How to Fund Your Training with OPCO EP

The OPCO EP (Local Companies) supports local businesses in funding their training projects. This OPCO is especially active in various professional sectors that include artisanal trades, local services, and retail.

Here are the main areas of intervention of OPCO EP:

• Artisanal and Retail Trade: Butchery, bakery, pastry, confectionery, chocolate-making, clothing retail, florists.

• Local Services: Hairdressing, aesthetics, maintenance and cleaning

• Professions in Law and Justice: Lawyers, notaries, auctioneers, bailiffs, dental and medical offices.

• Real Estate and Construction: Real estate agencies, architect firms.

Funding Conditions

Uniformation funds the training for companies with less than 50 employees, as long as they have contributed sufficiently, which means understanding the function of training contributions.

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

If no branch agreement exists, partial funding through FNE-formation is possible.

To receive OPCO financial support, it's crucial to meet the application submission deadlines. Ideally, these should be submitted at least one month before the start of the training. However, in some cases, funding approval by the OPCO can be obtained up to two weeks before the training begins.

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

Documents Required by OPCO EP

To ensure the training proceeds smoothly and secures funding, certain documents must be prepared and sent to OPCO EP by the training provider and the company. These documents are to be provided before and after the training.

Before the Training:

1. Distance Learning Program

   • This document describes the objectives, content, and modalities of the training. It must be provided by the training provider to the company for approval before the training commences.

2. Training Agreement

   • The training agreement is a contract between the provider and the company. It specifies the obligations of each party and must be sent to the company before the program starts and then forwarded to the OPCO.

After the Training:

1. Certificate of Completion

   • This certification confirms that the training was completed and the objectives achieved. It must be submitted to the OPCO to finalize the file.

2. Attendance Certificate

   • This document confirms the employee's regular attendance at the training and must be sent to OPCO EP at the end of the program.

3. Training Provider's Invoice

   • After training completion, the provider issues an invoice addressed to OPCO EP. This document is necessary to trigger payment of the training fees.

4. Service Contract

   • This contract, detailing the services provided, must be sent to the OPCO at the end of the training to complete the funding file.

The Funding Process

When a company seeks to finance training via an OPCO, several stakeholders are involved in the process.

1. Role of the Training Provider

• Proposal and Quote: The provider offers the company a detailed quote for the desired training, accompanied by a training agreement and corresponding educational programs. These documents are essential for the company to assemble a strong file to submit to the OPCO.

• Documentation and Follow-up: Once the training is approved by the OPCO and conducted, the provider must supply proofs of the proper execution of the program. This includes completion certificates, an invoice, and, if necessary, other specific documents requested by the OPCO. These documents are then sent to the OPCO to enable training payment.

2. Role of the Company

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

• Application Submission: Using the documents provided by the training provider (quote, agreement, program), the company submits an online funding request to the relevant OPCO. It is crucial that this request is complete and accurate to avoid any delays in validation, especially since requests generally need to be made at least one month before training begins.

• Monitoring and Management: The company must also monitor the training progression. Once completed, it collaborates with the training provider to provide the OPCO with necessary justifications, including completion and attendance certificates, the invoice, and other required documents to finalize payment.

3. Role of the OPCO

• Analysis and Validation: The OPCO receives and reviews the company's funding application. It ensures the file's completeness, the eligibility of the training, and its compliance with legal and conventional frameworks. If the file is incomplete, the OPCO may request additional documents before approving it.

• Approval: If the application is approved, the OPCO informs the company of the partial or full coverage of training costs, based notably on the company's contribution funds.

• Monitoring and Payment: After training, the OPCO verifies the documentation sent by the company and the training provider. Once compliance is confirmed, payment is processed directly to the training provider or the company, as per the agreed reimbursement method.

  
  

AI is no longer a mere option but a necessity to stay competitive, and its importance will continue to grow. With OPCO support, training your staff in AI becomes both accessible and strategic. Why not discuss it today?

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