PUBLIKUJEMY W PULSIE BIZNESU: „Certyfikuj za Euro”

As a part of the cooperation of Altab S.A. with Puls Biznesu, on 15 February 2010 in Puls Biznesu there was published the article "Certify for Euro" by Katarzyna Grzegorczyk (Altab S.A.) and Miłosz Marczuk (Puls Biznesu).

system may be cheaper thanks to EU Certify for Euro.

The funds for the certification of quality management systems can be found in the National Fund for Environmental Protection (NFOŚ) and in regional operational programmes.

The implementation and certification of an internal management system can be co-financed from EU funds. The access to them is obtained first of all by small and medium enterprises as a part of the so called priority axes which support the development of entrepreneurship of Regional Operational Programmes (RPO), implemented in all the sixteen voivodeships.

A consultant can be helpful

- The main barrier which prevents companies from the decision to start managing a company through quality is the costs of the implementation of a system and its certification. Hence our decision to establish as a part of Altab company a European Consulting Office, which supports entrepreneurs in obtaining subsidies for financing various investments including subsidies for the implementation of quality systems supported by certificates e.g. ISO – says Paweł Matejko, the president of Altab.

In order to obtain a refund of the costs of system implementation, a company has to get a certificate of compliance with a proper quality norm. At the same time, apart from the costs of the system maintenance, depending on RPO, also the costs of certifying audit can be included in the refund.

The category of costs which qualify for the support is regulated in the guidelines for a given RPO.
The obtainment of subsidies depends on the positive decision as to granting the funds for this purpose, which has to be, in turn, preceded by the submission of proper application documentation.

Check the regions

In the most RPOs the obtainment of funds related to the investment in a management system takes place as a part of priority axes, the main purpose of which is the development of entrepreneurship.

For instance – the entrepreneurs which belong to the sector of small and medium enterprises and implement their projects as a part of the Regional Operational Programme for Małopolska Voivodeship may get a refund in the amount of 30-40 percent of the implementation of a management system and, apart from that, they can obtain the costs of the first certifying audit and recertification. Such a possibility is provided by the participation in the invitation for tenders as a part of the activity 2.1, scheme A.

A similar assistance can be obtained by the entrepreneurs that implement their projects as a part of activity 1.5 of the Regional Operation Programme of Mazowieckie Voivodeship or other activities of the remaining Regional Operational Programmes. The subsidies include consulting services in the scope of designing, implementing and improving the systems of managing quality, environment, H&S etc.

The funds for the implementation of a management system can be obtained not only as a part of an investment project, but also as a part of independent consulting projects. Such an opportunity can be utilized by business entities from the Dolnośląskie Voivodeship, which uses the funds of the Regional Operational Programme of Dolnośląskie Voivodeship for the years 2007-13 as a part of activity 1.2. A Subsidies for consulting for SMEs. They can get a 50 percent refund of the costs incurred in relation with the implementation of the project.

For the environment in the fund

Subsidies for the certificates related with the protection of the environment can also be obtained in the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW). Presumably, the fund will announce this year at least one more invitation for tenders with regard to the construction of systems of environmental management ISO 14001 or EMAS. A precise date has not been set yet.

- NFOŚiGW is waiting for the decision with regard to the commencement of the related activities and the allocation of the amounts allocated for the tenders – informs Witold Maziarz, the press spokesman of the Fund.

- In practice the introduction of an environmental system to a company compliant with the norm ISO 14001 or EMAS, ensures substantial savings. Specialists who support the company after the implementation of the system examine closely all the activities which have an impact on the environment: they improve waste management or introduce the monitoring of energy – explains Małgorzata Wybacz from the Ministry of Environment.

Subsidies will be granted to projects which resulted in the applicant’s obtainment of a certificate or registry in EMAS. In the invitation for tenders which took place in December 2009 the maximal level of subsidies form EU funds was 50 percent of the expenses, but could not exceed 400 thousand PLN. This year the situation will probably look in a similar way.

- We encourage small entrepreneurs to submit applications because they are easy money. All the projects are accepted if they meet the formal requirements and do not have a long-lasting content-related assessment. The procedure does not last longer than two months – says Agnieszka Rendemann from Department of Financial Undertakings in NFOŚiGW.

The result of the December invitation for tenders is 31 submitted applications (ISO 14000 - 29, EMAS - 2). The overall cost of the projects equals to 1.68 mln PLN. The companies apply for the amount of subsidies of 615.7 thousand PLN. Soon the Ministry of Environment will approve the list of applications recommended for the subsidies.

Katarzyna Grzegorczyk, Miłosz Marczuk

Source:

Katarzyna Grzegorczyk, Miłosz Marczuk, Puls Biznesu z dn.15.03.2010r., "Certyfikuj za Euro" (“Certify for Euro”), p. 23