Investment in human capital is the key factor ensuring the establishment of a stable economic knowledge-based environment. The implementation of effective and modern policy in the field of human resources is a guarantee for the continuous development of the competencies and professional knowledge and skills of the cooperative staff, as well as a major factor for the improvement of the efficiency of the business activities.

          The Central Cooperative Union policy in the field of cooperative staff training is aimed towards the attainment of this goal. The "Strategy for Development of the Cooperative Organisations within the CCU System in the period 2008 – 2011" passed in 2008 by the Management Board of CCU is in support of this idea. The activities are mainly focused on:

          -     Improvement of the link between the training and the qualification needs of the employed personnel;

          -     Improvement of the qualify and efficiency of training;

          -     Development of the forms and encouragement of the involvement in the life-long learning process.

          In fulfilment of these three major activities the Management Board of CCU develops and approves every year  - A plan for the training of the CCU system employees. The foundation of the plan is to provide opportunities for mastering of topical knowledge and skills in alignment with the dynamically developing cooperative system. The overall activity related to its implementation is financially secured by the CCU with a priority being placed on the quality of training.

          The different types of training courses ensure enhancement of the managerial capacity of the top staff and qualification of the employees within the cooperative system in the various professional directions, as well as the professional qualifications of the executive staff. They are implemented through:

          -     Continuous update of the professional and managerial competencies of the top managers through ensures the implementation of the Training and Qualifications Programme for the Management Staff in the Cooperatives, Cooperative Unions and CCU approved by the CCU Management Board;

          -     Interactive training courses for the staff within the CCU system, providing an opportunity to master key knowledge and skills, such as creativeness and creative thinking, as well as the mastering of important social skills – teamwork, conflict management, decision making;

          -     Organisation of qualification training courses for continuous enhancement of the professional qualifications held by the cooperative employees, mainly in the field of retail and bread production;

          -     Enhancement of the professional experience gained and studies of successful practices is carried out through the programme for academic exchange between CCU Bulgaria and the Russian Cooperative University, Moscow;

          -     Acquiring professional qualification through distant learning for those involved in production so that they would master knowledge and skills required for their successful labour realisation.

          The training of cooperative staff is carried out at the Training Centre of the Central Cooperative Union in Plovdiv, which is operated by Intellect COOP EOOD – a commercial entity, solely owned by the CCU. It is licensed by the National Vocational Education and Training Agency for professions in the area of hotel management, restaurant management, trade, management, accounting, construction, agriculture and others. It is specialised in the organisation and rendering of services in the field of congress tourism and the professional training of the personnel. After the modernisation which was completed in 2006 the centre has available 8 training halls which allow the holding of modern vocational training, conferences, seminars and working meetings.