives by carrying out an in-depth analysis of the various aspects of good governance in SMEs. The resulting governance themes and challenges are translated into pragmatic advice, practical tools and inspiring events and training sessions. This is done in close cooperation with our partners, drawing on their extensive know-how. The bottom line is that "content inspires networking, networking inspires content".

Services & Tools

Board self evaluation tool

The GUBERNA Board Self Evaluation Tool is a practical digital tool that allows an organisation's board to reflect on its performance and identify and implement concrete action points to improve board effectiveness.
Creating awareness and simulating a board evaluation is a first step in the continuous improvement needed for each individual director and board group.
Governance maturity scan

As a manager of a young company or ambitious SME, you are looking for a balanced and workable relationship between shareholder(s), directors and management. This may raise many questions and doubts for you.
In practice, good governance does mean something other than "just applying some principles or following some rules from a code". It is just that you sometimes lack the tools or experience to make the appropriate choice out of the many codes and all possible best practice recommendations.

There are surplus challenges today to guide your company into the future. Good governance is the basis for this. It is a cockpit that ensures you maintain an overview at all times for the agility of your business.

Ann Magnus

Managing director, Magnus Business Gifts

Publications for SME Governance

The SME Governance Centre aims to provide companies with pragmatic and effective support for their governance processes. As a research institute, the SME Centre's work will include:

Challenges for SME governance in 2024, including the new CSRD and CS3D guidelines and their impact.
A governance toolkit with governance basics for start-ups and scale-ups.
A report on remuneration and best practices for SME directors.

Highlighted publications

The two most important strategic yards for SMEs in 2024

For SMEs, a key driver of our national prosperity, it is interesting to look at what the future holds in an increasingly complex world, and the key strategic challenges for the year 2024. GUBERNA has identified two key strategic concerns that should be monitored by SMEs in 2024 (and in the years to come).
Navigating your SME through risks and opportunities thanks to professional governance

In this article, we take a closer look at the problems an advisory board or board can solve for your SME, and what opportunities the same boards can create for your business.
Benefits of good governance for SMEs

The important thing to remember is that even in SMEs where the director, shareholder and day-to-day manager are the same person, there are many advantages to putting on just the director's hat from time to time, because from that role you can see all the issues from a strategic distance.