Poland’s Development Services Database (BUR) is a nationwide online registry run by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, where training companies list their offerings and employers search for services that qualify for EU-funded co-financing. Registration in the system is free and is a required first step before a company operating in Poland can tap into regional competence-development support programmes.
Quick Overview
What you’ll learn from this article:
- How BUR differs from the National Training Fund (KFS)
- How company registration and service search work in practice
- What to check before choosing a regional operator
- The mistakes companies most often repeat the first time they use the system
Who this article is for: HR and L&D teams planning co-financed training for their team, small and mid-sized business owners operating in Poland, and coordinators of development projects.
Reading time: 6 minutes
Poland’s Development Services Database (BUR): a step-by-step guide
The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development describes BUR as a tool connecting providers of development services (training, consulting, coaching companies) with employers seeking co-financing from the European Social Fund. Unlike the National Training Fund, which is a single nationwide programme administered by labour offices, BUR co-financing is delivered by regional operators — different voivodeships have different funding rules, different reimbursement levels, and different priority target groups. That means the first step isn’t searching for a training course, but checking which regional operator covers your location and what conditions it offers.
BUR vs KFS — key differences
| Dimension | BUR | KFS |
|---|---|---|
| Administrator | Regional operators (different in each voivodeship) | Labour offices (uniform nationwide rules) |
| Level of co-financing | Depends on the operator and company size (typically 50-80%) | Up to 100% for micro-enterprises |
| Scope of services | Training, consulting, coaching, postgraduate studies | Mainly training courses and exams |
| Condition of participation | Provider registration in BUR + choosing an operator | Application to the relevant labour office |
A company can use both systems in parallel for different development projects — they aren’t mutually exclusive options, but two independent sources of co-financing with different eligibility rules.
How to use BUR step by step
- Check which regional operator covers your voivodeship — each region runs a separate call for applications, a separate budget and separate deadlines, so conditions can differ significantly even between neighbouring regions.
- Register your company as a project participant with your chosen operator, before you start looking for a specific service — registration usually requires company details and information about planned training needs.
- Search the BUR catalogue by name, topic or provider — the system lets you filter by location, format (on-site/online) and delivery date.
- Verify that a specific service qualifies for co-financing with your operator — a service listed in BUR doesn’t automatically qualify for co-financing in every region; the operator decides which services are on the eligible list.
- Deliver the service and settle it according to the operator’s guidelines, including completing an evaluation survey — this step is a formal condition for reimbursement and the part of the process most often overlooked.
The most common mistake companies make the first time they use BUR is starting with a training search before checking their regional operator’s conditions. That leads to a company selecting and partly paying for a service, only to discover at the settlement stage that it doesn’t qualify for co-financing in that region, or that the year’s funding limit has already been reached. It’s also worth remembering that regional budgets run out during the year — the earlier a company registers and submits its application, the better its chances of securing co-financing before the call for applications closes.
A second common mistake is treating the post-service evaluation survey as a meaningless formality. That document, together with attendance confirmation and an invoice, is exactly what the reimbursement is based on — failing to submit it by the operator’s deadline can delay or entirely block the refund, even if the training service itself was delivered correctly. It’s also worth deciding in advance who within the company owns the formal side of the project — registration, contact with the operator, settlement — since spreading that responsibility across several people with no clear process owner is a common cause of missed deadlines.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does BUR differ from KFS?
BUR is a regional system administered by different voivodeship operators, each with its own co-financing rules, while KFS is a single nationwide programme administered by labour offices. A company can use both in parallel — they’re independent sources of co-financing, not mutually exclusive options.
Does every service listed in BUR qualify for co-financing?
No. A service being listed in the BUR catalogue only means the provider registered it in the system — it’s the regional operator that decides which services qualify for co-financing in a given call for applications. Before purchasing a service, it’s worth verifying its status with the relevant operator rather than assuming eligibility just because it appears in the catalogue.
How much co-financing does BUR provide?
The level of co-financing depends on the regional operator and company size — it typically falls between 50-80% of the service cost, though exact figures and funding caps vary between voivodeships and calls for applications. It’s worth checking the current rules of the operator covering your region before planning a training budget.
When is the best time to start the BUR registration process?
As early as possible in the calendar year — regional budgets are limited and run out during the year, so companies that register and submit applications early have a better chance of securing co-financing than those that wait until the second half of the year, when calls for applications are often already closed.