2,456 establishments in Bonn
With its small and medium-sized business structure, the skilled trades represent an important sector of the local economy. At the end of 2021, the craft groups "health and personal care" with 714, "construction" with 595, and "electrical/metal" with 499 businesses were most strongly represented in the federal city. In total, there are 2,456 registered businesses in Bonn, which, according to estimates by the Kreishandwerkerschaft Bonn/Rhein-Sieg, provide an average of six jobs per business (converted into full-time employees). Accordingly, a total of around 15,000 employees subject to social insurance contributions or 17,000 gainfully employed persons - including entrepreneurs and family members - can be assumed. These generate annual sales of around 1.6 billion euros. The contribution of the skilled crafts sector to the training of young people is worthy of particular mention. In Bonn alone, around 1,140 apprentices are undergoing training in the broad spectrum of skilled trades occupations; the number of training companies was 420 in 2021.
Recruitment of young people
The skilled crafts sector is intensively recruiting young talent. For example, in February 2020, the Cologne Chamber of Skilled Crafts and Small Businesses, in cooperation with the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held a trainee speed dating event for skilled crafts and chamber of commerce professions in the Bad Godesberg City Hall. Unfortunately, due to the Corona pandemic in 2021, neither the trainee speed dating nor the training exchange, an event organized by the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg Employment Agency, the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the District Chamber of Skilled Crafts, which had also been held in the past, could take place. Instead, other formats such as the established career orientation offer in the "Career Workshop" of the Chamber of Crafts were adapted and modified. In addition, a new format was developed in the form of the virtual onboarding platform "HWK-Matchboxx," which brings together offers of and requests for training positions.
Bonn Energy Agency
The Bonn Energy Agency (BEA) was founded in 2010 and incorporated as an association in 2012. The 22 members of the association also include the guilds of the building and finishing trades, the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg district craftsmen's association and the Cologne Chamber of Crafts. The BEA offers interested parties a neutral and independent point of contact for information on all aspects of energy-efficient renovation and construction as well as the use of renewable energies for private property owners. For example, the "Bau- und Sanierungstreff" lecture series offers a broad range of expert knowledge on a wide variety of topics. In 2021, the Bonn Energy Days were held again from May 25 to June 2. Following this, a consultation week was offered for the first time. The (mostly digital) events were very well attended, with a total of more than 260 people taking part.
Medium-sized business initiative
On June 19, 2020, the City of Bonn and the Cologne Chamber of Skilled Crafts launched the "Joint Initiative for the Promotion of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses". With this agreement, the concerns of small and medium-sized enterprises are to be given special attention by the city of Bonn and good framework conditions are to be created. Five major topics are defined in the SME agreement: Labor and training market policy, transportation policy, climate protection and energy policy, business development and urban development, and digital service offerings (Smart City Bonn). Topics such as reconciling family and career and attracting university graduates to the skilled trades are also addressed, as are, for example, e-mobility in the skilled trades, contract awarding practices or the promotion of innovation and technology transfer.