The market power of the few motor vehicle manufacturers and their importers has repeatedly proven to be a latent danger for the more than 5000 SME dealers/garages in Switzerland. Time and again, there have been violations of antitrust law: Manufacturers attempted to seal off the Swiss market from foreign countries by preventing or impeding parallel or direct imports. The denial of warranties for imported vehicles also occurred, or independent workshops were not supplied with spare parts. Technical access to brand-specific diagnostics or electronic service manuals is denied. Authorized dealers have had their rights curtailed.

This "register of sins," as enumerated by the Association of Free Car Dealers Switzerland VFAS, is long. Swiss consumers and SMEs are the ones who suffer from such excesses: There is less choice at higher prices and hindrances for consumers and SMEs ("High Price Island Switzerland"). The WEKO therefore issued a motor vehicle notice in 2002 with numerous dealer protection and consumer provisions. However, this has rarely been implemented in practice - due to the lack of binding force for courts.

The road to legislative change

In 2018, National Councillor Gerhard Pfister submitted a motion (No. 18.3898) with the aim of allowing the WEKO notice to flow into a motor vehicle ordinance and thus make it binding for courts and authorities - as in the EU. The motion was supported by a broad alliance under the political leadership of the VFAS with the associations AGVS, ACS, Carrosserie Suisse, SAA, VSS, 2rad Schweiz, Unia and Syna. The National Council and the Council of States have approved the motion. The new ordinance will now come into force on January 1, 2024.

What rights SMEs and consumers will now receive

As of January 1, 2024, the following conduct on the part of manufacturers/importers will be considered a violation of the Cartel Act:

• Obstacles to imports, for example by making it more difficult to obtain a manufacturer's warranty.
• Restrictions to distribute vehicles of other brands.
• Restrictions on access to original spare parts and the right to use equivalent original spare parts without risking the loss of the warranty
• Restrictions on access to all types of mechanical and digital tools necessary for vehicle maintenance.
• Restrictions on access to information and professional instruction.
• Restrictions to perform service and repairs on imported vehicles with factory warranty.
• Refusal of a service contract if the independent or branded dealer meets all the manufacturer's standards.

VFAS President Roger Kunz is very happy as the driving force behind the concern of the Swiss Parliament: "For the VFAS, the protection of Swiss car dealers and garages and motorists is central. The effort has paid off. Now the motor vehicle rules of the WEKO will be placed on a binding legal basis." The association has represented the interests of the independent and free car trade in Switzerland since 1956. It opposes all restrictions and impediments to the free car trade. According to VFAS surveys, direct and parallel imports generate an annual economic value added of 1.5 billion Swiss francs.

Source: VFAS

Since its establishment in 2008, the Climate Foundation has disbursed subsidies totaling over 37 million Swiss francs to more than 2,300 SMEs in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. "The Climate Foundation is a model for success", emphasizes Managing Director Vincent Eckert, who has held this position since the beginning.

The time of castles in the air is over

"Initially, many applications were insufficient," Eckert recalls. "There were projects that would have been physically impossible to implement." Among the applicants were real dreamers. "They sometimes built veritable castles in the air and sometimes developed a special device, but that would have been almost impossible to scale up and therefore not relevant to the climate." Quality went up - on both sides. "Our processes were also significantly improved, with the aim of making funding less bureaucratic but more targeted."

All of this led to an enriching exchange for all involved. "The applications came and come across from many industries such as cheese dairies, carpentries to laundries to the hospitality industry," summarizes Vincent Eckert. "Every production needs energy".

Federal Councillor Rösti as keynote speaker

In the anniversary year 2023, two celebrations will take place to underline the importance of the foundation. Federal Councillor and DETEC head Albert Rösti will appear as keynote speaker at a panel discussion in Bern on September 13. And on July 25, the Swiss Climate Foundation will hold a networking event where partner companies and interested parties will meet with funded projects. On July 25, the Foundation will be a guest at the Allianz Cinema Night. As moderator, Christian Jungen, Director of the Zurich Film Festival, will elegantly draw a line between the world of film and climate protection efforts.

