Training, mentoring and upskilling in Spanish workplaces

Terms used

• FUNDAE — FUNDAE is the state foundation that manages subsidised training for employees, which companies claim back through their Social Security payments.
• Crédito formativo — The crédito formativo is the yearly training budget a company can claim back, based on what it paid in the previous year.
• Fijos discontinuos — Fijos discontinuos are permanent workers who work in recurring seasons or periods and are inactive between them.
• Convenio — The convenio is the collective agreement for your sector or company, setting pay and working conditions.
• Permiso individual de formación — The permiso individual de formación (PIF) is paid leave for accredited, job-related training.
• SEPE — SEPE is Spain's public employment service, which also offers free or subsidised courses.

Key rules

• Who asks: Your employer organises and claims back FUNDAE training; you request it but cannot force approval.
• Public sector: Civil servants and public administration staff cannot use FUNDAE training.
• Paid training leave: Paid individual training leave is up to 200 working hours per year, needs at least one year of seniority and can be deferred by the employer.
• Mentoring: Formal mentoring is mostly found in large companies; elsewhere it is informal.

The short answer

Most subsidised training at work goes through your employer. The company, not you, organises it and gets the cost back through FUNDAE. You can ask for a course, but you cannot force your employer to approve it. Formal mentoring exists mainly in large companies. Elsewhere, expect informal guidance.

Who can use FUNDAE training

You can take part if you work in the private sector and your company pays the vocational training contribution. That covers permanent, temporary and part-time staff. It also covers fijos discontinuos, including during inactive periods. Workers who move into unemployment during a course can usually finish it.

Civil servants and public administration staff are excluded. Self-employed people are generally covered by other offers, such as those below.

How a company pays for the training

Each year, a company that pays the contribution gets a crédito formativo based on what it paid the year before. The percentage is set yearly and is higher for smaller firms. In 2025 it ranged from 100% for companies of 6 to 9 employees down to 50% for companies of 250 or more. Companies with 1 to 5 employees get a minimum credit. Smaller firms may also have to co-finance part of the cost.

The company registers with FUNDAE and informs the workers' representatives. It notifies FUNDAE before each course starts and runs the training itself or hires an accredited provider. Afterwards it deducts the cost from its Social Security payments. It can only deduct up to its credit.

How to ask your employer

1. Pick an accredited course, or one already in the company training plan.
2. Raise it with HR or your manager. If you have workers' representatives, ask them about the training plan too.
3. Get approval, and make sure the company notifies FUNDAE before the course starts.

Employers tend to say yes to job-related, cheap or in-house courses. They often refuse or ignore unrelated or costly requests, especially small firms.

Time off to study

Employees have the right to paid time off for exams. If you study for an official qualification, you can ask for preference in choosing shifts and for adapted hours. Many collective agreements (convenios) add days for exams, courses or study, so read yours.

The permiso individual de formación (PIF) is paid leave for accredited, job-related training. It is up to 200 working hours per year, needs at least one year of seniority and can be deferred by the employer.

Training outside your employer

• Free or subsidised courses from SEPE and your regional employment service, mainly for unemployed and working people.
• Official vocational training (formación profesional) and public university master's degrees, which cost much less than private options.
• Online courses.
• Business schools, which cost the most, up to tens of thousands of euros. They are usually self-funded or part-funded by your employer.
• Study loans or scholarships, sometimes.

Eligibility depends on your work status and region. Check current offers with SEPE, your regional employment service and the school.

Mentoring

Formal programmes are found mainly in large companies, multinationals, banks, consultancies and some public bodies. They are often aimed at new hires, women in leadership or high-potential staff. They are uncommon in small and medium firms. There, guidance usually comes informally from a senior colleague, your manager or a buddy. Professional associations and networks help too. If you want a mentor, ask HR whether a programme exists, then look for one outside the company.

The checklist and FAQ below cover the steps and common questions.

Checklist

• Choose an accredited course, or one in your company's training plan, that relates to your job.

• Ask HR or your manager to approve the course and bonify it through FUNDAE.

• Confirm the employer notifies FUNDAE before the course starts.

• Compare outside options with SEPE and your regional employment service, including free or subsidised courses.

• Ask whether a senior colleague, your manager or a buddy can guide you if there is no formal mentoring.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make my employer pay for a FUNDAE course I choose?

No, you cannot force your employer to bonify a specific course, because the company organises and claims the training. Employers often approve job-related courses that are cheap or run in-house.

Can public-sector staff or self-employed people use FUNDAE training?

No, civil servants and staff of public administrations are excluded from this scheme, and self-employed people are generally covered by other offers. Private-sector employees can take part whether they are permanent, temporary, part-time or fijos discontinuos (seasonal permanent staff).

How does a company pay for the FUNDAE training it offers?

The company deducts the cost from its Social Security contributions after the training ends, up to its annual training credit. It can only deduct what it paid in. The credit is a percentage of last year's contribution, higher for smaller firms.

Where can I find free or subsidised training outside my employer?

Free or subsidised courses come from SEPE (the state employment service) and your regional employment service, mainly for unemployed or in-work people. Public vocational training is also cheaper than private options. Business school programmes are expensive and usually self-funded or part-funded by an employer.

Will I get a mentor at a Spanish company?

Probably only at a large company, multinational, bank or consultancy. Small and medium firms rarely run formal mentoring.