Kretschmann meets skilled craft trainees

The skilled crafts sector in Baden Wurttemberg has more than 48,000 trainees and over 4,500 students following master craftsman/master craftswomen courses. Here, not only do tomorrow's skilled workers receive training and continuing education in businesses and vocational schools, but also in skilled craft education academies. Today, Minister President Winfried Kretschmann visited the Ulm Chamber of Skilled Crafts educational institution to get an idea of the work they do. In discussion with the skilled craft trainees, Kretschmann also learned first-hand about issues currently concerning those starting out in the skilled crafts.

"We really appreciate the fact that, despite the current situation, the Minister President is taking the time and looking to engage with the skilled crafts and the next generation of workers. This is important and shows a real appreciation for the young skilled craftsmen and women making their way into their professional futures. However, in view of the challenges businesses face in finding enough new employees, this focus on dual training is also desperately needed," explains Baden-Württemberg Skills Crafts President, Rainer Reichhold.

The discussion with trainees and students following the master craftsperson courses therefore also addressed issues which, in particular, touched on the equivalence of academic and vocational education and training. How is vocational education and training viewed in society, among teachers and parents? Is careers guidance on the right path, and will the trainee ticket really be available for everybody in Baden Wurttemberg?

Top level talks which followed with the President of the Confederation of Skilled Crafts Baden-Württemberg, Rainer Reichhold, and the President of the Ulm Chamber of Skilled Crafts, Joachim Krimmer, focused mainly on securing funding and equipment for the skilled craft vocational training centres in the future. Joachim Krimmer, President of the Ulm Chamber of Skilled Crafts explained. "Compared to other countries, we have the advantage here in Germany that we are able to offer young people two pathways when starting out in their occupations and careers: the academic pathway and the vocational education and training pathway. This obviously places demands on us because we also have to make these two pathways available, and maintain and fund them. However, our businesses then benefit from well-trained skilled workers, and young people also benefit too from opportunities and future prospects which have never been as good as they are today."

"The skilled crafts are the cornerstone of our economy; an economy very much shaped by medium-sized enterprises. It is therefore important for me to engage with trainees and students on master craftsperson courses. Training and higher education are two equally valuable routes," explains Minister President Winfried Kretschmann. "The federal state government aims to prepare young people in an optimal way for the demands and challenges of the world of work. We have launched important projects to support this with the master craftsman/craftswoman bonus and the master craftsman/craftswoman start up bonus in order to make master craftsman/craftswoman training even more attractive. We will not let up in our efforts. For example, throughout the federal state we will be launching a series of advanced training courses for teachers. We are also seeking to promote career opportunities more actively in the skilled crafts at schools. The trainee ticket which will also be launched this year is another important step on the path to greater equivalence between academic and vocational education and training."