Numerous well-wishers

Various personalities congratulate on the 15th anniversary. "From the economy for the economy is more important than ever," Monika Rühl of economiesuisse is pleased to say. "The partner companies carry the Foundation's message further and show that together they can make a difference in the financial industry," is how Gabriele Burn, President of the Foundation Board from 2008-2019, sums it up. And for Patrick Hofstetter of WWF Switzerland, the foundation is "a wonderful example of private-sector commitment leading to greater climate protection and justice."

Source: Climate Foundation Switzerland

"Innovation in focus from the start"

Vincent Eckert has been the foundation's managing director since its inception. In this interview, he talks about his experiences and the benefits of the Swiss Climate Foundation for companies.

Mr. Eckert, what is your personal motivation for getting involved in climate protection on a daily basis?
Vincent EckertI am fascinated by entrepreneurship and enthusiastic about the many innovative projects that we receive. The regular exchange with the partner companies also motivates me. I am proud to say that the Swiss Climate Foundation offers real solutions for the economy.

What is the secret of the foundation's success? 
There is a lot of high technology in Switzerland. The economy researches and invents. In the development of battery and storage technology, for example, Switzerland occupies a leading position worldwide. I feel that our country is a test garden. The ideas and products of Swiss and Liechtenstein SMEs often take off globally. So if there is a secret to success, it is the wealth of ideas of SMEs. The Swiss Climate Foundation benefits from this, and our partner companies in the network benefit from it. From the very beginning, we have relied on the dynamism of the SME landscape. And we have not been disappointed, and still are not.

When you look back at the beginnings, what comes to mind?
Innovation was the focus from the very beginning. Even at the fifth anniversary, projects presented created a buzz. I remember Hey Chimpy. The company is still successful on the market today. And we are quite proud of that. It was also possible because of the support from the foundation.

What does the support of the now 31 partner companies mean to the Swiss Climate Foundation?
We feel the unconditional will to help shape the future, to take action and to stand up to climate change in a strong alliance.

What are the advantages of being a partner company of the Swiss Climate Foundation? 
The foundation is supported by well-known service companies such as banks, insurance companies and consulting firms. These partner companies support the foundation with their financial contribution, but also by providing experts on the foundation's advisory board. This creates a knowledge loop between the foundation, the partner companies and the SMEs whose projects we support.

What is the role of a partner? 
Each partner company can provide one or 2 advisory board members and has one vote in voting. The main task of the advisory board is to evaluate the project applications received. The focus is on the climate benefit of the respective project. We appreciate the regular participation and exchange at the advisory board meetings. This enables the Advisory Board to make a clear recommendation for acceptance or rejection, which is then submitted to the Foundation Board. In order for the Advisory Board to efficiently arrive at a voting recommendation for the Foundation Board, a project godfather system is used.

At Avadis Vorsorge AG, which manages autonomous pension funds and collective foundations and runs its own investment foundations under the Avadis and AFIAA brands with a total of around CHF 14 billion in assets, there will be a change in the Executive Board: Christian Zoss succeeds Dr. Claudia Emele, who will concentrate on the management and further development of the Avadis investment foundations at her own request. "With Christian Zoss, we are strengthening the management team with a lot of market experience in the field of asset management," emphasizes CEO Benno Halter. "We are pleased to have found an excellent internal succession solution." Christian Zoss joined Avadis in summer 2016 as Head of Sales Investments. Prior to that, he was responsible for institutional clients at various banks and asset managers in Switzerland. The 51-year-old is a business economist and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA).

Dr. Claudia Emele will continue to serve the company as Managing Director of Avadis Investment Foundations and will focus more on the further development and expansion of the areas of sustainability and product development. "We thank Claudia Emele for her commitment and look forward to continuing to count on her," says Benno Halter.

