TAM/BAS Programme The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) TurnAround Management (TAM) and Business Advisory Services (BAS) Programmes are complementary programmes to help private enterprises to adapt to the demands of a market economy. They work directly with individual micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), providing specific advice through a multi-level approach. BAS support is largely concentrated on micro and small-sized enterprises (with between 10 and 250 staff) in order to finalise short-term projects with exactly defined objectives while developing a sustainable infrastructure for business advisory services in the countries of operation. TAM has been designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (with between 200 and 1,500 staff) and is aimed at reorganising management structures, through advice from senior managers with extensive experience in market economies. BAS Programme The core aim of the BAS Programme is to improve the performance of companies by involving local business advisers. Its main objectives are pursued using local consultants and are mainly geared towards providing specific and clear practical business advice to enterprises in order to prepare them for the transition to a market-driven economy. In that respect, BAS interventions have positive impacts both for the companies themselves and for local consultants, while companies benefit from expertise that helps them enhance their businesses and increase profitability. BAS also fosters the development of professional capabilities of local consultants. Areas of BAS assistance include, among others, restructuring businesses, improving products, reducing operating costs, advising on local and export markets, and helping to develop business planning skills at management level. In providing such assistance, companies are expected to improve their competitiveness, marketing and financial management, quality management system and strategic business planning. BAS interventions are designed to serve as a facilitator for the use of private sector consultants by MSMEs to obtain a diverse array of services and reach specific goals. BAS operates on both the demand and on the supply side: it stresses the benefits for firms of using external consultants and it directly increases the supply and quality of local advisory services. The BAS Programme is implemented through the activity of BAS teams of local nationals in each country of operation. The BAS operations are managed by the TurnAround Management Group (TMG) at the EBRD. Each local BAS office generally has two professional staff (a National Programme Director and a Project Officer) and an assistant to the National Programme Director. At present BAS operates in 19 countries in south-eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia and the south Caucasus through 31 BAS offices, and currently there are 752 active BAS projects across all these countries. BAS has carried out 440 projects in the Western Balkans, using over €6 million in donor funds. TAM Programme The objective of the TurnAround Management Programme is to support economic reform and transition to a market economy by providing support to SMEs. The Programme helps companies develop new business skills at the senior management level in order to be competitive in a market economy.
For this purpose, TAM offers industry specific management expertise through the advisory services of experienced former Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and directors. These advisers transfer management and technical know-how to enterprises, referring to the principles of responsibility in corporate governance and sharing experience with CEOs and senior managers of local companies. TAM has developed strong, self-reliant management in its partner enterprises. The skilled, dynamic managers that emerge from the Programme can also contribute to the revitalization of their sectors and even bring about industry restructuring from within. TAM advice develops management skills, helps business planning, restructuring, improving products, reducing operating costs, and developing local and export markets. TAM is managed on a not-for profit basis and utilises multiple donor funds to support the projects.