Spanish companies have access to a training credit each year, which most do not fully utilize. This credit, managed through the subsidized training system regulated by the State Foundation for Employment Training (FUNDAE), allows companies to finance training for their employees using their Social Security contributions. It is not a subsidy that must be applied for competitively with other companies. It is an entitlement that is automatically generated with each payroll payment.

However, accessing it isn't as simple as it seems. Subsidized training has specific requirements that must be met for the subsidy to be valid. And one of the most frequently ignored is related to the location where the in-person training takes place.

What is subsidized training and who is eligible?

Any company with employees covered by the general Social Security system automatically generates an annual training credit. The amount depends on the previous year's contribution volume and the size of the workforce, with additional bonuses for small businesses that facilitate access to this system for SMEs.

This credit can be used to finance employee training, both in-person and online, whether internal or contracted from external providers. The company advances the cost of the training and then deducts it from Social Security contributions in subsequent months, until the subsidized amount is recovered.

Self-employed workers with at least one employee can also access the system under certain conditions. And companies that don't use all their credit in a given year cannot carry it over to the next: what isn't used is lost.

This last point is important. Many companies reach December without having used their training credits and with only a few weeks to organize effective training. Understanding the system in advance allows for the orderly planning of training activities throughout the year, instead of scrambling at the end of the fiscal year.

What types of training are eligible for funding?

Not all training is eligible for funding. For a training course to qualify for the funding system, it must meet a series of requirements that affect both the content and the administrative management of the process.

 

The training must be linked to the professional activity of the participating workers. It cannot be purely personal training or training unrelated to the skills required for the job or the company.

It must be processed correctly through FUNDAE's online system before the start of the training activity. This includes prior communication with the company's details, the participants, the content, the schedule, and the venue if it is in-person training.

It must be delivered by entities or individuals with accredited qualifications in the subject matter. And it must include documentation that proves its effective delivery: signed attendance lists, teaching materials used, and participant evaluations.

FUNDAE's controls are real. Companies that apply for training subsidies that do not meet the requirements may face demands to return the subsidized amounts plus applicable surcharges.

Why the space where training is delivered matters

When training is in-person, the venue where it takes place forms part of the documentation that certifies the training activity. It is not enough to simply state that the training was delivered. It must be demonstrated that it was conducted in a suitable location, with the actual attendance of the declared participants.

This has concrete practical implications. Providing subsidized training in unauthorized spaces, without adequate capacity for the number of participants, or without the minimum equipment requirements can lead to problems during an inspection or audit.

A professional classroom in Madrid With sufficient capacity for the group, basic projection and audio equipment, and adequate climate control and accessibility, it easily meets FUNDAE's requirements for space documentation. Furthermore, the space rental invoice can be included as a cost of the training activity for the purpose of calculating the amount eligible for funding.

Costs that can be included in the bonus

The subsidized training system allows for the inclusion of various items in the cost calculation beyond the trainer's fees.

The costs of renting the training space are eligible for subsidies when it comes to in-person training. This means that the cost of renting the classroom where the training takes place can be added to the total cost of the training activity, which is then used to calculate the subsidy. For companies that do not have their own training room, this is especially relevant because it makes the cost of the space a partially recoverable expense.

The training materials used are also eligible for reimbursement within the established limits. Documentation provided to participants, software required for training, and consumables used during practical sessions can all be included in the reimbursement.

The costs of organizing and managing the training activity are also eligible for a subsidy. This covers administrative procedures, coordination with FUNDAE, and the management of the necessary documentation.

How to organize a subsidized training course step by step

The process has a specific sequence that must be followed for the bonus to be valid. Starting training before completing the administrative procedures is one of the most common mistakes and can invalidate the entire bonus.

The first step is to check the available credit. Through FUNDAE's online system, the company can check how much credit it has available for the current year. This information is the starting point for planning what training can be financed through the system.

The second step is to design the training activity: content, duration, number of participants, format (in-person, online, or blended), and session schedule. At this stage, the venue where it will be held in person must also be identified, as this information is part of the pre-application documentation for FUNDAE.

The third step is to notify FUNDAE before the training begins. The minimum notice period is seven calendar days before the start date for in-person training. Without this notification being correctly submitted, the training cannot be subsidized.

The fourth step is the execution of the training, which must be carried out exactly as communicated: in the declared space, with the registered participants, during the reported dates, and with the documentary attendance control required by the system.

The fifth step is the application of the bonus to the social security contributions for the following months, which can be done once the training activity has ended and all the supporting documentation has been gathered.

Classrooms for subsidized training in Chamberí

For companies in Madrid that need space to provide face-to-face training using FUNDAE credit, the classroom rental in the center of Madrid It offers a practical solution that meets the system's documentary requirements.

The multipurpose rooms available They allow for different configurations depending on the type of training: a U-shaped layout for participatory workshops, a classroom-style configuration for more lecture-based training, or a distribution around work tables for practical sessions. This configuration flexibility is especially useful when training programs combine theoretical components with group dynamics.

The location at Glorieta de Bilbao, with direct access to the Bilbao metro lines 1 and 4, facilitates attendance for workers coming from different parts of Madrid. The accessibility of the space is a factor that influences the actual attendance rate, which in turn determines the validity of the subsidy.

 

Hourly rentals allow you to adjust the cost precisely to the duration of each training session, without paying for unused time. For companies organizing four, six, or eight-hour training sessions, this model is more economical than fixed full-day rates.

The rental invoice, with all the correct tax information, can be included as documentation of the costs of the training activity for the purpose of calculating the bonus.

Frequently asked questions about subsidized training

Can a company use FUNDAE credit for training provided by its own employees?

Yes, with conditions. Internal training is also eligible for funding, but the trainer must demonstrate their qualifications in the subject matter, and the costs eligible for funding are calculated differently than those for contracted external training.

What happens if a worker does not attend all the sessions?

The applicable bonus is adjusted according to actual attendance. An employee who does not meet the minimum attendance requirement (usually 75% of the training hours) will not be counted towards the bonus calculation. It is essential to maintain strict attendance records with signed attendance sheets for each session.

Can online training be subsidized?

Yes. Online and blended learning (a combination of in-person and online training) are also eligible for funding. They have specific platform and student activity monitoring requirements that must be met for the funding to be valid.

What happens if FUNDAE carries out an inspection?

Companies under inspection must provide all documentation proving that the training was actually delivered: prior notification, signed attendance lists, training materials, evaluations, cost invoices, and any other document that demonstrates the training was carried out as declared. Failure to provide documentation or discrepancies between what was declared and what was documented may result in reimbursements with surcharges.

Do small businesses have the same chances of accessing the system?

The system includes additional bonuses for companies with fewer than fifty employees precisely to facilitate their access. SMEs with small workforces can accumulate up to three times their annual credit through the grouping system with other companies or through group demand training structures.

 

To check classroom availability and rental conditions for subsidized training, you can contact ILCOWORKING at info@ilcoworking.es, on 91 117 94 82, or on 900 264 918. Opening hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.