Brandenburg's skilled trades and crafts industry faces major challenges. Every year, several thousand skilled trades businesses seek a successor. The Master Craftsmen's Start-up Bonus is intended to help. (Photo: © Ingo Lammert)
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23 December 2021
Brandenburg's Master Craftsman Start-up Bonus will be extended until 2023. Master craftsmen and women can receive a grant of €12.000, plus a job and training place bonus thereafter. The state is thus also focusing on the issue of succession.
Good news for master craftspeople in Brandenburg: The Ministry of Economic Affairs is extending the master craftsman start-up bonus until the end of 2023. "A strong skilled trades sector is important for Brandenburg – as a driver of innovation, as an employer, and as a provider of training. The subsidy is intended to help secure the future of businesses in the skilled trades," explained Brandenburg's Minister of Economic Affairs, Jörg Steinbach.
Demand for the grant program, introduced in 2015, is growing year by year. In 2019, 65 tradespeople received the master craftsman start-up bonus . This number rose to 97 in 2020, and 117 applications have already been approved in 2021.
Since the amendments to the guidelines in 2019 and 2020, master craftspeople can receive a one-time basic grant of up to €12.000 – without any time limit for submitting an application. Previously, this was €8.700. Those who subsequently create a new job or apprenticeship position can receive a further grant of up to €7.000 in the second stage (previously €5.000).
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, most applicants come from the automotive sector, followed by master craftsmen in the heating, ventilation, and plumbing trades, carpentry, and roofing. "The majority of female master craftsmen who received a master craftsman start-up bonus come from the hairdressing and cosmetics trades," it states.
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The Chambers of Skilled Crafts in Germany - HWK Koblenz
Robert Wüst , President of the Brandenburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts, sees the extension of the master craftsman start-up bonus as a sign of appreciation for the achievements of the skilled trades by the state government . He believes this sends the right signal "to support start-ups and business successions, even in turbulent times."
According to Wüst , Brandenburg's skilled trades sector, with its nearly 40.000 businesses, faces major challenges . "Every year, several thousand craft businesses are looking for a successor." Only well-trained, qualified, and motivated master craftspeople can take over these businesses or become self-employed .
However, a growing number of high-performing businesses are unable to find successors – a nationwide trend. "With the master craftsman start-up bonus, we want to counteract this in Brandenburg," emphasized Minister Steinbach.
Especially for a large country like the Mark, where demographic developments have a strong impact, business succession is of great importance.
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," the minister continued.
Society must stop viewing academic education as the supposed gold standard for a successful career. The equal opportunities offered by vocational training must be given greater prominence, emphasized Robert Wüst, a master metalworker and head of the family business Metallbau Wüst in Pritzwalk.
Modern vocational training centers are crucial in this regard . Also in December 2021, the Brandenburg Ministry of Economic Affairs published the funding guidelines for the digital modernization of inter-company training centers for skilled trades. "With investments in digital equipment and technology, we are further developing the modern educational infrastructure in the skilled trades," said Robert Wüst. "And here, too, it is essential not to neglect the resources for vocational training compared to higher education institutions in the future."
The Brandenburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts Association represents the interests of the three chambers of skilled crafts Cottbus, Frankfurt (Oder) – East Brandenburg region and Potsdam and their member companies.
Sources: Brandenburg Chamber of Crafts, Brandenburg Ministry of Economic Affairs
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