INQA-Coaching

Program description

The nationwide program - and follow-up program to unternehmensWert:Mensch (uWM plus) - provides support for small and medium-sized companies to develop a sustainable and employee-oriented HR strategy. To this regard, process consulting is funded in four fields of action:

• staff management
• diversity
• health
• competence

With the involvement of employees, professional consultants work together with company management to develop tailored concepts and solution strategies for a successful HR policy.

The grant is awarded as part of project funding in the form of a non-repayable subsidy as partial funding (80% of the consultancy costs).

Coaching under the program comprises a maximum of 12 consulting days of 8 hours each. These can be split over several days. The coaching must be completed within 7 months of the issue of the consultancy voucher.

The maximum rate for a consultant day is 1200 euros net. This covers all consulting services. Other ancillary costs, such as travel expenses, consumables, etc., are not eligible for funding. The remaining costs should be covered by the companies themselves.

INQA coaching is fed by the expert knowledge of New Quality of Work Initiative (BMAS) and is part of the German government's skilled labor offensive.

Institution

New Quality of Work Initiative (BMAS)

With the New Quality of Work Initiative (INQA), the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) supports a platform on which business associations and institutions, companies, trade unions, the Federal Employment Agency, social insurance carriers, chambers and foundations work together with policymakers to promote a new, sustainable work culture. The aim of the initiative is to create more quality of work as the key to competitiveness and innovative strength in Germany as a business location.

As an independent network, the initiative offers examples from company practice, opportunities for exchange in numerous - also regional - company and industry networks, consulting and information services, and funding programs. In concrete terms, the aim is to maintain and promote the commitment, competence and health of the companies' employees.

Furthermore, the initiative would like to

• stimulate a social debate,
• organize knowledge transfer on relevant topics
• support innovative projects and
• disseminate examples of good practice.

Deadline

The program is ongoing and planned until 2027.

Funding period

The support period of the consultations can last a maximum of 12 consulting days. These can be taken in a period of 7 calendar months.

Funding criteria

Companies that meet the following criteria are eligible for funding:

• Registered office and place of work in Germany
• annual sales of less than 50 million Euro or annual balance sheet total of less than 43 million Euro
• fewer than 250 employees
• At least one full-time employee subject to social insurance contributions (calculated on the basis of annual work units; part-time employees can be taken into account on a pro-rata basis).
• the company has been in existence for at least two years

Additional conditions

Excluded from funding are:

• Companies as well as freelancers who are active as business or economic consultants in the fields of staff policy or labour organisation.
• Companies with a public shareholding of 25% or more
• Companies for whose assets insolvency proceedings have been filed or opened or against which enforcement proceedings have been initiated or are in progress.
• Companies that receive funding as part of the "Sustainable companies and administrations in the digital transformation" guideline
• Companies that have already taken part in INQA-Coaching

Expenses for (commercial)

Coaching/mentoring services

Funding focuses on

Creating/securing jobs, Entrepreneurial know-how, Corporate growth, Sustainability, Strengthening competitiveness

Stage of the company/self-employment

up to 3 years after founding, up to 5 years after founding, up to 7 years after founding, existing company

Company Sizes

solo self-employed/one-man business, micro enterprise, small enterprise, medium-sized enterprise

Application type

Consultation in advance

Application procedure/documents

INQA-Coaching takes place in three steps.

1. initial consultation: the first point of contact for participation in the program is a regional consultation office near you. Please make sure that you choose a regional INQA consultation center that is located in the same federal state as your company's headquarters and place of work. During the initial consultation, which is free of charge, the follow issues are clarified: eligibility for funding as well as the need for consulting in the four areas of staff policy. After that the funding process is discussed. If all eligibility criteria are met, the applicants receive the consulting check directly at the INQA consulting office.

2. INQA coaching in the company: INQA coaching is carried out by qualified and experienced consultants who have been authorised as INQA coaches. Simply cash your INQA coaching cheque with an authorised INQA coach. You can find an overview on the INQA coaching card. In a joint learning and development process, you will then work out customised company solutions. INQA coaching can last up to 7 months if this is necessary from the company's point of view.

3. final consultation: approximately three to six months after the end of the process consultation, the results are discussed with the initial consultation office. To ensure that the changes initiated have a long-term effect, possible further support services are discussed.

Jury/Decision-making body

The initial consultation centers coordinate consultancy for companies in the region. They are also the first point of contact for companies on all funding issues and coordinate the process consultant pool.

The Federal Office of Administration (BVA) is in charge of the financial administrative implementation of the program. It is responsible for grant approval and disbursement as well as for administering the funding. The BVA also supports the initial counseling centers in all matters relating to grants and grant accounting.

Assistance/Downloads

All information on the objectives, procedures and funding conditions of INQA coaching can also be found in the funding guidelines.

Good practice:

• Review of the predecessor program uWM
• Interview with entrepreneurs
• Interview with experts from the initial consultantion centers

(The information is available only in German.)

Funded by

European Social Fund Plus, Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs

Funding area

Germany

Funding source of the institution

federal government, EU