TilskudTjek
What are support schemes and rights?
This is the third and most overlooked layer of financial value for Danish companies. While grants require applications and tax deductions require documentation and an accountant, support schemes primarily require one thing: that you know they exist and activate them.
The category covers four types of schemes:
- Skills funds: Training funds you already pay into via collective agreement contributions
- State guarantees and loans: EIFO guarantees that improve your loan terms
- Wage subsidies: The state pays a part of the salary for certain employee groups
- Education support: SVU, AMU courses and other public education schemes
The psychology of this layer is different from the other two. With grants you think: "Can we get money?" With tax deductions you think: "Can we keep more money?" With support schemes you should think: "Are we using the money we already pay for?"
Overview: All support schemes
| Scheme | Typical value | Requirements | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-60k/medarbejder/år | Collective agreement | 🟢 Low | |
| Improved loan terms | Healthy economy | 🟡 Medium | |
| Up to 50% of wage | Cooperation with job center | 🟡 Medium | |
| AUB-refund + bonus | Approved apprenticeship | 🟡 Medium | |
| Wage loss compensation | Employee in education | 🟢 Low | |
| Free or low price | Skilled/unskilled | 🟢 Low |
Do you pay into skills funds you've never used?
Our free CVR scan identifies if you have skills funds, EIFO options or wage subsidies you can activate.
Start free scan →Skills funds — the most overlooked money machine
Training funds you already pay into — but likely never used
If your employees are covered by a collective agreement, you and/or the employees already pay into a skills fund. Most SMEs never draw on the funds.
How it works
Skills funds are financed via collective agreement contributions — a small percentage of the payroll paid by the employer, employee or both. The money is collected in industry-specific funds and can be applied for courses, continuing education and skills development for the covered employees.
The problem: most SMEs don't know the funds exist, which fund they belong to, or how to draw on the funds.
What the fund typically covers
- Course fees — external and internal, professional and interdisciplinary courses
- Wage loss compensation — compensation for the time the employee is on the course
- Transport and accommodation — in connection with courses
- Materials — books, software licenses for educational purposes
- Coaching and mentoring — in some funds
The most important skills funds by industry
Here are the most common skills funds in Denmark. Your specific collective agreement determines which fund is relevant.
How to activate fund money — step by step
Find your fund
Identify which collective agreement your employees are covered by. Contact your employers' organization (e.g. DI, Danish Chamber of Commerce) if in doubt.
Call the fund and confirm coverage
Use the phone script below. Ask: "Is CVR [number] covered? What is our balance? Which courses can we apply for funds for?"
Identify course needs
What skills is your team missing? Check the fund's course catalog for approved courses and providers.
Apply BEFORE the course starts
Most funds require pre-approval. Send application with course description, participant information and budget.
Complete the course and submit documentation
Send course certificate, invoices and any time registration to the fund. Reimbursement typically within 2-4 weeks.
Phone script: The exact call you need to make
Want to know exactly which funds are relevant for you?
The TilskudTjek report filters to your specific industry code and includes fund name, contact information, typical amounts and application process. Plus a pre-written email you send to HR.
Scan your CVR for free →EIFO — Danmarks Eksport- og Investeringsfond
State guarantees that improve your loan terms
EIFO offers guarantees, loans and sureties. An EIFO guarantee can help you get financing your bank would otherwise reject.
What EIFO offers
- Growth sureties: EIFO guarantees up to 75% of your loan. The bank bears only 25% of the risk
- Growth loans: Direct loans from EIFO for growth projects, typically with lower security requirements
- Export guarantees: Insurance of payment risk when exporting to risky markets
- Startup loans: Loans for entrepreneurs and newly established companies
When EIFO is relevant
- The bank says no: You have a good project but lack security. An EIFO guarantee can tip the balance
- You want to supplement grants: Innobooster covers 35% of your project. EIFO can help finance the remaining 65%
- You export: Export guarantees protect you from payment failure from foreign customers
Wage subsidies — the state pays a part of the wage
Reduce your wage cost when hiring certain groups
The state pays a part of the wage when you hire unemployed, citizens in job clarification or people in flex jobs.
Types of wage subsidies
| Type | Target group | What you get | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wage subsidy for unemployed | Unemployment and cash benefit recipients | Wage subsidy per hour | 3-12 months |
| Flex job | Citizens with permanently reduced working capacity | Up to 50% of the wage | Ongoing |
| Company internship | Unemployed in clarification | No wage cost | 4-13 weeks |
| Job rotation | Employees in education | Job rotation benefit for temp | During education |
Contact your local job center
Describe your needs. The job center presents relevant candidates.
