FNE Formation: 100% State-Funded Training Programs

When facing unemployment, one can take the opportunity to learn new trades or expand their existing knowledge to reach a higher professional level. However, the necessary funds to pursue or provide employees with high-quality training are not always available. This is why the government has implemented various funding programs, such as the Aide au Retour à l’Emploi (Return to Employment Assistance) or the Aide Individuelle à la Formation (Individual Training Grant). In the context of the current health crisis, the FNE-Formation (National Employment Fund) agreement is also available, allowing those who are unemployed or on partial unemployment to enhance their skills without having to personally finance their training.

Who is eligible for FNE Formation?

This type of agreement is designed for companies that have been forced to cease operations, as well as for employees facing layoffs or temporary work reductions. It is entered into by the company, which must submit a request to the State through the Direccte. To do so, the company must complete an application highlighting the various benefits of the proposed training program.

All companies and associations — regardless of their size — may apply, provided they are experiencing a complete halt or a long-term slowdown in activity, as was the case during the Coronavirus pandemic. Employees affected by this period of inactivity are eligible for FNE Formation. In the case of fixed-term contracts, the contract’s expiration date must fall after the training dates.

To put it simply, the FNE Formation program is designed to assist individuals seeking to earn professional qualifications or secure better working conditions. It can also be used to improve workplace adaptation or to support job retention when additional skills are required. Furthermore, it facilitates acquiring new skills during career transitions and promotes professional mobility. Any employee placed on partial activity is eligible for this assistance, with the exception of apprentices.

To obtain this agreement, the application must be made individually on behalf of the company. The company must submit its request to the regional unit of the Direccte. In the case of multiple locations—for a national company—the request should be addressed to the Direccte corresponding to the registered office address. There is no need to repeat this process for every branch. It is also possible to work with OPCOs (Skills Operators), which can handle the application process on the company’s behalf.

Guidelines for Securing FNE Formation Funding

In principle, the FNE agreement must be signed before the training begins. However, retroactive effect may be granted solely within the context of the health crisis. Nevertheless, the company must have already commenced the training at the time the employees undergoing training were placed on partial activity.

This is then covered at 100% of the educational costs. If the training cost exceeds 1,500 euros (including tax) per employee, a thorough review will be conducted. The hourly rate, the training organization, and the provider for skills assessments or VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience) will be carefully scrutinized to ensure the cost is not excessive. Since the training is 100% covered, it is not possible to obtain co-financing—with the ESF, for example.

If a company applies for an FNE training agreement, it commits to retaining the trained employees in their positions for the entire duration of the training program. The administration may conduct audits throughout the term of the agreement.

For the agreement to be validated, it is imperative to engage a training organization that meets the quality requirements set forth in Decree No. 2015-790 of June 30, 2015. The official list has been issued by the Conseil national de l’emploi and can be consulted online at any time — see http://www.cnefop.gouv.fr/qualite/liste-des-certifications-et-labels-generalistes-du-cnefop.html.

If the company resumes operations before the training is complete, the program may continue. In such cases, the employee will receive their full salary, even if they are able to attend the training during working hours as well as outside of them. If this is not possible, the FNE Formation assistance will be adjusted pro rata based on the amount of training completed.

Funded training programs can also be conducted remotely (distance learning). In such cases, you must contact an officially registered training provider — pursuant to Article L. 6351-1 of the Labor Code. Under these circumstances, the training does not cover ancillary expenses, such as transportation or accommodation.

For companies with employees working both full-time and on partial activity schedules, this mix will be taken into account for all requests submitted before May 31, 2020.

It is also worth noting that the FNE Formation scheme applies to companies under partial activity status through the end of December 2020, and is not limited solely to the health crisis. It is sufficient to demonstrate that this period of inactivity is a direct result of the crisis. The scheme can also be applied in cases of redundancy procedures involving economic grounds. Employees who have accepted a reduced salary may be eligible for assistance for a period of two years. This aid is calculated by comparing the average salary of the previous twelve months with the net salary of the following twelve months. This allowance will be paid in two or three installments.

Training programs eligible under the agreement

To determine whether a training program is eligible for funding, you must consult Articles L.6313-1 and L. 6314-1 of the Civil Code. This may include a skills development plan, a professional qualification certificate, or a professional degree. This FNE training can be conducted remotely and can also be combined with the Compte Personnel de Formation.

Please note that mandatory training—such as safety-related training—is not included. The same applies to work-study or apprenticeship programs. In all cases, training programs must enable employees to develop their skills. Regardless of the field selected, the objective must be to enhance their employability.

The duration of the training program may not exceed the number of hours worked under partial activity. Training sessions may be conducted outside of working hours; however, in such cases, the prior consent of the employee or employees is strictly required. Marketing, IT, multimedia, office automation, and management are just a few of the fields covered by the FNE Formation program.

If you want to learn English remotely, for example, Explora Langues has implemented remote English courses via videoconference eligible for FNE funding.

To complete your request, you can refer to the documents available online. You will find the FNE agreement application file at https://travail-emploi.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/demande-subvention-FNE-formation.pdf and the agreement itself at this link: https://travail-emploi.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/convention-formation-FNE-formation.pdf. Simply print and complete them before submitting them to your regional Direccte office. You can easily find the address for your specific location by visiting the dedicated website: http://direccte.gouv.fr/.