Featured articles

Following the adoption of the European Climate Act, the European Union is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. What does this mean for a bank? And how has Spuerkeess decided to help achieve this neutrality? We put these questions to Luigi Garofoli, Deputy Head of Business Unit Corporate Banking, to find out what the Bank has done to this end for its professional customers.

In a world where sustainability is becoming a major priority, the construction sector plays a crucial role in the transition to more environmentally-friendly practices. To explore the challenges and opportunities of this transition in Luxembourg, Max Didier, Managing Director of CDCL Groupe S.A., shares his views. With more than 500 employees, this group is a major player in construction and property development in Luxembourg. What are the main obstacles that need to be overcome in order to meet sustainable construction objectives? How can innovations such as CREE’s timber-concrete hybrid system reduce carbon footprints across the sector? What economic and social benefits could Luxembourg derive from a more sustainable approach? Find out in this article how early collaborations can transform the industry and how Luxembourg can become a leader in sustainable construction.

In this short extract from the “Evergreens by Spuerkeess” podcast, Marco Rasqué da Silva, Secretary General of Spuerkeess, shares his advice on best practice in governance and risk management. Find out how good governance can not only protect the interests of stakeholders, but also strengthen the trust, credibility and sustainability of companies.

In this short extract from the “Evergreens by Spuerkeess” podcast, Stéphanie Damgé, Director of the House of Entrepreneurship, talks to us about the key elements of effective governance, essential for attracting investors and guaranteeing sustainable growth. She highlights the importance of digitisation and cybersecurity, while offering practical advice for small businesses.

In this short extract from the “Evergreens by Spuerkeess” podcast, we share with you the views of Tom Wirion, Director General of the Chambre des Métiers (the Trade Council), on the crucial importance that governance plays for small and medium-sized enterprises. Find out his advice for implementing it effectively and the strategies for building solid governance that can be adapted to each company.

Financial literacy is crucial to young people's future. But how financially literate are young people today, and how can they prepare for the economic challenges of tomorrow? To answer these questions, we interviewed Jessica Thyrion, advisor at the ABBL Foundation for Financial Education. In this article, she shares her expertise on the importance of financial education, the specific challenges facing young people, and the initiatives in place to help them navigate the complex world of finance. Find out how the ABBL Foundation is working to improve young people's financial literacy and prepare them to make informed and responsible decisions.

Are you curious to know how your financial choices can make a real contribution to the fight against climate change? Would you like to find out about the innovative initiatives that have been put in place in Luxembourg to promote sustainable finance? In this interview, Laetitia Hamon, Head of Sustainable Finance at the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, shares her ideas and experiences on these crucial topics. Read this interview to find out how you can make the difference and be an agent of change towards a more sustainable future.

You've heard so much about them that you can't ignore them any longer. Especially as you now see them just about everywhere… except on your roof! Now is the time to take a more serious interest, for the sake of our planet!

What are the various aspects of responsible banking and what are the challenges faced by banks? In this interview, Aude Payan and Elena Fuzzi, respectively Director and Senior Manager in Risk Consulting and in charge of ESG services for credit institutions at KPMG provide detailed insight and examples for innovative strategies for financial institutions to advance ethical banking standards.

When working together, banks and NGOs can ensure a real-world impact. Banks provide financing for sustainable projects, while NGOs raise awareness and propose projects for funding. In this interview, Nicoletta Centofanti, CEO at LSFI, explains how banks and NGOs should collaborate together to drive positive social impact.

Do you like the idea of helping to finance a project that respects the planet and treats its employees fairly, with ethical values? In this case, Alternative Savings from etika should be of particular interest to you. Any project that respects the environment, and/or involves social issues and/or is based on solidarity, is worthy of special attention from Spuerkeess, which proposes a solidarity mechanism, the Alternative Loan, in partnership with etika. Find out more about these two solidarity products in this article, with our expert Zoé Peter, Corporate Relationship Manager at Spuerkeess.  

What are the major issues regarding CSR and sustainability in Luxembourg, and what specific obstacles do the country’s economic players face when they seek to establish sustainable communities? In this interview, Laetitia Georgel and Sophie Öberg from IMS Luxembourg tell us about the involvement of Luxembourg companies in the field of corporate social responsibility and sustainability, and offer five practical tips for building sustainable communities.

The difference between buying and leasing a car is purely based on your personal preferences as a consumer. Nevertheless, there are a few nuances between the two financing solutions, and it's up to you to decide. Between comfort, insurance, budget..., find out in this article what leasing and loaning can do for you.

With the replacement of the physical Token by the LuxTrust Mobile application, borrowing the Token from your parents or any other person to make their payments or bank transactions is no longer possible. It is simply not legal. Using someone else's Token, even with their consent, is comparable to borrowing an identity card, which is strictly forbidden. Payments can still be made, but in a more secure and legal way. We give you some advice on how to do this in this article.

In an increasingly digital world, financial fraud is becoming more and more sophisticated. We are committed to protecting our customers by informing them of current fraud trends and providing them with the tools they need to guard against these threats. This article aims to raise awareness of the various types of fraud and to offer practical advice on how to avoid becoming a victim.

You've heard so much about them that you can't ignore them any longer. Especially as you now see them just about everywhere… except on your roof! Now is the time to take a more serious interest, for the sake of our planet!

Buying to renovate, or simply renovating your property after several years because it no longer meets today's energy standards, is a great project that requires certain knowledge. Before taking the plunge, you should find out what's new in the energy sector by contacting various suppliers and also by checking out all the state aid and private support available to ensure you get the most favourable financing. In this article, we'll look into the good reasons to start an energy renovation project this year.

