Investing in Skills Information Session

Investing in Skills: Scope of Training Aid: Investing in Skills (IIS) falls under Malta’s Operational Programme II of the ESF - ‘Investing in human capital to create more opportunities and promote the well-being of society’ for the 2014-2020 programming period.

Aid Level of Assistance: The Co-financing rate will be applied on the total eligible cost: Undertaking Size Aid Intensity Large 50% of the eligible cost Medium 60% of the eligible cost Small & Micro 70% of the eligible cost

Eligible Costs: The eligible costs that are reimbursable subject to the applicable aid intensity under a training aid application shall be: External trainer/s costs; Trainers’ and trainees’ flight expenses directly related to the project; and Trainees’ personnel costs.

Subsidy on Training Costs: Only the direct hours, excluding breaks, during which the trainer/s actually participate in the training, may be taken into account. The maximum number of hours that can be claimed in the form of training fees cannot exceed 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Under no circumstances can the IB (Intermediate Body) reimburse more than 15 trainees for the same training under IIS, irrespective if these claims derive from separate and unrelated Beneficiaries.

Subsidy on Training Costs (cont’d): Non Accredited Training: If training is not accredited, the reimbursement will be based on the €25 unit cost calculated on the training hours actually attended by each trainee up to a maximum of 25 hours per trainee.

Subsidy on Training Costs (cont’d): Accredited Training: If training is accredited by the NCFHE (National Commission for Further and Higher Education), ITS (Institute of Tourism Studies), UOM (University of Malta) and MCAST (Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology) the capping of 25 hours will not be applied. In this case, the IB will reimburse each trainee to the maximum of contact hours approved by the NCFHE, ITS, UOM or MCAST. In the case of accredited training, MQF/EQF Levels 1-4 will be accepted under Investing in Skills.

Subsidy on Flight Expenses: If the Training Provider resides abroad, travel costs pertaining to air travel can be claimed by the trainer/s coming to Malta or the trainee/s going abroad. Travel costs will be based on the Erasmus Plus Grant Support for the mobility of staff. Beneficiaries are to calculate the distance through the following link: http://erasmus-plus.ro/erasmus-plus-distance-calculator-budget/ (for Malta please type Luqa, Malta).

Some Examples of Ineligible Costs: Minimum 100% eligible training aid costs per application: Minimum of €500 in the case of Medium and Large Undertakings Minimum of €200 in the case of Small and Micro Undertakings Any training provided by a linked company (over 50% shareholding); Internal training; Administrative costs; Renting of training venue; Training preparation and design fees; VAT; and Meals and refreshments.

Ineligible for Funding: Funds will NOT be reimbursed for any payments which are effected: In cash; Through intercompany transactions; Through barter or set-offs; and By third parties (this means that all cost must be paid directly and solely by the Beneficiary to the service provider).

Examples of Ineligible Training Programmes*: Anti-money Laundering training – Subsidiary Legislation 373.01: Prevention of Money Laundering and funding of Terrorism Regulations.  Training on Machinery – Legal Notice 293 of 2016: Work Equipment (Minimum Safety & Health Requirement) Regulations 2016. Manual Handling - Subsidiary Legislation 424.17: Protection against risks of back injury at work places regulations. CPE credits for Accountants - Directive 1 of the Accountancy Profession Act. * This list of training programmes carried out to comply with National mandatory standards on training is NOT exhaustive.

Contact Details: Marthanne Castillo Investing in Skills Project Leader EU Funded Schemes Division Jobsplus Head Office Hal Far BBG 3000 Tel: 2220 1300 Email: iis.jobsplus@gov.mt

Jobsplus Courses

Courses https://jobsplus.gov.mt/courses/all-course-list Free of charge (employed and unemployed) Courses can be organised for a specific group as long as there are at least 10 participants and can be held at the place of work as long as the facilities are provided. Recognised by the NCFHE and pegged at respective levels with the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF). For full list of courses available: https://jobsplus.gov.mt/courses/all-course-list

List of Course Categories Food Handling Care Worker Courses Business Skills Courses Trainer the Trainer Courses Health, Safety & Security Courses Customer Services Courses Others Employability Skills Courses Language and Numeracy Skills Courses Clerical Courses Accounting Courses Trade Courses Technical Courses ICT Courses

Schemes: Traineeship Scheme & Work Exposure Scheme

Work Exposure Scheme - 12 weeks @ 20 hours per week - 20 hours - on the job training only - The trainee receives a remuneration from Jobsplus

Traineeship Scheme 14/16 weeks @ 40 hours per week 40 hours include a formal training course related to duties that the trainee is assigned on the job @Jobsplus The remaining hours - on the job training The trainee receives a remuneration from Jobsplus

In order to apply for the scheme: Application form – verification process Although an employer is under no obligation to employ a trainee at the end of the scheme an employer has to guarantee that there is a possibility for employment A list of eligible trainees will be provided and selected through an interview at the discretion of the employer An employer can stop the scheme at any stage

Any Questions? Generic telephone numbers for Schemes: 22201635/ 22201636/ 22201637/ 22201638 Generic email address: training.jobsplus@gov.mt