The business world in the renewable energy sector is extremely dynamic. New technologies, changing regulations and adaptation to the current market situation make it necessary to raise qualifications in various areas of competence and qualification not only for employees, but also for business owners.
This is where the needs of entrepreneurs are met by institutions that finance educational services. Entrepreneurs can now take advantage of various forms of co-financing not only for training, but also, for example, for post-graduate studies, counselling and mentoring. In this article, I will present the two largest funding schemes for educational services that can be used by employees and employers.
Database of Development Services (BUR)
Baza Usług Rozwojowych is an online platform managed by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP). One can find there development services that are co-financed. If, on the other hand, we would like to use a training course that is not in the Development Services Database, we can find such a training course on the commercial market and verify with the company that organises a given type of training whether it has an entry in the BUR and whether a given training course can be added to the platform’s pages.
How does the system of co-financing work?
- Registration in the system – an entrepreneur should first create an account on the platform uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl
- Contact with the regional operator – due to the fact that each voivodeship has separate operators, i.e. institutions to which applications for training co-financing are submitted, we search for our operator
- Signing a contract – specifying the conditions of co-financing
- Selection of service – an entrepreneur selects an educational service from BUR that meets his needs.
- Provision of the service and payment – the entrepreneur first pays 100% of the costs, then receives a refund
- Refund – the operator refunds the agreed part of the costs, once all the conditions in the contract have been met.
Level of funding
The amount of funding depends, among other things, on the size of the enterprise and the region:
- Micro and small enterprises: up to 80% of the value of the service
- Medium-sized enterprises: up to 70% of the value of the service
- Large enterprises: up to 60% of the value of the service (in selected regions)
Additionally, a higher level of funding may be available for:
- High-growth enterprises
- Low-skilled employees
- Employees over 50 years of age
- Enterprises from areas with low levels of economic development
What can be funded?
- Training
- Open training (for participants from different companies)
- Closed training (dedicated to employees of one company)
- Stationary, off-site, online training
- Professional, language, soft skills training
- Postgraduate studies
- Complete postgraduate study programmes
- Individual modules/semesters
- Consulting services
- Business consulting
- Specialist consulting
- Audits and analyses
- Coaching and mentoring
- Individual coaching
- Team coaching
- Mentoring programme
- Other forms
- E-learning
- Blended learning (mixed forms)
National Training Fund (KFS)
KFS supports lifelong learning of employees and employers. Its main objective is to prevent the loss of employment of employees with inadequate or insufficient competences and to increase the competitiveness of enterprises and their employees.
How does the KFS work?
- Submission of the application – the employer submits the application to the Poviat Labour Office (PUP) competent for the seat of the company or the place of activity
- Evaluation of the application – the PUP evaluates the application in accordance with the competition regulations, based on the priorities for the given year. The rationality of expenditure and compliance with the needs of the local labour market are also assessed. The application must be formally correct.
- Signing of the agreement – if the assessment is positive, the application receives a grant, the agreement is signed
- Realisation of the training – after signing the agreement, the training is realised according to the information given in the application
- Settlement – after the training is completed, we submit settlement documents (according to the provisions of the agreement)
Level of financing
- Micro-enterprises: up to 100% of the training costs
- Other employers: up to 80% of the training costs
What can be financed from KFS?
- Courses and postgraduate studies carried out on the initiative of the employer or with his consent
- Examinations enabling the acquisition of certificates confirming the acquisition of skills, qualifications or professional entitlements
- Medical and psychological examinations required to undertake training or work after completing the training
- Personal accident insurance in connection with the training undertaken
How to obtain funding? Practical guide
Step 1: Training needs analysis
The first step is to analyse the training needs of the company’s employees. At this stage, it is useful to answer the following questions:
- Which competencies are key to the company’s development?
- Which teams require upskilling?
- What competence gaps exist among employees?
Step 2: Identification of a suitable source of funding
Depending on the training needs and the specifics of the company, we verify the funding available at the time. If we need a comprehensive development programme for the company or want to use training courses on a regular basis, the BUR is a better choice. If, on the other hand, we need a high level of co-financing, especially if we are a micro-entrepreneur or want to use the services of a training company that is not registered in the BUR, we can use the KFS.
Step 3: Preparation of documentation
Remember that each programme has its own regulations and specific requirements when it comes to documentation.
- For BUR, it will be a company profile, diagnosis of development needs
- For KFS, it will be an application with justification of compliance with priorities
Step 4: Selecting the right training company
When selecting a training provider, it is worth paying attention to the following issues:
- Is the company registered in the BUR (if you plan to use BUR funding)
- Experience and references of the training company
- Ability to adapt the programme to the company’s needs
Step 5: Implementation and settlement
Once you have received funding, you should:
- Adhere to the implementation schedule
- Document all stages of the training
- Collect required signatures and certificates
- Submit settlement documents on time
Where to look for information on funding?
Institutions and websites
- Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP)
- Website: www.parp.gov.pl
- Baza Usług Rozwojowych: uslugirozwojowe.parp.gov.pl
- Poviat Labour Offices (PUP)
- Information on the National Training Fund
- Local Professional Activation Programmes
- Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy
- Website: www.gov.pl/web/fundusze-regiony
- European Funds Portal: www.funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl
- Regional Operators of BUR
- List available on the PARP website
- Each operator has its own page with current information on calls for proposals.
Direct contact
It is also worth using direct contact with the institutions:
- European Funds Information Points
- Hotlines of individual operators
- Consultations offered by operators
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can different sources of funding be combined? It is not possible to finance the same training course from several public sources at the same time (prohibition of double financing). However, you can use different sources for different training courses.
What are the most common reasons for rejection of funding applications?
- Incompatibility with programme priorities
- Formal errors in the documentation
- Exhaustion of the available funding allocation
- Lack of business justification for the planned training
Are online trainings also eligible for funding? Yes, both face-to-face and online (e-learning) training courses can be funded, provided they meet the requirements of the programme concerned.
How long does it take to process an application? The application processing time depends on the programme and the operator. In the case of KFS, it is usually around 30 days, and in the case of BUR, it depends on the regional operator.
Summary
Current systems of financing training allow entrepreneurs and employees to improve their competencies and qualifications with a relatively low own contribution. When applying for funds, it is important to properly select development services, in line with the analysis of the company’s needs, as well as to properly prepare the competition documentation, both in terms of form and content.
With a view to a company’s competitiveness, greater employee productivity and innovation, it is worth investing in competence development, which is slowly becoming not only a requirement of the current market, but also a strategic business decision.
This article is informative. Due to the dynamically changing regulations and rules of funding programmes, before taking action it is recommended to verify the current information directly with the source — the operators of individual programmes.
Anna Faltus
An entrepreneur who pursues her activities in the renewable energy sector. She is the owner of such brands as: Szkolenia OZE, Akademia OZE, under which she organises specialised training in the field of renewable energy sources and connects contacts in the RES industry. Initiator and initiator of the RES Portal magazine project - an online educational and informational magazine that promotes access to expert knowledge on RES. She is the organiser of the international conference combined with the ONLINE PV Conference&Expo exhibition aimed at the photovoltaic industry, the PV SALES LAB conference and the Portal OZE Partners Day event series. She works with a wide range of experts from the RES industry and focuses on the reliable and substantive transfer of theoretical and practical knowledge. Advisor on entrepreneurship, company development and the development of marketing strategies.