The personnel change in the Executive Board of Avadis Vorsorge AG is subject to approval by FINMA.

More information

The shortage of skilled workers will also be a major concern for the construction industry in the coming years. Central President Gian-Luca Lardi presented the results of a new study by the Swiss Association of Master Builders (SBC) at the Construction Industry Day on Friday, June 30, 2023. "Our industry is doing well after three years of permanent crisis," Central President Gian-Luca Lardi welcomed the more than 550 guests. "Master builders have learned to deal with the effects of the Ukraine war, just as they did before with the price increases and supply bottlenecks in the wake of the Corona pandemic." And the outlook for the future is also quite positive in the medium to long term, according to Lardi. Construction activity is expected to continue to grow, "albeit at a somewhat slower pace." While strong growth is forecast for residential construction through 2040, mild growth to stagnation is expected in commercial construction, public buildings and public civil engineering. At the same time, builders can look forward to prices for construction materials gradually falling again.

SBV study shows: Shortage of skilled workers endangers jobs

The focus of this year's networking event was on the shortage of skilled workers and the mix of measures that can be used to combat it. The search for suitable employees at all levels is a major challenge for many businesses today, including master builders. And it can be assumed that the situation will get even worse. With far-reaching consequences. "Without enough qualified craftsmen, important construction projects in our country can no longer be realized," Lardi explained. To prevent such a scenario, the Swiss Association of Master Builders commissioned the Demographics Competence Center to conduct a "Study on the Long-Term Development of the Economy and Skilled Workers in the Main Construction Industry." The results of the study are now public: while the demand for skilled workers in the main construction sector continues to rise, the supply is falling. By 2040, the shortage of skilled workers in the most important professions in the main construction industry - measured in terms of construction volume - is expected to reach 16 percent. Without countermeasures, there would be a shortage of around 30 percent of the workforce required for bricklayers and masons alone, i.e. around 2,500 skilled workers. This has an impact on sales: If no measures were taken, the construction industry would lose up to 800 million Swiss francs a year due to the lack of skilled workers, or 13 billion Swiss francs in total over the next 20 years, adjusted for prices.

Digitization and recruitment as a beacon of hope

The study points to several solutions to the shortage of skilled workers. "If we increase sales per capita by 0.5 percent annually, we can make up for 50 percent of the shortage of skilled workers," reassured Gian-Luca Lardi, however. This increase in productivity is to be achieved mainly with the help of digitalization and through innovations. At the same time, he said, the industry must do everything it can to "train more apprentices, keep skilled workers in the profession longer, and ultimately recruit more lateral entrants." In this way, the other half of the skills gap could be closed. The study points out several levers to be tightened. Foremen and women in construction, where the shortage will develop less precariously than in other construction professions, career changers already play an important role. With targeted career and junior staff planning and support, the number of people in management positions can be increased. In apprentice training, it is very important to motivate young people to successfully complete their bricklaying apprenticeship and also to remain in the main construction trade in the long term. The decisive factor, he says, is not only the management and company culture, but above all the many great, "cool" construction projects that the young people can actively help to shape. Then they see that their work offers meaning and creates sustainable value. Lardi ended his speech with an appeal to all those involved in the project, i.e. builders, planners, specialists, construction companies and political decision-makers alike: "We will only be able to realize our future building park and infrastructures if we work together in true partnership and at eye level."

Top-class podium

The Construction Industry Day was hosted by Melanie Winiger. After a video message from Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, State Councilor Norman Gobbi welcomed the participants to his home canton of Ticino. After speeches by several guests from business and politics, Winiger chaired a high-level panel discussion on the shortage of skilled workers with Gian-Luca Lardi, Central President of the Swiss Association of Master Builders, Peter Knäbel, board member of the German soccer club FC Schalke 04, Valentina Kumpusch, Vice Director of the Federal Roads Office FEDRO, Andreas Zindel, CEO of the construction company Zindel United, and Matthias Mölleney, Head of the Center for HRM & Leadership at the HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich.