Agree on terms
The size of the wage subsidy, duration and any special considerations are agreed with the job center.
Create agreement via VITAS
VITAS is the digital system for wage subsidy agreements. The job center guides you. vitas.bm.dk →
Hire the employee
You hire on normal terms. The wage subsidy is paid to you continuously.
Apprentice schemes and AUB
Refund and bonus for taking apprentices and trainees
AUB (Employers' Education Contribution) refunds wages during school stays and provides bonus schemes for new apprenticeship places.
What you can get
- Wage refund during school stays: AUB refunds the apprentice's wage in the periods they are at the vocational school
- Internship-AUB: Companies that take apprentices themselves get part of the AUB contribution back
- Bonus schemes: Extra bonus for new apprenticeship places in industries with shortages
- Adult apprentice scheme: Increased subsidy (typically 30-45 DKK/hour extra) for apprentices over 25 years
SVU and AMU courses — for everyone, regardless of collective agreement
Do you have employees who are NOT covered by a collective agreement? Then you do not have access to skills funds — but you have access to two public alternatives:
SVU — State Adult Education Support
SVU gives your employees compensation for lost earnings during education. You as an employer can receive SVU compensation corresponding to the employee's wage (up to a ceiling).
- Applies to education at primary, secondary and professional levels
- The employee must typically be 25 years old
- Apply via svu.dk
AMU courses — often free or very cheap
AMU (Labor Market Training) are short, practical courses aimed at skilled and unskilled workers. State-financed and typically free or 100-200 DKK per day.
- VEU compensation: You can get compensation for the employee's wage during the course
- Courses: Everything from forklift certificates to digital marketing to food hygiene
- Duration: Typically 1-10 days
Do support schemes fit your company?
Check what applies. We show which schemes you should investigate — completely indicative.
Quick screening
Run a free CVR scan for precise matching against all 50+ schemes.
Your preliminary result
Check items above to see relevant schemes.
This screening is indicative. The full scan matches against 50+ schemes incl. grants and tax deductions.
Combining with grants and tax deductions
This is where the third layer really comes into its own: support schemes combine naturally with the two other layers.
| Combination | Example | Total effect |
|---|---|---|
| Skills funds + AMU | AMU course (free) + skills fund covers wage loss | Education at 0 DKK net cost |
| Wage subsidy + Innobooster | Hire unemployed with wage subsidy for Innobooster project | Reduced wage cost + 35% grant |
| EIFO + Innobooster | Innobooster covers 35%. EIFO guarantee finances the 65% | Full financing of the project |
| SVU + Skills fund | SVU covers wage loss, the fund covers course fee | Education almost cost-free |
Frequently asked questions
Check your employment contracts or contact your employers' organization (e.g. DI, Danish Chamber of Commerce). They can inform you which collective agreements you are covered by and thus which skills funds are relevant.
Without a collective agreement, you typically do not have access to skills funds. But you still have access to: SVU, AMU courses (often free), EIFO guarantees, wage subsidies via the job center and apprenticeship schemes via AUB. Many of these do not require a collective agreement.
Typically no — skills funds cover employees covered by the relevant collective agreement. Directors and owners are rarely on a collective agreement. However, SVU and some AMU courses may be available regardless of role.
No. Skills funds are private funds financed via collective agreement contributions. They do not count towards the de minimis cap. You can combine skills funds freely with public grant programs.
Most funds require pre-approval — apply BEFORE the course starts. Application after the course is completed is typically rejected. Some funds have exceptions for urgent needs. Always ask the fund directly.
Grants are direct money you receive after applying. Tax deductions are money you keep via reduced tax. Support schemes are rights you already have access to — money you already pay into via collective agreement contributions, or schemes you can activate without competition-based application. TilskudTjek covers all three layers in one report.
The report matches your CVR and industry code with relevant skills funds, guarantee schemes and employment schemes. You get a skills funds guide tailored to your industry with contact info, a pre-written email for HR ("call [fund] and ask about our balance"), and an overview of other rights. See prices.
Support schemes are the third of three layers
Together, the three layers — grants, tax deductions and support schemes — constitute the full palette of financial opportunities for Danish companies. Most only know grants. TilskudTjek covers all three.
Find the support schemes you already pay into — but never used
Free CVR scan in 30 seconds. See if you have skills funds, EIFO options or wage subsidies you can activate. The report includes an industry-specific guide with contact information and phone scripts. No credit card.
Disclaimer: This guide is prepared by TilskudTjek as general guidance. Amounts, rights and requirements vary per collective agreement, fund and scheme. Always contact the relevant fund, employers' organization or job center for precise information. TilskudTjek does not provide legal or tax advice.