Sophie and Marc are always squabbling about the same thing. While Marc is a big fan of Apple products, Sophie goes out of her way to use devices made by competitor brands – just to annoy him. And with the message that she has just received from her bank, the war is declared!

That's it, your annual leave is booked, now it's time to start organising your holidays! Has anything unexpected ever happened to you before you went on holiday? Since then, do you still hesitate to take out cancellation insurance? Find out in this article about the insurance and assistance services available to you, depending on the payment card you use to pay for your trip.

Halfway through our careers, we look back and wonder why we didn’t think about the future sooner. Did you know that even as a non-resident, you can take out a supplementary pension, with all its benefits? Why is the S-Pension private pension scheme the right choice at this stage in your life?

Completing studies: check. Finding the first job: check. Having a head full of plans reminds you that you have your whole life ahead of you to achieve them, because you’re young. However, this is precisely why we need to talk to you about your retirement. Retirement may still seem a long way away to you, but read this article to understand why now is the right time to think about it!

Your child is about to turn 18 - it’s hard to believe he is an adult now! It seems like just yesterday that you held him in your arms for the first time. That was, however, already 18 years ago. Time really does fly! The only thing that matters for him right now is to pass his driving licence and buy his first car.

The recent arrest of 10 offenders on suspicion of being 'money mules' has once again drawn public attention to this money laundering practice. It seems that young people aged between 16 and 30 are increasingly likely to be "hired" as money mules. According to Europol, 90% of the money muling transactions discovered by the European Money Mule Actions are linked to cybercrime (phishing, etc.). Happy Reading!

Mum can already feel the first kicks in her tummy and Dad is eager to know the baby's sex, while Grandma cannot wait to spoil the baby and Grandpa is bursting with pride. As you may have guessed, the family is preparing for a happy event this summer. That means the young, future parents are overwhelmed with questions to which they need answers so that they can make the necessary preparations.

When Anne Le Moigne took the plunge into entrepreneurship, she already had over 20 years' experience in a completely different field. She went from aeronautics and human resources to bakery and pastry-making, because she was convinced that French know-how could be highly appreciated in Luxembourg, and she wasn't wrong! During our interview, we wanted to understand her career choice, as well as the steps she took to take over BioScott, with the help of our expert in ‘Transfer of Business’ Franck Alter. Enjoy your reading!

Ferdinand-Marc Gallinelli's takeover of the Dessange group in Luxembourg, after devoting virtually his entire career to this internationally renowned French brand, marks the culmination of a successful career. During our interview, we wanted to find out about what motivates him and the various steps that had made him a major entrepreneur in the Luxembourg hairdressing market, as well as the details of this business takeover, which has been supported by our experts Johny Basher and Franck Alter from the Transfer team at Spuerkeess. Happy reading!

Fred Giuliani spent his whole career in IT before co-founding a start-up in Luxembourg. With his LetzTrail app, he hasn’t chosen to come to rest, but rather to cover the miles on foot or by bike with his smartphone to guide him. In this article, he tells us about his app and what inspired him to embark on this project. Happy reading!

Originally from Canada and an expatriate, Kasia has plenty of creative ideas when it comes to getting involved in ecological projects. After a baby and a pandemic, her desire to help others was too strong not to embark on an entrepreneurial project. What steps did she take to set up her own business? In this article, she explains her journey. Happy reading!

Growing up in Paris, Thierry developed a taste for cooking. He inherited his entrepreneurial spirit from his Chinese grandfather. With these ingredients, market analyses, recipe tests and production processes, Thierry embarked on the Seabiscuit adventure. Local production, regional products, sheltered workshops - these are just some of the key words in this project. Happy reading!!

Antoine, who originally comes from France and has a background in marketing, decided to try his hand at entrepreneurship in 2021 and set up his company WE ARE VOYAGERS in Luxembourg. His goal: to create a clothing brand made from recycled and French-made garments to consume fashion differently and move away from fast fashion. Happy reading!

Julia drew on her professional experience in environmental education and the development of sustainable and innovative projects to co-create the on.perfekt cooperative. The main aim is to create distribution channels for less-than-perfect food in order to raise awareness of food waste. Happy reading!

Marina, co-founder of WIDE ANDCO, has always been passionate about entrepreneurship. After learning to code, she realised there was a real need to train women in this field. Using digital technology to innovate and create a positive impact is one of her objectives. WIDE ANDCO obtained Societal Impact Company status at the beginning of 2022 and the adventure of this company has only just begun. Happy reading!

Jessica has always considered design to be her vocation. The birth of her son made her reflect on the meaning of her work after being employed as a jewelry designer for several years. Setting up her own creative business, considering ethical and environmental aspects, upgrading existing objects through recycling and upcycling - these are the core ingredients of her DIMANCHE MATIN project. Happy reading!

Alec, Joao and Eric, who has just joined, have created DèsVuStays, a B2B platform that offers all types of accommodation, from company accommodation to long-stay hotel accommodation, thereby helping companies to streamline their search for temporary accommodation for expatriate employees and others. Find out more about their backgrounds, visions and challenges in this article. Happy reading!

With her deep desire to make a difference in this world, Giulia came to Luxembourg in 2020, where she decided to take her existing business next level and transform it into a social enterprise (SIS). Her primary goals are to promote gender equality and give women in business greater influence in order to create a society that is fair and inclusive. Happy reading!

Three friends who shared a common dream: a trendy meeting place in eastern Luxembourg selling local wines and promoting Luxembourg's beautiful Moselle region. Charel Vandivinit, one of the initiators, tells us about their entrepreneurial journey, which was not without obstacles. Happy reading!