09.12.2024

EMPLOYERS CAN TRAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES WITH FUNDING UNDER THE "NEW SKILLS" MEASURE UNDER THE "HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT" PROGRAM

Employers can include their employees in training under the new "New Skills" measure, which is funded by the European Social Fund+ through the "Human Resources Development" Program. The operation has a budget of over BGN 74 million, which will support the development of new skills, qualification and retraining of employees in order to adapt to the modern requirements of employers, caused by new technologies. Employers can apply with project proposals, with the exception of organizations that are spending agencies with a state or municipal budget. It is expected that over 50,500 employed and self-employed persons will acquire professional qualifications, and 25,250 participants will keep their jobs after training under the measure.

Under the "New Skills" measure, it is permissible to organize training for the acquisition or improvement of professional qualifications, tailored to the individual characteristics of the specific employee and the specifics of the workplace. Beneficiaries may organize specific trainings related to the specific workplace, including for acquiring specific digital skills, upgrading the business skills of the management team, etc. Trainings for acquiring "soft" skills are eligible. The employment of at least half of the employees who have undergone training should be maintained for a period of 6 months after the completion of the project. Only employees who are employed in the applicant enterprise at the time of submitting the project proposal may be included in trainings.

Projects require co-financing from the applicant, which is in line with the size of the enterprise. For large enterprises, co-financing from the beneficiary is 50%, for medium-sized enterprises - 40%, and for small and micro enterprises - up to 30% of the project value. If a disabled or disadvantaged employee is included in the training, the co-financing from the beneficiary is reduced by 10%. The minimum amount of European support for one project is BGN 20,000, and the maximum is BGN 5,867,400.

The full set of documents and the Conditions for applying under the measure "New Skills" are published in the Information system for management and monitoring of EU funds in Bulgaria 2020  ISMM.

The deadline for submitting project proposals by employers is March 5, 2025.