From digitalization to decarbonization: Small and medium-sized enterprises are also feeling the effects of change in the world of work. INQA coaching offers low-threshold consulting and support services to help companies meet these challenges and work with their employees to make themselves crisis-proof and future-proof. Support from a certified INQA coach is 80% publicly funded, meaning that companies only have to cover 20% of the costs. Funding is available for areas such as the development of digital business models, the digitalization of business processes, questions relating to digital leadership, questions relating to the recruitment of skilled workers, and much more.
Take an active approach to change!
INQA coaching: Shaping digital transformation with your employees
Digitalization poses major challenges for many companies, but also offers enormous opportunities. The introduction of new technologies is often left to external service providers, but this frequently leads to problems in small and medium-sized enterprises: solutions are expensive, do not fit in with the reality of the business, and are not accepted by employees. Why? Because internal processes are unclear and the knowledge of the company’s own workforce remains untapped.
This is where INQA coaching comes in: it actively involves your employees in order to master the challenges of digitalization and take advantage of future opportunities. In an agile, moderated coaching process, tailor-made solutions for your company are developed together.
Your advantages at a glance:
| Informed decisions: You can make investment decisions more easily because they are based on the insights of your own workforce.
| Rapid implementation: High acceptance among your employees ensures that the improvements developed are implemented quickly.
| Practical solutions: Problems are identified and avoided at an early stage, providing you with customized solutions that truly work.
INQA coaching lays the foundation for a successful digital transformation that does not fail due to a lack of internal knowledge, but builds on the strengths and commitment of your own people.
What is being promoted?
The aim of the program is to maintain your competitive edge as an entrepreneur by increasing your innovative strength, dealing constructively with change, and securing skilled workers. A distinction is made between six areas of focus:
- New business models & innovation strategies
- Production models & work organization
- Human resources policy, employment, and training
- Social relationships & culture
- Leadership, professional development & career
- Workplace of the future, working hours and performance policy
As part of this program, coaches must qualify separately for each individual area of expertise. We are authorized coaches for the following sub-areas: 1. New business models & innovation strategies, 2. Production model & work organization, 4. Social relations & culture, and 5. Leadership, professional development & career.
How INQA coaching works: Conditions and procedure
INQA coaching is a subsidized program that provides your company with up to 12 coaching days over a period of 4 to 7 months. The exact distribution of coaching days and work phases is structured and predetermined.
Financial support
The European Union, together with the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS), is funding the “INQA Coaching” program in Germany through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus).
Up to 80% of the total costs of up to €14,400 are covered. For you, this means:
| You will receive a subsidy of up to €11,520.
| Your own contribution is only €2,880 (net).
Timeline of an INQA coaching session
INQA coaching is divided into three phases with a total duration of 7-13 months:
1. The INQA initial consultation. Together with the INQA initial consultation center (IBS) responsible for your federal state, you clarify the need for change and the eligibility of your project for funding. After a successful initial consultation, the IBS issues the INQA coaching check required for funding. You can find the appropriate INQA initial consultation center on the INQA coaching map.
2. Implementation of coaching using a specific agile method with a role concept and process model. Even though the coaching period is specified as 4-7 months, you will benefit from the work and results of the so-called Lab Team from day one.
3. The final meeting includes a review of the coaching phase. IBS supports you with possible further funding options and provides you with practical guidance on how to secure the results achieved in the long term.
Who benefits from INQA coaching?
INQA coaching is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have at least one and fewer than 250 employees subject to social insurance contributions.
To be eligible, at least one person in the company must be employed full-time. Part-time employees are counted on a pro rata basis, while marginal employees and trainees are not included in this count.
In order to be eligible for INQA coaching, you must meet the following criteria in addition to the requirements already mentioned:
| Your company must have its registered office and place of business in Germany.
| Annual turnover must not exceed €50 million and the annual balance sheet total must be less than €43 million.
| Your company must have been operating on the market for at least two years.
| You must not have received more than €200,000 in de minimis aid (EU subsidies) in the last three tax years.
Please also note that a few industries are excluded from funding, such as primary agricultural production and fishing.
Which coaches can provide INQA coaching?
The INQA coaching program can only be carried out by authorized coaches. In order to ensure the professionalism—i.e., the quality—of the counseling, INQA coaches must be authorized by the Center for INQA Coaching (ZIC). Potential coaches must meet the following criteria/requirements:
| Proof of an academic degree or completed vocational training, combined with 5 years of professional experience
| Proof of relevant professional experience as a consultant (at least 3 years)
| Proof of professional competence in at least 2 of the 6 operational areas of future work
| Proof of process skills and experience in process consulting
| Proof of experience and expertise in working with agile methods
| Proof of customer references with detailed description of consulting projects
| Participation in online learning modules on the framework and funding conditions of INQA coaching, including a successfully completed exam
As authorized INQA coaches at ASTRAN within the framework of the EFS Plus program “Inqa Coaching,” we have this authorization and can coach small and medium-sized enterprises with this program.
