Necesidad de medidas para impulsar la creación de las empresas de participación desde los diferentes niveles de enseñanza.

In the current situation of the Spanish labour market, the option of self-employment seems to be an alternative to consider for both going back to work and entering the labour market for the first time. The option of creating a new firm faces obstacles and difficulties. Becoming an entrepreneur "in a network", through a labourmanaged firm (cooperative or employee owned company) or individual entrepreneurship, is a way to contribute to the revitalization of the economy, transform unfavourable economic circumstances into an opportunity, as demonstrated in previous recessions, and, above all, a way to reduce risk. Research shows that a lack of knowledge about this type of company is widespread, among university students as well. Consequently their image is not positive and conventional forms of company are preferred when setting up a new enterprise. It is necessary (but not sufficient) to generate a cultural environment in which being an entrepreneur is socially valued whatever legal form it takes. We must develop a culture of entrepreneurship at earlier levels of education, include specific subjects in the curriculum which are currently scarce or even non-existent, and set up support mechanisms. This paper seeks to establish the right research framework to generate a range of educational and training opportunities, based on cooperation between the different levels of education, to provide the impetus for the creation of cooperatives and employee-owned companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]