The 99% of Businesses: How can we make SMEs in high-income countries more sustainable? Willem Overbosch of Ubiquity University

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are key players and national economies around the world. For example, in the OECD area, they represent 99% of all businesses, generating about 60% of employment and between 50% and 60% of value-added. Therefore, SMEs play a major role in delivering growth that is more inclusive and whose benefits are shared more broadly. Are SMEs in high-income countries aware of the sustainable development goals? What changed in the past decades and how can young people start sustainable entrepreneurship for a better future? Let's hear from Willem Overbosch, Head of Business Development at the Ubiquity University, his experience in helping SMEs build and grow their business in the Netherlands and Australia for the past 20 years, the shifts and trends among SMEs, the differences across regions and ages, and his tips to business owners and young generation of entrepreneurs in building a more inclusive and sustainable business.  Want to learn more about sustainable development and learning? Subscribe to SDG Learncast. Visit UN SDG:Learn website at www.unsdglearn.org to get the latest learning offers on the 2030 Agenda and SDGs. The transcript of the podcast is available at https://www.unsdglearn.org/podcast/.  The opinions expressed in the SDG Learncast podcasts are solely those of the authors. They do not reflect the opinions or views of UN SDG:Learn, its Joint Secretariat, and partners.