Barcelona Export and Foment del Treball: working together on ACCIÓ’s Catalunya Exporta programme
Barcelona Export designs and delivers Foment del Treball’s export training sessions as part of ACCIÓ’s Catalunya Exporta programme. These sessions are online, free of charge and take place every 15 days.
Here at Barcelona Export, we have some news that fills us with pride and which, above all, represents a great opportunity for Catalan SMEs looking to start exporting: we have been selected by Foment del Treball Nacional to design and deliver the export training sessions as part of ACCIÓ’s Catalunya Exporta programme. This is a partnership built to last: over the next three years (2026–2028), we will be bringing practical, hands-on export expertise to Catalan businesses taking their first steps into international markets.
A partnership supporting Catalan SMEs that export
The Catalunya Exporta programme is a public-private initiative launched by the Government of the Generalitat de Catalunya through ACCIÓ to help 2,000 Catalan companies start exporting or consolidate their presence in foreign markets. Foment del Treball Nacional, one of the country’s leading business organisations, is one of the Internationalisation Support Agents accredited by ACCIÓ that implements the programme on the ground.
Within this framework, Barcelona Export is responsible for designing and delivering the training sessions organised by Foment del Treball. We undertake this responsibility with a clear educational focus: to introduce the basics of exporting to companies that have international potential but do not yet know exactly where to start.
Training sessions: what they are and how they work
The sessions are designed to be accessible, streamlined and immediately applicable. These are their main features:s:
- 100% virtual format. All sessions are delivered online, which removes any travel barriers. A company based in Vic, Manresa, Tarragona or Lleida has exactly the same access as one in central Barcelona. Exporting is a global activity, and the format of the sessions reflects this.
- Maximum duration of 60 minutes. Each session is designed to convey the maximum amount of useful knowledge within a very limited timeframe. We know that managers and those responsible for internationalisation in an SME do not have unlimited free time. 60 minutes every 15 days is a commitment that is perfectly compatible with the day-to-day operations of any business.
- Fortnightly sessions for 3 years. The sessions are held every 15 days and will continue for the next three years as part of the Catalunya Exporta programme. This is not a training course of limited duration: it is an ongoing support programme that will accompany Catalan SMEs throughout their entire process of entering the export market.
- A varied and progressive range of topics. The programme of sessions covers the most relevant aspects of the export process: from product preparation and export pricing to finding international distributors, regulatory compliance, cross-cultural negotiation, international payment methods, logistics and much more.
The topics are designed to build knowledge progressively, so that each session adds value regardless of whether participants have followed the programme from the start.
Why choose Barcelona Export to deliver these sessions?
Foment del Treball’s choice of Barcelona Export is no coincidence. We are a team of local consultants specialising in the internationalisation of Catalan SMEs, with years of experience supporting companies throughout the entire export process: from market selection to the signing of the first contract with an international distributor. We are also ACCIÓ-accredited internationalisation advisers, which means we are technically qualified to operate within the Catalunya Exporta programme ecosystem.
Our philosophy is the same as that of the programme: exporting is not the preserve of large companies. An SME with a good product, production capacity and a willingness to learn has all the tools it needs to compete in international markets. The training sessions we deliver are designed precisely to demonstrate this, session by session, topic by topic.
Beyond training: personalised assessment and roadmap
One of the key distinguishing features of this collaboration between Barcelona Export and Foment del Treball as part of the Catalunya Exporta programme is that group training is complemented by an export assessment and a personalised roadmap for each company, provided entirely free of charge.
This means that, as well as taking part in the group sessions, each company can request an individualised analysis of its situation: the export potential of its products, the markets best suited to its profile, the optimal entry channel, the necessary resources and a concrete action plan with specific steps, responsible parties and deadlines. A real roadmap, not a generic document.
In practice, this personalised assessment is the starting point for many companies to take the decisive leap: moving from training to actual export activity with a clear strategy and the support of a team of experts.
How to register for and follow the Catalunya Exporta programme
Taking part in the training sessions run by Barcelona Export on behalf of Foment del Treball as part of the Catalunya Exporta programme is straightforward. The sessions are free for companies participating in the programme and are open to Catalan SMEs wishing to start exporting or to enhance their knowledge of international trade.
To view the up-to-date schedule of sessions, the topics covered and to register, you can go directly to the Foment del Treball webpage dedicated to the programme:
👉 View the schedule and register for the Catalunya Exporta sessions
Catalunya Exporta sessions are announced well in advance so that you can plan your schedule. Please note that places on each session are limited and demand is high: register early to secure your place.
The journey into exporting begins with an hour well spent
Exporting is not something you learn overnight: it is a continuous learning process that combines theoretical knowledge, practical experience and, above all, expert guidance at key moments. The training sessions that Barcelona Export designs and delivers for Foment del Treball as part of ACCIÓ’s Catalunya Exporta programme are structured precisely with this in mind: one hour every two weeks, for three years, to ensure that Catalan SMEs have the knowledge and tools they need to export successfully.
Catalonia is Spain’s leading exporting region. Yet there are still many SMEs with international potential that have not yet taken the plunge. This programme exists to make that step easier, safer and more successful.
Would you like to find out more about the sessions or request your free, personalised export assessment as part of the Catalunya Exporta programme? Contact us directly at Barcelona Export or register via Foment del Treball.