When companies and social enterprises come together around a shared goal, their knowledge, experience and resources can create new opportunities for people and communities. Such partnerships demonstrate the broader social value that business collaboration can bring.
One example is the partnership between social enterprise Career Launch and Coca-Cola HBC Serbia, which began in May 2025 through the “Podrška mladima ” (Youth Support) project.
Career Launch connects young people with career counselling, education, mentoring and the business community, helping them make informed career decisions and take more confident first steps in their professional journey.
The partnership with Coca-Cola HBC Serbia has made these opportunities accessible to an even greater number of young people across Serbia. Through joint educational programmes, workshops, webinars and events, young people develop skills that are important in the workplace, gain new knowledge and meet professionals who can provide valuable guidance at the beginning of their careers.
During 2025 and the first half of 2026, more than 450 young people have already been supported through joint activities. Last year, six webinars, six workshops in smaller cities across Serbia and an end-of-year conference were held. This year, a total of 12 webinars and another conference are planned.
Impact achieved
- Greater youth employability through the development of professional and life skills and connections with the business community
- Equal opportunities for young people from different backgrounds and communities
- More confident first steps into the professional world
- Greater access to career support for young people across Serbia
The partnership between Career Launch and Coca-Cola HBC Serbia directly contributes to empowering young people and creating better opportunities for their professional development, and consequently for the development of the wider community.
The “Buy Social” campaign promotes collaboration between companies and impact-driven enterprises and is part of the project “Resilient Communities: Nurturing Social Enterprises for Local Development” implemented by Smart Kolektiv in partnership with Evrokontakt Kruševac and the Kolping Society of Serbia, with the financial support of the European Union. Buy Social Europe B2B is a transnational initiative that empowers social and mainstream enterprises to connect and build sustainable trade partnerships. The initiative unites 23 partners from 17 countries, including Smart Kolektiv.
The content of this text does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
