Taking a language course can be beneficial if you want to develop yourself and increase your chances in the job market. Good language skills are also essential for companies to ensure effective collaboration, workplace safety, productivity, employee satisfaction, and international trade relations. Investing in language skills strengthens your position, so it's good to know that there are several attractive subsidy options for employees and companies.
STE Languages has extensive experience in assisting with subsidy applications and can provide you with targeted support.
Below you will find the various subsidy options:
Doorzaam Subsidy: Temporary Employment Sector
Doorzaam is a subsidy for the temporary employment sector and offers two types of budgets for Dutch language training: the training voucher and the Dutch Language Budget for temporary workers. Doorzaam's mission is to promote the sustainable employability of temporary workers.
The Dutch Language Budget: The Dutch Language Budget is intended for temporary workers who have little or no command of the Dutch language. It offers a contribution of up to €1,500 (excluding VAT) towards training costs incurred to help them become proficient in the Dutch language. The training aims to increase Dutch language proficiency in the workplace.
More information: Website Doorzaam
OOM subsidy: Metal Working
OOM (Training Development for Metal Working Companies) promotes training and development in the metal working industry. This includes training to improve the Dutch language skills of international employees. To qualify for this subsidy, you must work for a company in the metal working sector and be affiliated with OOM. OOM reimburses 50% of the costs up to a maximum of €1,000 per calendar year.
More information: Website OOM
SOOB Subsidy: Transport and Logistics
The SOOB subsidy is available for the Transport and Logistics sectors. The SOOB subsidy center promotes and subsidizes education and training for current and future employees in the sector. Starting on 1st January 2024, an individual training budget of €2,500 is available for employees in the Transport and Logistics sector. This amount can be used for language training, among other things. This budget is available at the employee level and can be applied for as a Personal Training Budget through the STL portal: Sector Institute for Transport and Logistics.
More information: Website SOOB
SOL subsidy for the Food Industry
SOL (Samen Ondernemend Leren) promotes development and well-being in various areas of life, such as education, health, and social integration. This also includes support for developing skills, such as language or work-related development. To use SOL's services or subsidies, you often have to live or work in one of the regions where SOL operates (such as Rotterdam, Leiden, and the surrounding area). SOL offers various types of support and reimbursements, depending on the specific project or programme.
More information: Website SOL
Status Holder Subsidy: SOWIS
To support employers in sustainably hiring status holders, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) offers the opportunity to apply for a temporary subsidy. This subsidy is intended for additional support for status holders in the workplace. The financial compensation must be used for workplace activities aimed at reducing cultural and language differences between status holders and other staff. The subsidy consists of €6,000 per status holder, with a maximum of four status holders per organisation, and is subject to several conditions.
More information: Website Min. SZW
Lifelong Learning (LLO) Subsidy
Lifelong Learning: People must continue to develop to remain employable in the labour market. But learning and development are also important for companies to remain agile and competitive. Therefore, the government/SER supports learning and development through various subsidy options, among other things.
More information: Website SER
Tel mee met Taal: For employers
Until early 2024, the Dutch government provided an annual subsidy through Tel mee met Taal for Dutch language training for employees, temporary workers, and freelancers. It is not yet known whether a similar subsidy will be available in 2025. We will, of course, keep you updated.
More information: Website DUS - Tel Mee Met Taal
Language Agreement for Employers
As an employer, you can contribute to improving your employees' language skills by discussing languages in the workplace and providing training. Joining the Language Agreement for Employers helps you achieve this. Within the Language Agreement, you work with other employers to promote language and share knowledge and experiences.
More information: Website Language Agreement
Learning and Work Desk
As an employer, you can take advantage of financial benefits if you encourage learning and working. Contact the Learning and Work Desk or the RWC (regional employment center), and they will help you determine which scheme is relevant for your company. They may even be able to combine schemes. They also provide insight into the use of Social Return on Investment (SROI). The Learning and Work Desk created a webinar specifically for Language in the Workplace with information about the options.
More information: Website Learning and Work Desk
Leeroverzicht.nl
The Dutch Government's Leeroverzicht platform has been online since October 2022. It provides the most comprehensive range of available education, courses, and training programmes, as well as all associated financial regulations and subsidies in the Netherlands. The Leeroverzicht platform is a Dutch Government initiative, in collaboration with social partners and educational umbrella organisations.
More information: Website Leeroverzicht
STE Languages assists companies in making these applications. If you would like to apply for this attractive scheme, please send an e-mail to taalsubsidie@ste.nl. You can also call us on 040 245 28 60.
