How to finance your training with OPCO 2i

OPCO 2i, the Interindustry Skills Operator, is the partner of industrial companies. It supports and funds training to help companies grow and stay at the forefront of innovation in a constantly evolving sector.

Here are its main areas of intervention:

• Metallurgical industry: Metallurgy, steel industry, metal transformation.

• Chemical industry: Chemistry, plastics, pharmaceuticals, composite materials.

• Mineral industry: Ceramics, glass, mining, construction materials.

• Mechanical manufacturing industry: Machinery, equipment, industrial tools.

• Waste management industry: Recycling, waste recovery, water treatment.

Funding conditions

2i funds the training of companies with fewer than 50 employees, as long as they have sufficiently contributed, which implies understanding the functioning of training contributions.

For companies with more than 50 employees, a specific branch agreement may be required to unlock funding (to be requested directly from your OPCO).

If there is no branch agreement, partial funding by the FNE-formation is possible.

To benefit from OPCO 2i financial support, it is crucial to adhere to the application submission deadlines. Ideally, these should be submitted at least one month before training begins. However, in some cases, OPCO funding approval can be obtained up to two weeks before training starts.

Once the funding agreement is issued, training must commence on the date indicated in the application. A postponement is possible but limited to a maximum of three months, and training must still start within the same calendar year.

Documents to provide to OPCO 2i

To ensure the proper execution of training and obtain funding, certain documents must be prepared and submitted to OPCO 2i by the training organization and the company. These documents are to be provided before and after training.

Before training:

1. Training program

   • This document specifies the objectives, content, and methods of the training. It must be provided by the training organization to the company before training starts for validation. This program is essential to ensure that the training meets the company's needs and OPCO 2i's criteria.

2. Training agreement

   • The training agreement, a contract between the training organization and the company, defines the obligations of each party. It must be signed before training begins and submitted to OPCO 2i to formalize support.

After training:

1. Attendance certificate

   • Once training is completed, this certificate proves that the training has been duly attended by the relevant employees. It must be submitted to OPCO 2i to validate funding.

2. Training organization invoice

   • After training, the training organization issues an invoice addressed to OPCO 2i. This document is necessary to trigger the payment of training fees by OPCO.

The funding process

When a company wishes to fund training via an OPCO, several actors are involved in the process.

1. Role of the training organization

• Proposal and quote: The organization provides the company with a detailed quote for the desired training, along with a training agreement and corresponding educational programs. These documents are essential for the company to build a solid file to submit to OPCO.

• Documentation and follow-up: Once training is validated by OPCO and carried out, the training organization must provide proof of the correct execution of the program. This includes completion certificates, an invoice, and, if necessary, other specific documents that OPCO might request additionally. These documents are then sent to OPCO to enable the payment for the training.

2. Role of the Company

• OPCO identification: The first step for the company is to identify which OPCO it depends on based on its industry sector.

• Application submission: With the documents provided by the training organization (quote, agreement, program), the company submits a funding application online with the relevant OPCO. It is crucial that this application is complete and precise to avoid any delays in validation, especially since typically the application must be made at least 1 month before training starts.

• Monitoring and management: The company must also monitor the smooth progress of the training. Once completed, it collaborates with the training organization to provide OPCO with necessary proofs, including completion certificates, attendance, the invoice, and other required documents to finalize payment.

3. Role of the OPCO

• Analysis and validation: OPCO receives and analyzes the company's funding application. It ensures the file's compliance, the training's eligibility, and its alignment with legal and conventional arrangements. If the file is incomplete, OPCO may request additional documents before granting approval.

• Coverage: If the application is validated, OPCO informs the company of partial or total cost coverage for the training, depending on the company's contributed funds, in particular.

• Monitoring and payment: After training, OPCO checks the proofs sent by the company and the training organization. Once compliance is established, it proceeds with payment directly to the training organization or the company, according to the predetermined reimbursement method.

AI is no longer just an option, it's a necessity to stay competitive, and its importance will only grow. With OPCO support, training your employees on AI becomes both accessible and strategic. Why not discuss it now?

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