Finally, SBC Director Bernhard Salzmann had the pleasure of honoring several apprentices for their exceptional achievements.

Source and further information: SBC

Yes, social media can definitely have a positive influence on stress reduction, but in a different way than one might think. Julia Sandach, a graduate of the bachelor's degree program in teaching at vocational colleges with a specialization in health sciences/nursing, investigated the influence of social media role models on the formation of stress-reducing habits in her final thesis. Münster UAS awarded her the university prize for her work.

Positive influence through influencers?

"My favorite subject in college was health psychology," Sandach says. She found stress reduction particularly interesting. The social media aspect was then brought to her by her bachelor's thesis advisor, Dr. Jennifer Schmidt, professor and dean at the Münster Department of Health (MDH). "I hoped to find out what a positive attitude toward social media depends on so that society can benefit more from it," the university award winner explains. Her assumption was that people with high self-efficacy would be positively influenced by influencers* and, conversely, that people with low self-efficacy would be more intimidated by images and videos of particularly successful influencers*. Self-efficacy in social science is the belief in one's own ability to cope with environmental demands or to achieve the desired results through one's own behavior.

When the supposedly perfect social media role model doesn't fit after all

"When I started my bachelor's thesis, I was very optimistic that I would be able to confirm my hypothesis about how social media role models affect their followers in the end," says the 22-year-old. The results of her online survey then surprised her, she says. 121 young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 took part and gave answers about their perception of social media role models, their personal self-efficacy and their meditation and mindfulness behavior. In fact, other aspects mattered: personal attitudes toward social media role models in general, users' media literacy, and a comparable life context. "For example, a supposedly perfect social media role model who lives in Bali and meditates there on the beach every day is much too far removed from one's own life context to be positively influenced - or so most respondents said," explains the UAS alumna.

Particularly important: media competence

Sandach refuted her theses in the paper. The good thing about it: "It turns out that media competence is very important, for example, in order to be able to assess who is credible in the social media. Children should learn media competence at an early age," Sandach is convinced. This is very relevant for teaching, he says, as these competencies can be addressed directly in school - also with regard to the increasing relevance of social media. "Social media offers a wide range of mentors in a wide range of health fields - and you don't have to look very hard for them." Her bachelor's thesis changed her perspective, Sandach says: Social media should not be associated with the term "fake" per se.

"Ms. Sandach chose a bachelor thesis with a very innovative and challenging topic and research design and implemented the work perfectly according to the high standards of scientific work. In her work, she was able to show that even very well-founded research hypotheses cannot always be confirmed by empirical evidence, but that well-done scientific studies nevertheless contribute to gaining knowledge for practice. Here, for example, to the effect that we should not only criticize social media, but also take a close look at their potential and the correspondingly conducive circumstances."

Source: FH Münster

"The interplay of different technologies and seasonal energy storage is central to the energy transition," concludes Dr. Gianfranco Guidati, Deputy Director at the Energy Science Center of ETH Zurich, at the Forum Energy Storage Switzerland (FESS) roundtable. However, too much focus on Switzerland must be avoided at all costs: "An optimal net-zero strategy for Switzerland must also take into account the exchange of energy with our neighbors," says Guidati.

Thinking European, not just Swiss

Dr. Philipp Dietrich, CTO at H2 Energy AG, also made this position clear. He said that the energy system should not be thought of and planned in Swiss terms, but in European terms. And for energy transport, hydrogen will be a core element: "Hydrogen is a key technology for decarbonization." Already today, hydrogen is making a concrete contribution to climate protection in Switzerland as well, he said. For example, the 47 hydrogen trucks that H2 Energy AG is supporting together with partners have saved around 4,000 tons of CO2.

