Acquisition Hiring Grants

Hiring grants after an acquisition: growing the acquired team

After a buyout, you inherit the existing employees — but you may also need to recruit to grow the acquired activity or replace transition-related departures. Many EU countries offer hiring grants: payroll-cost reductions, targeted bonuses, apprenticeship support. Our free simulator shows the schemes likely to be accessible based on your country, sector and the profile recruited. Designed for the 27 EU countries, it distinguishes what concerns the transfer of existing employees from what concerns new hires.

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Transferred employees and new hires

An acquisition mixes two distinct HR situations, not to be confused:

Transfer of existing employees: in most member states, employment contracts are transferred to the acquirer, who inherits the rights and obligations. This is not a hire.
New hires: recruitments decided by the acquirer to grow the activity or fill departures — these are what can open access to hiring grants.

The simulator targets grants linked to new hires, while reminding you of the obligations attached to transferred employees.

The main families of hiring grants in the EU

Recruitment support varies by country, but common logics recur:

Reductions or exemptions of social charges on certain profiles or areas.
Bonuses for hiring priority groups (young people, long-term jobseekers, people with disabilities).
Support for work-study and apprenticeship.

Amounts, eligible profiles and bodies differ in each member state.

A simulator adapted to each country

There is no harmonised hiring-grant regime in the EU. The simulator takes your country into account to present only consistent schemes, without assuming a France-centred framework.

Point of attention

Employees transferred in an acquisition generally keep their rights (seniority, contract). Check your obligations as the acquiring employer with your country's official sources before any HR decision.

The simulator never invents amounts: when data is not reliable, it says so.

Integrating grants into your forecast

Hiring grants reduce the cost of recruitments planned in your post-acquisition forecast. Well integrated, they improve the cash available to repay the acquisition debt.

The simulator is free and requires no sign-up for a first result. Carry the identified schemes into your acquisition business plan.

Frequently asked questions

Do transferred employees count as subsidised hires?▼

No. In most member states, contracts are transferred to the acquirer: this is not a hire. Hiring grants concern new recruitments decided after the acquisition.

What hiring grants exist in the EU?▼

Mainly charge reductions, bonuses for priority groups (young people, long-term jobseekers, people with disabilities) and work-study support. The forms vary by country.

Is the hiring-grant simulator free?▼

Yes. The simulator is free and gives a first result without sign-up, taking into account your country, sector and the profile recruited.

What are my obligations towards transferred employees?▼

They generally keep their rights (seniority, contract). As the rules are set by each member state, check your obligations as the acquiring employer with your country's official sources.

Are hiring grants the same across the EU?▼

No. Amounts, eligible profiles and bodies differ by country. There is no harmonised regime. The simulator takes your country into account.

Grow your acquired company's team

Reductions, bonuses, work-study: launch the free simulator and identify the hiring grants likely to be accessible in your country. No sign-up.

Launch the hiring-grant simulator

Indicative information. Hiring grants and obligations linked to transferred employees are set by each member state and change regularly. Always check with your country's official body before any decision.

Last reviewed : 2026-06-24