You’ve probably been there: the schedule was all set, the training was planned, the teams were raring to go… and then reality hits! Energy costs, wages, raw materials, margins: everything is under pressure. Governments around the world are stepping in to mitigate the impact of energy and cost crises, precisely because the pressure is being felt in every organization.
It is precisely during times like these that safety is most likely to be “put on the back burner”.
Yet every safety advisor and operations manager knows what happens then: more incidents and near misses, increased absenteeism and turnover, and more disruption on the shop floor,…
At Samurai at Work, we’re very clear about this: safety isn’t a luxury!
It’s a prerequisite for staying in business. And the good news? Budget doesn’t have to be a barrier. There are industry funds and support programs available to help you implement your training plan—without going over budget.
Sector Funds: an underrated lever for safety
Many companies miss out on funding every year because sector funds sound “vague” or seem to involve “too much paperwork.” However, their purpose is clear: they offer, among other things, training grants or subsidies for approved training programs.
Samurai at Work highlights this on our subsidy page for a reason: “sector funds can provide financial support for training employees in safety.” The available funding varies by sector and initiative; we would be happy to review the conditions for your company together.
We collaborate with sector organizations such as Alimento (food), Constructiv (construction), Mtech+ (metal & technology), Co-valent (chemicals and plastics industry, life sciences), Cevora (white-collar workers) and Embuild (construction).
So, which Samurai solutions typically qualify?
At Samurai at Work, we help companies achieve lasting improvements in safety by focusing on behavior and culture, as well as practical skills. We do this through safety culture programs, Safety Days, emergency response programmes, and training or coaching focused on safety related soft skills.
And yes—many of these initiatives are eligible for financial support through sector funds, (depending on the sector and the applicable conditions).
Here are a few examples of subsidies you may be able to apply for:
- Addressing unsafe behavior and “stop-work” routines
Objective: to reduce the normalization of deviations, encourage quicker intervention, and strengthen safety through teamwork. - Safety Days with impact
Objective: to introduce people to safety in an accessible way, through hands-on and interactive activities rather than long presentations. - Emergency Response Programmes (what if things go wrong)
Objective: preparedness, clear role allocation, and improved collaboration during incidents.
The fast track to a subsidy
Here’s the approach we use most often in practice:
1. Together, we define the training programme:
- What are we going to do?
- For whom?
- Why?
- What is the desired outcome?
2. Know your joint committee (PC) and check your sector fund.
Your sector fund is linked to your joint committee. VLAIO provides an overview of sector funds and links to their respective websites.
- Is a subsidy or grant available for external training programs?https://www.vlaio.be/nl/subsidies-financiering/subsidiedatabank/maatregelen/sectorale-ondersteuningsmaatregelen
- What is the application procedure and deadline?
3. Let us help you.
We not only assist with training programs, but also provide advice on subsidy opportunities.
And finally:
Samurai means: “He who helps. He who protects. In service to people.”
That is also how we view subsidies: as a way to keep doing what truly matters on the front lines — especially when the going gets tough.
Want to know what’s possible for your company?
Get in touch, and together we will explore how we can support you in continuously improving workplace safety.
We do this by focusing on safety behaviour and safety culture, through training programmes, workshops, consultancy, coaching, and tailor made safety culture programmes.
Don’t let budget be a barrier to working on safety — take advantage of the available subsidies.