The importance of being connected to the European energy system was also emphasized by Daniela Decurtins, Director of the Swiss Gas Industry Association (VSG): "The unresolved institutional relationship with the EU is also creating uncertainty in the gas sector." She added that it is imperative for Switzerland to ensure that it remains connected to the European energy infrastructure. Furthermore, the gas industry - including hydrogen - is confronted with the challenge that the focus, especially of politics, is too much on the electricity sector. In general, gas supply in Switzerland is only weakly regulated, which also affects the promotion of renewable gases. There is also still no national hydrogen strategy. In these areas, the VSG director believes that politics is called upon.

Hydrogen in logistics

Another item on the agenda of the FESS Roundtable was the vivid explanations by Felix Felder, fleet manager of Galliker Transport AG, using a hydrogen-powered truck. Galliker Transport AG has hydrogen trucks in operation that run on green hydrogen and emit only water vapor, making them completely CO2-neutral on the road.

The roundtable was moderated by Thomas Nordmann in his function as FESS spokesman for the business community. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Frank Krysiak from the University of Basel provided his expertise and questions for an exciting panel discussion. Krysiak is the FESS spokesperson for science.

Source: aeesuisse

Once a year, St.Gallen becomes the meeting place for Swiss SMEs - this year for the twentieth time. The Swiss SME Day 2023 will once again focus on the current challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Artificial Intelligence, Leadership, Pitches, SME Talk and NASA

After the introduction to this year's SME Day by host Tobias Wolf, Bernhard Ehrenzeller, Rector of the HSG, welcomes the participants - because the HSG is also celebrating an anniversary, it was founded 125 years ago. Afterwards, entrepreneur Nicole Büttner starts with her presentation on "Artificial Intelligence (AI) in SMEs - a classification", followed by Bernhard Heusler, former president of FC Basel and sought-after consultant, with "The decisive momentum leadership". After lunch, startup entrepreneurs (Philomena Schwab, Pascal Bieri, Melusine Bliesener, and Katharina Lehmkuhl) will inspire with their business models in the now well-established "Inspiration Session". The "Duo Lapsus" will be responsible for the interludes at this year's SME Day, followed immediately by the new format "SME Talk" with Claudio Minder, Tanja Zimmermann-Burgerstein and Til Zollinger. And last but not least, we will learn more about "What can SMEs learn from NASA?" from Thomas Zurbuchen, the long-time head of research at Nasa.

Swiss SMEs exchange ideas

The Swiss SME Day is a sought-after platform for the exchange of entrepreneurs and executives from Swiss SMEs. Patronage for the Swiss SME Day has been assumed by important institutions: The Swiss Trade Association (SGV), economiesuisse, the St.Gallen-Appenzell Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and the Cantonal Trade Association of St.Gallen. The event is supported by a number of co-sponsors and long-standing main sponsors to whom SME concerns are very important: Abacus, Helvetia, OBT, Raiffeisen and Swisscom, as well as numerous SMEs from the industrial and service sectors.

The Swiss SME Day is organized by the Swiss Institute for SMEs and Entrepreneurship at the University of St.Gallen (KMU-HSG) and the agency alea iacta ag. Registration for the conference is now open via https://www.registration-kmu-tag.ch/2023 possible.

Swiss SME Day 2023 in brief

As Dun & Bradstreet's Global Bankruptcy Report shows, the number of bankruptcies rose in around 60 percent of the 48 countries surveyed last year, with 14 countries recording an increase of more than 10 percent. In Europe, the countries hardest hit by the wave of bankruptcies were Austria, France and the United Kingdom - with an increase in bankruptcies of around 50 percent in each case. But Switzerland also saw a significant increase in business failures, with a rise of 27 percent to 7,751 cases, with the curve steepening toward the fourth quarter of 2022. The sharp rise in insolvencies in Switzerland is likely due, among other things, to the drop in demand in the customer markets of the Swiss export industry. However, a lack of hedging against rising raw material and energy prices may also have contributed to a higher susceptibility to bankruptcy, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises.

