On this page

1. Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

2. Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

3. Recognition of learning outcomes

4. Funding

5. Quality assurance

Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

Spanish Active Employment Support Strategy 2021-2024

The Spanish Active Employment Support Strategy 2021-2024 (Estrategia Española de Apoyo Activo al Empleo 2021-2024) emphasises the need for targeted measures to help young people integrate into the labour market. It focuses on training actions that improve employability for youth with low qualifications, particularly through short training courses that include work placements in companies. The strategy ensures a comprehensive approach to youth employment and enhances access to opportunities in growing sectors.

Non-work traineeships in companies are regulated by Royal Decree 1543/2011 (Real Decreto 1543/2011), which regulates non-working traineeships within companies. Additionally,  Royal Decree 1493/2011 (Real Decreto 1493/2011). Sets the terms for the inclusion of trainees in the General Social Security System while participating in training programmes. These frameworks ensure that traineeships are appropriately integrated into the broader social security system, enhancing protections for trainees

A key measure in the Spanish Active Employment Support Strategy 2021-2024 involved the reform of the training and apprenticeship contract. This reform updated Royal Decree 1529/2012 (RD 1529/2012, de 8 de noviembre) to better align with the needs of dual vocational training. The reform aims to improve vocational education and apprenticeship programmes, making them more adaptable to the evolving demands of the labour market.

The contractual framework for traineeships and apprenticeships is outlined in the Guide of Contracts of the Spanish Public Employment Service (Guía de Contratos del Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal). This includes the Traineeship Contract as well as the Contract for Training and Apprenticeship, both of which are designed to support the transition from education to employment. These contracts include incentives for employers, such as reductions in  Social Security contributions under certain conditions.

Youth Guarantee Plus 2021–2027 programme

As part of the Youth Guarantee Plus 2021-2027 programme, in Axis 3: Employment opportunities, Block 1 focuses on promoting stable employment for young people.  Measure 39 establishes tools aimed at facilitating first professional experiences for youth. These include:

• Tools for initial indefinite-term contracts or internships within companies.
• Promotion of training and apprenticeship contracts, as well as internship contracts, to generate employment opportunities and facilitate youth entry into the labour market.

In line with the Youth Guarantee Plus 2021–2027 programme, Spain is implementing strategies aimed at providing employment opportunities and training for youth, particularly those under 30 with low qualifications. This initiative, funded by the European Union, supports young people through measures like personalized career guidance, skills development, and entrepreneurial support

Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

As per Article 11.2 of the Workers' Statute, the alternating training contract allows for the combination of paid work with the corresponding training programmes in vocational training, university studies or other areas listed in the National Employment System's Catalogue of Training Specialities. This contract aims to provide practical experience while facilitating formal education

Under Article 11.3 of the Workers Statute, the contract for professional practice is to able individuals to gain relevantprofessional experience corresponding to their level of education or training . The objective is to acquire the skills and competences necessary for the effective development of the tasks associated with the worker´s qualifications.

For exclusively training-related practices (with no employment relationships), information is available on the Public Administration and the State website. These practices can be carried out at the University itself or at a collaborating entity, such as companies, institutions and public and private entities at national and international level. There is no single site that lists all the calls for applications for internship programmes, so it is best to access the website of each university.

Numerous international internship and apprenticeship opportunities are available, that can be accessed through the SEPE website, which provides details on various programs, including those funded by the EU Erasmus+ Programme and other international youth employment initiatives.

The Youth Guarantee Plus 2021-2027 programme, also encourages stable hiring through Measure 39, which promotes initial indefinite-term contracts and internships in companies. This initiative focuses on providing young people with first professional experiences and ensuring they are better integrated into the labour market.

The Comprehensive Qualification and Employment Programme (Programa Integral de Cualificación y Empleo, PICE), implemented by the Spanish Chambers of Commerce, offers training, internships, and employment opportunities for young people, especially those who are NEETs. This initiative is designed to equip youth with professional qualifications and improve their employability in sectors where there are skills shortages.

Recognition of learning outcomes

The Recognition of Acquired Professional Competences (Reconocimiento de las Competencias Profesionales Adquiridas) is facilitates through the  SEPE and outlines the  procedure for recognising professional skills gained through work experience or informal learning. This process is regulated in the Royal Decree 659/2023 (Real Decreto 659/2023, de 18 de Julio), ensuring that workers can have their non-formal qualifications recognized officially.

Funding

National Funding 

National funding for traineeship and apprenticeship schemes is allocated through the General State Budget (Presupuestos Generales del Estado), which funds actions programmed by the State Administration, and through the budgets of the Autonomous Communities, which fund region-specific initiatives. administrations. For example, the Social Security quota reduction for traineeship contracts are funded at national level and is not co-funded through the European Social Fund.

EU funding

Spain also utilizes significant EU funding to support youth employment, including the Youth Guarantee Plus 2021–2027 programme. This programme has allocated €4.95 billion for youth employment initiatives, with a focus on improving apprenticeship opportunities and first professional experiences for young people. 

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) also supports these initiatives, ensuring the availability of funding for traineeships and internships. 

Furthermore, the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) supports SMEs offering apprenticeships by providing financial and non-financial incentives, such as grants for in-company trainers and co-funding for inter-company apprenticeship programs. This initiative aims to create more training opportunities and improve the quality of apprenticeships.

Quality assurance

As per Royal Decree 1543/2011 (Real Decreto 1453/2011), companies must present a training programme outlining the content, duration, and assessment mechanisms for traineeships. This ensures that the programmes meet the required standards and objectives set by the Public Employment Services.

At sub-national level, various regional employment services are responsible for implementing and monitoring traineeship and apprenticeship programmes and tailoring them to local labour market needs. Notable examples include:

• Employment Service of the Basque Country (Lanbide, Servicio Vasco de Empleo)
• Employment Institute of Aragon (Instituto Aragonés de Empleo)
• Employment Service of the Canary Islands (Servicio Canario de Empleo)
• Employement Service of Cantabria (Servicio Cántabro de Empleo)
• Employement Service of Navarra (Servicio Navarro de Empleo)

These services are representative of the regional efforts to promote youth employment. Spain has a total of 17 Autonomous Communities, each with its own regional employment service tailored to the local labour market needs.

In line with EU-funded programmes like Youth Guarantee Plus 2021–2027, the quality of apprenticeships and traineeships is monitored and evaluated through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). This evaluation ensures that traineeship programmes are effective in enhancing youth employability and contribute to long-term career outcomes for young people.