Consulting and training

Offer

We provide financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises to cover the costs of improving the qualifications and competences of employees through the Subjective Financing System -PSF) – subsidies for development services.

The Fund has already implemented three pro- jects under the PSF, co-financed by the European Social Fund, with a total value of over EUR 56 million. The aim of these projects was to help SMEs finance expenses related to investment in human resources. Further projects are already in the pipeline, including initiatives for individuals who, at their own initiative, wish to enhance their qualifications and improve their employability. The funding can be used to cover the costs of training, vocational courses, and postgraduate studies.

The key benefits of the Subject Financing System are the ability to select training or other services in line with individual requirements from the comprehensive Development Services Database (from Polish ‘Baza Usług Rozwojowych’ – BUR). This enables the entrepreneur to select the topic of the service, the date and the appropriate form: training, professional course, e-learning, consulting, coaching or mentoring.

In the period between 2017 and 2023, 14,000 sup- port agreements were signed, providing funding worth over EUR 47 million. Thanks to the grants obtained, 43,000 employees and management staff of SMEs were able to enhance their qualifications.

In 2024, the Upper Silesian Fund will be expanding its offer to include co-financing for SMEs for services supporting development and specialized pro-innovation services. The funding is provided in the form of vouchers with a value of EUR 35,700 to EUR 47,600. It can be used for the purchase of consulting services supporting the planning and implementation of innovative solutions re- lated to a sustainable economy. The services will include, among others, analysis of the compa- ny’s intellectual property, building commercialisation paths and creating innovative business models. The purpose of the services will be to analyse existing resources, develop a commercialisation concept, market research and plan implementation. The services will be provided by accredited institutions, which will ensure their high quality. The planned project responds to the needs of entrepreneurs, in particular innovative startups and SMEs at the initial stage of development. It provides support in conducting research and development work, commercialisation of innovative solutions, which would allow them to effectively implement innovative ideas into the market reality.

The Upper Silesian Fund has been supporting individuals planning to start a business in the Silesia Province for over 20 years. The fund has already implemented nine projects in this field, providing advisory, training and subsidy support for those wishing to start their own company. We assist young entrepreneurs in refining their business concepts, training them in the basics of entrepre- neurship, and support them in setting up a com- pany and in the first year of its development. In col- laboration with the Upper Silesian Fund and with subsidy support, 261 individuals have established their own businesses. In 2024, we plan to imple- ment another project for enterprising residents of the Silesia Province who intend to start their own business. This time, we plan to dedicate the project especially to individuals who will take up the business challenge in the area of green tech- nologies.