Fewer corporate bankruptcies in the USA

US companies proved to be more resilient. In the USA, insolvencies fell by two percent to 18,765 cases. Germany also recorded a comparatively small increase in insolvencies of around four percent (14,553 cases). This may have been partly due to the German government's decision to relax insolvency laws in the wake of the energy price shock. Secondly, as a result of the explosion in energy prices, companies and private households in Germany received greater relief than in other European countries. It is estimated that the volume of the measures amounted to around seven percent of German gross domestic product (GDP). By comparison, France spent only 3.7 percent of its GDP on corresponding relief.

Insolvencies on the rise worldwide for various reasons

The fact that insolvency cases increased noticeably last year overall - i.e., across all countries - is likely to have several causes. Firstly, the pandemic-related government support programs have come to an end in many countries. Secondly, the rapid rise in energy and raw material prices has pushed up operating costs overall. In addition, central banks have raised key interest rates to combat inflation. The turnaround in interest rates has in turn made corporate financing more difficult. Loans have not only become more expensive, but banks are also increasingly restrictive. Another point is the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which not only triggered the energy crisis but also led to sanctions-related restrictions.

No relaxation in sight

Looking at this challenging macroeconomic environment, the trend of rising insolvency figures is likely to continue this year. Key interest rate increases are known to influence the economy with a time lag. A further cooling of the global economy is therefore to be expected. Against this background, 2023 is likely to be characterized by economic stagnation and a correspondingly sober business climate. The Dun & Bradstreet report also expects a further increase in bankruptcies in Switzerland. The report cites a further weakening of export markets and a halt to the benefits granted during the COVID 19 pandemic as reasons for this.

Source: Dun & Bradstreet

Switzerland has established itself as a global leader in the custody of digital assets such as cryptocurrencies, tokens and NFTs. With a regulatory framework that encourages innovation and diversity, the country provides compliant and secure access to digital assets for professional and institutional investors. The custody services offered include various options such as B2C and B2B accounts, off-balance sheet custody, deposit insurance, and tax reporting. This and much more is in the first Swiss Digital Asset Custody Report 2023, launched by Home of Blockchain.swiss.

Digital safe: Manage private keys securely

Secure custody of assets is critical, as custodial service providers must manage risk while ensuring the safety of their customers' assets. Custody of digital assets presents unique challenges compared to traditional finance. Private key custody is essential to the recoverability of digital assets. Erroneous transactions are difficult to correct due to the irreversibility of blockchain transactions. Balancing security, convenience, transaction speed, and cost presents an important optimization problem.

"Private markets hold the greatest potential for digital assets, especially in areas not yet traded on traditional exchanges, such as digital bonds," points out Alexander Brunner, author of the report and president of Home of Blockchain.swiss. "Custody in facilitating institutional adoption is crucial. In this context, it is essential to manage private keys securely."

Strengthening Switzerland in wealth management

In Switzerland, various institutions have specialized and established themselves for the safekeeping of digital assets. The Swiss ecosystem is diverse and includes various business models and providers, from technology companies to universal banks. The Custody Report identified a total of 34 institutions, including established companies such as Bitcoin Suisse and Crypto Finance as well as newer players such as Berner Kantonalbank BEKB. 44.1 percent of the providers are banks such as Julius Baer, Vontobel or Credit Suisse, which offer trading and staking services in addition to asset custody. 70.4 percent of respondents are subject to regulatory supervision or hold a license. This ranges from an SRO membership to an asset management license to a security firm or bank license.

Another indication of the diversity of the Swiss digital asset custody ecosystem is the client base. Fifty percent of respondents serve both private clients and professional and institutional clients, with 26.5 percent exclusively serving professional clients.

The recent collapses of crypto providers from FTX to Celsius have demonstrated the critical importance of keeping client assets bankruptcy remote and off-balance sheet. Again, 70% of respondents offer off-balance sheet solutions, while the remaining 30% offer self-custody solutions where the client directly oversees the assets or are pure technology providers.

