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A Few Reasons Why Young Companies Should Hire Apprentices
- Young (and often still small) companies usually aim to grow in the future. However, one major challenge is the looming shortage of skilled workers. By training apprentices in a targeted way and offering them long-term employment, you create a strong foundation to counteract this issue.
- On top of that: Apprentices can be more easily integrated into your company culture and workflows than external professionals. Plus, you’re building up competent employees with company-specific knowledge.
- Also worth noting: Apprentices typically incur lower personnel costs than full-time staff while gradually becoming productive members of the team.
Young people bring in fresh perspectives, digital skills, and an eye for current trends. Apprentices help promote teamwork, responsibility, and communication—especially in small teams. - Training companies are seen as responsible and future-oriented, which strengthens your image and public perception. After all, young companies that invest in training are making an important contribution to society.
What Does It Take to Train Apprentices?
If you want to train apprentices in your company, you need to meet certain requirements and pay attention to a few important aspects. Here are the key points:
The new training year typically starts—barring a few exceptions—on September 1st each year.
- Requirements
In addition to the legal regulations (e.g., Vocational Training Act, Crafts Code, or Youth Employment Protection Act) that must be adhered to, training companies (materially) and trainers (personally and professionally) must be suitable to be allowed to train trainees. These requirements are regulated in the Vocational Training Act (BBiG), specifically in Section 3.
For recognized training occupations, there are also corresponding training regulations. These regulations define:
– The designation of the training occupation
– The duration of the training
– The skills and knowledge to be imparted
– Examination requirements
- Training Contract for Apprentices
Before hiring trainees, you must conclude a written training contract with them before they start their apprenticeship. The training contract is sent to the responsible body (e.g., IHK, HWK, Chamber of Notaries or Tax Advisors, Medical Association...) where the training relationship is registered.
The training contract should include the following:
- Personal data of the contracting parties
- Start and duration of the vocational training
- Type and goal of the training (including a work plan with a factual and chronological structure of the vocational training as an attachment)
- Duration of the regular daily working hours
- Training location and any training measures outside the training company
- Supervisory relationship / training officer
- Amount of training remuneration and payment modalities (observe minimum training remuneration!)
- Duration of the probationary period
- Duration of leave
- Conditions for termination
- Note on any applicable collective agreements and company agreements
- Training Framework Plan for Apprentices
The respective training framework plan is the basis for the training. You must assign the contents listed there to specific activities and tasks in your company and define them in the training plan. This plan is part of the training contract and is handed over to the trainees at the beginning of the training.
More information on training regulations, training framework plans, and framework curricula can be found on the pages of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training.
- Further Information on Training
Detailed information on all questions regarding training can be found on the pages of the Employment Agency: “Information on Training”.
Additionally, the pages of IHK, HWK, or the respective professional associations offer many useful tips and information on the topic.
And one last tip
You should inform your (potential) trainees about the following: Anyone planning to start an apprenticeship wants to be independent – including financially.
Under certain conditions, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) supports trainees with a grant (vocational training allowance).
