The scheme aims to encourage employers to create apprenticeship places whilst improving the quality of training. Kerpen based ’Berufsförderungswerk der Bauindustrie NRW* is one of the vocational education organisations that implement the programme which is financed from ESF funds.

Johannes Nebel, who is with the organisation, gives an example: ‘Many building sites are plagued by extreme workloads, leaving hardly any time to impart basic skills such as building a wall or operating a circular saw.  Where such skills are taught during industry-wide courses, life is made much easier for overworked businesses.’ ‘Such industry-wide programmes’, he went on to say, ‘continue to be crucial, seeing as more and more is demanded from apprentices whilst technology is advancing in leaps and bounds.  Without the industry-wide scheme, many employers wouldn’t have the time or the energy - or simply wouldn’t bother to offer apprenticeships in the first place.

The industry-wide apprentice training is scheme is administered by cerified training institutions of the construction, metalworking, electrical and textiles industry as well as the print and media sector.  The scheme predominantly benefits small and medium businesses and the trainees themselves.

The dual education system combines apprenticeships in a company – the host employer - and vocational education at a vocational school.  Host-employer-based training is augmented by the industry-wide scheme, which is bankrolled by North Rhine-Westphalia’s Ministry for Work, using state and ESF funding.

• Full report with pictures (German)
• Information about the programme