Advantages of blockchain highlighted

The report also highlights the potential benefits of blockchain-based assets such as efficiency gains, algorithm-based functionalities, transparency, improved risk management and strengthened governance enforcement. "Local, secure custody of digital assets is key in the fund space, as many jurisdictions require a local custodian," said Lorenz Arnet, senior business counsel at the Asset Management Association Switzerland. "Reliable and trustworthy institutional custody solutions are a promising catalyst for accelerating the adoption of digital assets in Switzerland. We therefore welcome the publication of this first Swiss custody report for digital assets," Andrea Luca Aerni, Policy Advisor Digital Finance, Swiss Bankers Association, also said.

The Swiss Digital Asset Custody Report was launched in collaboration with Switzerland Global Enterprise, Swiss Banking Association, Asset Management Association Switzerland, Capital Markets and Technology Association and Swiss Blockchain Federation.

Source: Home of Blockchain.swiss

Taking the step into self-employment is more than just an option for more and more people in Switzerland: In the course of the first half of 2023, 145 new startups were registered every day. Thus, approximately 26,300 new companies can be expected by June 30, 2023. This corresponds to a new start-up record and represents a growth of 4.5% compared to
to the prior-year period in 2022 and an increase of 0.4% compared to the record half-year in 2021. These statistics confirm that young entrepreneurs continue to view Switzerland as an attractive business location, which is enormously important for the Swiss economy. According to the FSO, 57,067 new jobs were created in 2019 due to new companies. With the increase in start-ups, this number will continue to rise. Furthermore, new companies provide innovation. According to the latest data from the European Innovation Scoreboard 2022, Switzerland is in first place in this respect.

All regions report growth in start-ups

In the first half of 2023, Northwestern Switzerland (+9.0%), Espace Mittelland (+6.9%), Eastern Switzerland (+6.9%) and Ticino (+6.8%) are the major regions with the strongest growth. Zurich also recorded significant growth of +4.7% compared with the prior-year period. Only slight growth can be seen in the region of Central Switzerland (+0.9%) and Southwestern Switzerland (+0.8%). In the cantons of Nidwalden (+26.6%), Graubünden (+25.2%), Uri (+16.7%), a particularly large number of companies were founded, while there were slight declines in Valais (-0.4%), Schwyz (-1.6%) and Zug (-4.0%). However, the sharpest percentage declines in company formations were recorded in the commercial registry offices of the cantons of Obwalden (-10.8%) and Appenzell Ausserrhoden (-13.5%).

Start-ups by industry

Top growth industries in the current year include B2B & B2C services (including photography, facility management, horticulture) at +27.1%, transportation & logistics at +19.3%, and
Hairdressing & Cosmetics with +16.7%. The highest percentage declines are recorded in the sectors of agriculture & forestry with -17.2%, high-tech with -15.3% and printing & publishing with -12.5%. The highest number of companies are founded in the industries of handicrafts, consulting, real estate and retail trade. These four industries account for around 44% of all startups.

Source: IFJ Institute for Young Enterprises AG

I hear too often even from top managers why they supposedly can't implement change. But we forget one thing: we are all incredibly powerful. In the vast majority of cases, we are not victims, but shapers of circumstances and our behavior.

Of course there are different (also "unfair") starting positions in life. But from there on we have it in our hands - as long as we don't make excuses. We can almost always determine our decisions and actions - and in any case always our reaction. What does this have to do with leadership and team success? A lot! Because you can only move things forward with your team if people focus their energy on design instead of excuses. To do this, of course, we first have to recognize where excuses instead of creative will appear everywhere. Here are three typical areas of excuses that are preventing you and your team from greater success:

Excuse No. 1: "I can't because ...„

You hear this statement in all sorts of variations. Typically, other people, other departments, tools, regulations and so on are to blame.

I've seen it time and time again: those who achieve significantly more than average, even in difficult circumstances, ask themselves a different question: "What can I do now from where I am, with what I have?"

Something is always possible. We talk ourselves into most of the barriers. And these apparent obstacles then become a habit.

Excuse #2: "That's not how it works here."

