As we have all just watched the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with fervour and are preparing to thrill once again with the Paralympic Games, this major sporting event on home soil has given us a fantastic opportunity to open up to the whole world and take a tour of Europe in professional training (and a world tour soon!).
I will share with you a personal anecdote. In front of each flag, in front of each athlete, my 5-year-old daughter kept asking me: Mom, what country is it? And it is well known that the truth comes out of the mouths of children, isn't it?!
In the field of professional training too, we at Diligence Consulting have had this curiosity to look at other countries in the world. Having already worked for foreign companies, whether European or not, I have heard on many occasions that France was a country apart. And I don't think I'm the only one to have experienced this situation. Whether it's our language, our culture, our administrative system, our HR policy or our professional training regulations, France is a country that can give our neighbors a hard time.
But then, how do we train elsewhere for a new profession, a new skill?
This is what we are going to see with our first research elements concerning 3 European countries. Are your suitcases ready? I'm taking you on a trip!
First stop: Destination Spain
We start gently for this first stage. If paella has replaced veal blanquette on our plates, in terms of professional training, Spain is undoubtedly the country that has practices closest to France. Indeed, just like in France, social partners and the State play a leading roleWithout going into details, companies pay mandatory contributions and can then recover training costs, a bit like French companies which can request support from their OPCO for certain eligible training courses.
What sets us apart, however, is that the operation is much more centralized, more community-based and geared towards co-investment between the employer and the employee.
By using the stick technique rather than the carrot technique, Spain holds the gold medal for access to vocational training. From Madrid to Barcelona to Andalusia, this is where employees receive the most training in companies. France, for its part, has no reason to be ashamed of its score since it is third in the ranking!
Second stop: Destination Belgium
Let's continue our journey with the last European, or perhaps even global, exception: Belgium. With the whole of Belgium, we share a love of chocolate, waffles and fries. But not only that! We also agree on a mutualized system of professional training. And yes, France, Spain and Belgium are the only countries in Europe to widely practice this system which strongly involves social partners and the State.
Belgium also capitalizes on a form ofobligation to train employees in the company and it seems to be working for them. In fact, the Belgians are on the podium with the silver medal for access to vocational training.
Therefore, we find Belgium in third position this time on another podium, that of the share of investments for businessesBelgium is the third country in Europe which devotes the largest share of its payroll to training its employees, just behind France.
Third stop: Destination Portugal
Now let's go back to southern Europe to enjoy some pasteis de nata. This time, a change of scenery. Vocational training is less mutualized there. But, unlike more liberal countries like the United Kingdom, the Portuguese state controls access to vocational training. A law included in the labor code requires companies to provide at least 35 hours of training per year and per employee..
In theory, training can be provided by the company, a private training organization, or the public vocational training system. In practice, Training is mainly carried out internally. Portugal even holds the gold medal for this modality, with an overall average of 60% of training carried out internally throughout Europe. A guaranteed change of scenery, from Porto to the Algarve via Lisbon! Because in France, it's the opposite. French companies often prefer to train elsewhere than at home, with only 45% of in-house training.
Just like their Spanish neighbours, it is the State rather than companies that invest in vocational training. Spain and Portugal therefore find themselves at the back of the podium in terms of the share of investments for companies. Nevertheless, Public aid is only granted under certain conditionsIt should be noted that the public aid granted is not always financed solely by the State, but also by the European Union, since it sets up an envelope for its member states (the European Social Fund in particular).
If you would like to continue our European tour of professional training with us, we will meet you in September with 4 new destinations on the programme: Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark.
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