The UK National Agency Ecorys has now started to promote the new Erasmus + programme. Scheduled to operate from 2014 to 201 it will replace the old Life Long Learning programmes by bringing together a number of strands such as Leonardo and Grundtvig.

As such is going to be the main focus for many smaller organisations who are trying to access EU funding. Ecorys are doing a great job getting the message out but the big question is will Erasmus + make it easier for the smaller organisations to access EU funds or will it make it harder and thereby drive the funds to the larger organisations.

For all the latest up to date information see the UK Erasmus + web site at: http://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/

Over the next few weeks we will be looking at this question and seeing how we might overcome any potential problems that might occur in adjusting to the new programmes.

According to this, 2014 will be a great year for e-commerce growth.

"E-commerce will become the platform of choice in 2014. With every little acorn grows a mighty oak. Even startups want to sell products worldwide online in a quick transaction. Ecommerce is the ticket to a more prosperous future."

"When Harvard offers a course on something, you know it’s going to be the next big thing. The continuing education program recently began offering a course on launching an ecommerce startup that is intended for entrepreneurs. According to Harvard, the course dives into relevant concerns for ecommerce businesses of any size “including business strategy, business models, distribution channels, entrepreneurship issues, legal issues, and market strategy.” The course reviews the opportunities and risks, and students collaborate with others to apply their knowledge to real-life ecommerce projects."

"When the Economist reports on an anticipated entrepreneurial explosion, you know you better track it. The Economist reports: “Digital startups are bubbling up in an astonishing variety of services and products, penetrating every nook and cranny of the economy. They are reshaping entire industries and even changing the very notion of the firm.” The Economist’s special report explains how startups operate, how they are nurtured, how they are financed, and how they collaborate with others. It is a story of technological change creating a new paradigm, which governments worldwide are supporting. And many of these startups are interested in selling products everywhere."

"When research experts report that ecommerce is essentially reshaping consumer behavior, you better prepare accordingly. King reports that people aren’t always just buying online — they’re browsing and then going to retail stores to make purchases. Holiday retail foot traffic has been declining for the past three years. The reason: online sales. What makes the slowdown in retail foot traffic even more significant is that ecommerce is responsible for only six percent of overall retail sales, leaving lots of room for growth. As online sales grow, foot traffic may decline further. Retailers will make an online presence a top priority in 2014. Expect many to be in catch-up mode against their competitors."

"When there’s talk that Twitter is interested in ecommerce, it’s a major wake-up call to the world that we are going to get a major burst of new ecommerce activity. (...) Should Twitter tune in to ecommerce, expect a powerhouse of additional revenue growth."

"When Starbucks makes serious changes to its leadership team that involve a laser-sharp focus on mobile and digital sales, you know the company is both nervous and preparing fast for the seismic shift to online buying."

"When more and more successful retailers view global expansion as an artery for fresh, new growth, the world will become everyone’s market — and that’s just a hop, skip and a jump away. A. T. Kearney’s Global Retail Ecommerce Index, which ranks the top 30 countries for their ecommerce potential, provides retailers a wealth of information for use in developing successful global ecommerce strategies and identifying emerging market investment opportunities. A key finding from the report: “Today’s most successful retailers see global expansion as a crucial platform for growth.” With ecommerce initiatives rising, retailers have an opportunity to better serve their customers the world over and drive continued revenue growth for their businesses and their industries as a whole."

According to this, the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce, which launched a business network last year to support Latino entrepreneurs, has announced that the Hispanic social business network has grown quite a bit in just a few months.

"Latino entrepreneurs are networking like ever before. According to the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce's (HISCEC) recent release, its private business network has reached more than 5,000 users in the short time since its autumn launch last year, "making it one of the fastest growing Hispanic private business networks in the country.""

"The Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce is a social enterprise, using the power of business for social good. Our business model allows us to be financially self-sustaining, providing thousands of business owners a free platform to connect, build business relationships and grow their businesses."

"HISCEC launched its network for Latino entrepreneurs knowing that some business owners might be a little intimidated by enterprise requirements of the new digital world: building a webpage, networking, getting exposure, and figuring out other technical details."

"HISCEC's "Get Hispanic Businesses Online" initiative launched with the goal of getting 100,000 Hispanic-owned businesses up and running on the internet, providing web presence-building tools, marketing support, and other internet business tools to help promote e-commerce and foster growth."

"We truly love small business owners and are passionate for the ongoing success of Hispanic-owned companies, in all industries and across the United States. That's why we make membership, including a full range of basic services, available completely for free. We are the only Hispanic business association of our kind to do this, and it is entirely because of our true zeal for seeing Hispanic businesses thrive on the Internet and in the communities that they serve."

According to this, Greece and Austria are the latest members to join Ecommerce Europe, the European ecommerce organization, with GRECA and aCommerce  Team, respectively.

"GRECA is the equivalent for Greek ECommerce Association, a national body that was established in 2012 in Greece by 22 ecommerce companies. By 2014, more than 115 online retailers joined GRECA and its communication channels reach more than 2,000 senior ecommerce decision-makers in Greece. Its main activities include networking, education, lobbying with the state and other national bodies, building trust to the consumers."

"aCommerce Team is the Austrian ecommerce association, representing over 150 e-tailers in Austria. The Austrian ecommerce industry was founded in 2013. Raffael Tannheimer and Stephan Grad initially started aCommerce Team as an event program. As the feedback of the Austrian ecommerce market was positive, they decided to put the foundation for an independent association in February 2014 to provide the public affairs with representation and to support the ecommerce market in Austria with know-how, professional trainings and networking opportunities."

According to this, in Finland, time spent online has increased mostly among people aged over 55.

"Results show that 42% of the respondents said they used the internet more in 2013 as compared to 2012. The use of internet services has increased mostly on a tablet, but the use of internet on smart phones has also continued to upgrade slightly."

"The same study indicates that currently, 33% of the respondents have a tablet, whereas in 2013 the figure was 18%. According to research, tablet devices are still used to browse the internet or watch videos and television programmes. In 2014, 86% of the respondents who use a tablet said that they browse the internet on a tablet (in 2013, the corresponding figure was 90%), 51% said they watch videos (in 2013, the corresponding figure was 44%), and 39% said they watch television programmes on their tablet (in 2013, the corresponding figure was 34%)."

"Findings also unveil that over 80% of Finns who own a smart phone say they also use applications. In 2013, the corresponding figure was 60%. Social media and communication applications are used the most, followed by news applications. The survey reveals that Facebook, Google Maps and YouTube are the most popular applications. Facebook and Google Maps have been downloaded by 65% of users and YouTube by 63%."