This excuse is also widespread. Mostly, this statement comes unspoken. One makes it clear to oneself and to others that things have to run according to a very specific pattern. My question then is always, "Really? Who is saying that? And why?"

Because all of these are simply determinations that can be changed again. A good helpful question for this is, "What happens if I do it now?" Many rules and habits are worth breaking or at least putting to the test if things are not going well otherwise.

Excuse #3: "I'm not like that!"

This is the classic that prevents us from moving forward the most: "I'm just like this" is nothing more than an excuse to myself that I don't have to do anything right now. This is usually a deeply ingrained habit.

Because: Who determines what I am like? Others or me? Sure: You yourself determine how you are. No one else. This fact makes it unpleasant for many. Because now I have full responsibility for myself - with all the downsides.

Important: I can change my beliefs about myself at any time if I want to. This is usually not easy - but always possible.

Conclusion: If you manage to expose these three typical excuses as such in yourself and your team, you can take a big step forward.

To the author:
Volkmar Völzke is a success maximizer. Book author. Consultant. Coach. Speaker. www.volkmarvoelzke.ch

"For a twelfth and final time, I have the honor of sharing with you my assessment of where employers stand." With these words, outgoing President Valentin Vogt welcomed the guests at the Swiss Employers' Association (SAV) Employers' Day 2023. In his speech, Valentin Vogt looked back on the challenging year: at the national level, employers were preoccupied with the accentuated shortage of skilled workers, and at the international level, the consequences of the war in Ukraine. Employers were also able to celebrate successes last year: the adoption of AHV21, for example, overcame a reform backlog that had lasted almost 25 years.

Progress, but increasing government intervention

The progress made in the talks between Switzerland and the EU on the further development of the bilateral path is also encouraging. In particular with regard to state aid, the EU citizenship directive and the accompanying measures, the vast majority of open points have been clarified. Valentin Vogt called on the Federal Council to negotiate a new treaty package by summer 2024 at the latest.

At the end of his term of office, Valentin Vogt took stock of the last 12 years at the helm of the SAV. "We had to expend a lot of energy and do a lot of convincing to ensure that our framework conditions did not deteriorate," Vogt summed up. As a businessman, he would have liked to see an improvement in the framework conditions during his term of office. But that was impossible to achieve in the political environment, in which the National Council has slid sharply to the left politically. It would not be easy to maintain prosperity. The liberal model, which relies on individual responsibility, and the federalist structures were increasingly under threat. The many crises have led to the state spreading out and becoming more and more intrusive, he said, which is a dangerous development. "This is where we as employers must put a stop," Vogt warned.

Severin Moser takes over the presidency

Prior to the Public Employers' Day, the annual general meeting was held. Severin Moser was unanimously elected as the new president. Severin Moser will be the 14th president to lead the prestigious top business association in its 115 years of existence. "I am following in big footsteps here and now, looking back at the eventful history of the association and especially also at the last successful twelve years under the leadership of my predecessor," Moser explained. Certain circles want to regulate the economy and the labor market more and more, Moser warned. They would prefer to introduce nationwide minimum wages and greatly expanded protection against dismissal. Or a government-mandated four-day workweek. "Our companies can only distribute what has been earned. Earned in national or international competition." As a small country with few natural resources, Switzerland is particularly dependent on a high level of international competitiveness.

Vice President Jean-Marc Probst thanked Valentin Vogt on behalf of the SAV for his work as President over the past twelve years. Since Valentin Vogt joined the SAV in 2011, the SAV has not only developed further, but also gained significantly in influence and clout, as Director Roland A. Müller explained. Today, the SAV is very well positioned in terms of strategy, personnel and finances.

More than 200 guests from business, politics and administration attended the Employers' Day 2023. Federal Councillor Viola Amherd, Head of the Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport, spoke about how the changed security situation in Europe affects Swiss security policy. The compatibility of careers in the private sector and the armed forces was also a topic.

Source: Swiss Employers' Association