SIQRH - Formação empresarial conjunta - Comércio e Serviços

The main goal of this opportunity is to support the training of entrepreneurs, managers, and workers from micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the commerce and services sectors. The focus is on improving management skills, service quality, and the overall competitiveness of these sectors. The program also aims to encourage innovation, digitalization, and sustainability, helping businesses modernize and access new markets. Training activities should enhance knowledge and customer experience. This grant is available for SMEs located in the Norte, Centro, and Alentejo regions of Continental Portugal.

• Projects must provide training for active employees, entrepreneurs, or managers legally connected to participating SMEs in the commerce and services sectors.
• Training can be delivered in-person, online, or in a hybrid format.
• Projects must aim to improve sector quality, modernity, and attractiveness by enhancing participants' qualifications.
• A joint training plan is required, identifying participating SMEs, their needs, objectives, activities, and expected results.
• Projects must align with the themes of innovation, digitalization, sustainability, and knowledge enhancement.

Examples:

• A group of local retail shops collaborate to provide digital marketing training for their staff.
• Several service providers join to organize customer service excellence workshops for their teams.
• A network of small tourism agencies develops a joint program to train managers in sustainable business practices.

• Unit cost of €6.85 per participant per hour for general training expenses (excluding salary costs).
• Unit cost of €8.55 per participant per hour for salaries and mandatory social contributions when training occurs during normal working hours (and salaries are not funded by other public support).
• Only hours actually attended by participants are eligible; absences are not funded.
• Costs must relate to training detailed in the joint training plan.

Restrictions: Expenses for mandatory legal training, academic training, or training not formalized by contract between the training provider and the beneficiary are not eligible. Salary costs (CtU2) are only eligible if not already covered by other public funds and if the training occurs during regular working hours.

• Total budget of the grant: €10,000,000
• Co-financing rate: Up to 70%

Other financial details: The base co-financing rate is 50%, which can increase to 70% depending on specific conditions, such as training for disadvantaged workers or for micro, small, and medium enterprises. Payments can be made in advance or by reimbursement. Training costs are calculated using standard unit rates per participant per hour, and only hours effectively attended are eligible. For individual entrepreneurs registered less than a year, the expected business volume must be at least 20% of the eligible cost for their participation, and all tax and social security obligations must be up to date.

• Applicants must be active employees, entrepreneurs, or managers with a legal employment relationship to participating SMEs in the commerce and services sector.
• SMEs must be located in the Norte, Centro, or Alentejo regions of Continental Portugal.
• SMEs must have an eligible business activity code (CAE), excluding financial, insurance, defense, or gambling sectors.
• SMEs must not be in financial difficulty and must have a positive financial situation.
• Applicants must not have pending recovery of illegal aid or be in insolvency.
• Training must be based on a joint training plan, preferably using recognized qualification units, with a minimum duration of 25 hours.
• Individual entrepreneurs must meet specific business volume and regularity requirements if registered less than a year.