Funding Continuing Training in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion and Case Studies from across the EU. CEDEFOP Panorama Series.

There are three main parts to this report of a study that used case studies to showcase the different approaches used to encourage more continuing training within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the European Union (EU). Section 1 discusses the importance of funding training in SMEs and highlights the various types of funding available. The second section explains how various schemes work in Europe, using case studies from Belgium, Finland, France, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Section 3 discusses the case studies in terms of their characteristics and indicators of effectiveness. Conclusions on the effectiveness of funding strategies include the following: (1) there is a need to use one-stop training centers; (2) the smallest enterprises are often the most effective in training; (3) flexibility is key to many of the strategies in terms of prioritizing support for small and very small enterprises; (4) the success of a training effort depends on its promotion; and (5) application and registration procedures should be as simple as possible. (Contains 85 references.) (KC)