Brandenburg: Now 12.000 Euro start-up bonus for master craftsmen!

Master craftsmen in Brandenburg now receive a €12.000 start-up bonus when they establish or take over a business. Those who create training opportunities and jobs will receive significantly more. Previously, the basic subsidy was €8.700.

This article is part of the special feature GründerNavi – for founders and young companies

Master craftspeople who start a business, acquire a stake in, or take over a craft business in the state of Brandenburg can now receive a one-time master craftsman start-up bonus of up to €12.000 , the Cottbus Chamber of Skilled Crafts points out. Previously, the maximum amount for basic funding was €8.700.

If the founder or successor also creates a new job or apprenticeship position, they will receive an additional grant of up to €5.000 (instead of the previous €3.300) in a second stage. If this job or apprenticeship position is filled by a woman, the grant amount increases again to a maximum of €7.000.

Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Economic Affairs decided to amend the directive before the original deadline. "We want to create an even stronger incentive to start or take over a craft business, even in these difficult times," explained Brandenburg's Minister of Economic Affairs, Jörg Steinbach.

The essentials in brief:

• The funding requirement for first-time self-employment after passing the master craftsman examination or determination of the full equivalence of the professional qualification acquired abroad within three years.
• The amount of the one-off basic funding is up to 12.000 Euro.
• The amount of the one-off training place grant is up to 5.000 euros or 7.000 euros when a job or training position is filled by a woman.
• The duration of the directive is extended by one year until December 31, 2021.

Applications for the grant are possible until the end of 2021

The Chambers of Skilled Crafts in the state of Brandenburg welcome the new regulation. Robert Wüst is President of the Brandenburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts Association and the Potsdam Chamber of Skilled Crafts. He says: "The increase in the master craftsman start-up bonus is the right signal to support start-ups and business succession in the skilled crafts sector during turbulent times."

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The application for the master craftsman start-up bonus is no longer tied to the previous three-year period . "Now, master craftsmen who passed their master craftsman's examination more than three years ago can also apply for the bonus for their start-up project," explains Wüst.

Applications: You can obtain the application for the Brandenburg Master Craftsman Start-up Grant program via the website of the Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg (ILB). After completing the application, send it to the Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg , Babelsberger Straße 21, 14473 Potsdam. Applications can also be submitted via the ILB customer portal. Staff at the ILB and the relevant Chamber of Skilled Crafts will assist you and answer any questions.

Successor urgently sought

Since more than 1.000 craft businesses in the state are looking for a successor each year, well-trained and motivated master craftspeople are urgently needed , according to Wüst. "With the master craftsman start-up bonus, the government is providing a financial incentive to start one's own business or take over an existing one. This will continue to guarantee training and employment in the state and secure the future of Brandenburg's skilled trades."

Master craftsman bonuses: An overview of all federal states that reward the successful completion of further training can be found in the online article "From master craftsman bonus to advancement bonus" on handwerksblatt.de.

"Strong craftsmanship is important for Brandenburg"

The Master Craftsman Start-up Bonus was introduced in the state of Brandenburg in the fall of 2015. The eligibility requirements were further improved in 2019. The current policy would have expired at the end of this year, but an extension was out of the question.

In Brandenburg's skilled trades sector, with its nearly 40.000 businesses, the number of pending business successions has been rising for several years. However, for an increasing number of companies, no successor can be found – a trend observed nationwide. Brandenburg aims to counteract this with its master craftsman start-up bonus.

Business succession is of great importance in the country

"A strong skilled trades sector is important for Brandenburg – as a driver of innovation, as an employer, and as a provider of vocational training . The subsidy is intended to help secure the future of businesses in the skilled trades," explained Minister of Economic Affairs Jörg Steinbach. "Especially for a large, rural state like Brandenburg, where demographic changes are having a significant impact, business succession is of great importance," the minister added.

This applies even more to master craftsmen's businesses, where training primarily takes place. "These businesses not only retain skilled workers, they also counteract the growing shortage of skilled workers locally in all parts of the country, thus maintaining economic strength. Furthermore, the establishment of new businesses by qualified and motivated master craftsmen and women creates new jobs and training opportunities," emphasized Minister Steinbach.

Source: Chamber of Crafts Cottbus