Hamburg's apprentices going international

HIBB and Chamber of Commerce to present first certificates for stays abroad.

Some 86 apprentices received the first awards by the Chamber of Commerce and the Hamburger Institut für Berufliche Bildung (HIBB) for work in companies across England, Spain, Israel and the United States. Awards also went to 62 companies who backed their apprentices' efforts to gain intercultural experience.

Last year, nearly 1,300 apprentices (+300 over 2015) opted for a stint abroad. "They were open to learning special characteristics, other cultures, corporate procedures and other languages. They gained important intercultural skills for the labour market. And they also demonstrated their readiness to get to know international work situations and were open to the world which does credit to the city of Hamburg – the 'Gate to the World',“ said Rainer Schulz, State Councillor, who presented the certificates with André Mücke, Vice President of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce.

"Companies that give their apprentices and opportunity to spend time abroad are their own best advertisers. We wish to support that," Mücke stressed. Hamburg's so-called mobility agency or "Mobilitätsagentur Arbeit und Leben" helps apprentices find companies where they can work abroad. The programmes are funded among others by ERASMUS+ and through collaborations with the Joachim Herz Foundation and other national German initiatives. Some companies also pay for flights.