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 2023, the crafts groups “Health and personal care” with 775, “Construction” with 545 and “Electrical/metal” with 484 businesses were the most strongly represented in the federal city. There are a total of 2,456 registered businesses in Bonn, which, according to estimates by the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg District Crafts Association, provide an average of six jobs per business (converted into full-time employees). Accordingly, a total of around 15,000 employees subject to social security contributions or 17,000 people in gainful employment - including entrepreneurs and family members - can be assumed. These generate an annual turnover of around 1.6 billion euros. The contribution of the skilled trades sector to the training of young people should be emphasized. In Bonn alone, 1,172 apprentices are undergoing training in a wide range of skilled trades; the number of training companies in 2023 was 407.
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 established in 2010 and founded 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 wide range of expert knowledge on a wide variety of topics. The Bonn Energy Days took place again in 2023, with the big information day on September 9 on Münsterplatz in Bonn.
1st Bonn Energy Summit in February 2024
The energy transition in Bonn and the Rhein-Sieg district is a mammoth project. That is why representatives from the trades, guilds, the energy industry and energy suppliers met on February 21 at the 1st SWB Energy Summit for Bonn and the region in the Haus der Netze to exchange ideas. The guests got into conversation with each other in various discussion forums and four panels on different topics. The panel discussions focused on the topics of “Opportunities and challenges on the path to climate neutrality” and “Challenges for the economy”. For Bonn's Lord Mayor Katja Dörner, Stadtwerke Bonn is a very important partner on the road to climate neutrality by 2035.
Regular exchange
Since 2023, a regular, trusting exchange has taken place on a quarterly basis between the mayor and the district craftsmen's association with the participation of the business development department. Among other things, the district craftsmen's association reports on the economic situation. Other topics on the agenda include commercial space, transport, skilled workers and the climate plan.
Accompanied measures
In 2023, a number of measures were launched with the help of Bonn's economic development agency, which will make it easier for tradespeople in particular to complete orders.
Craftsman parking permits
In densely populated areas, business parking spaces will make the often time-consuming search for a parking space easier. After coordinating pilot locations together with stakeholders, the first business parking spaces can be designated in 2024 according to a new signage and marking pattern. The suggestion from the business community that these pilot locations should not be too scattered throughout the city, but should instead be bundled together and offered in close proximity, was taken on board. For the start of the pilot phase, the focus was placed on Hausdorffstraße in Kessenich and streets in Südstadt. The prerequisite for using the spaces is the existence of a craftsman parking permit.
Bicycle lanes
The establishment of bicycle streets significantly improves the parking situation for tradespeople and care workers. Parking is permitted in the restricted no-parking zone for the duration of the assignment if no other parking space is available nearby. The cycle lanes also meet the associations' demand that the cycle path network be expanded, especially in the secondary road network.
SME initiative
On June 19, 2020, the “Joint Initiative for the Promotion of SMEs” was launched between the City of Bonn and the Cologne Chamber of Skilled Crafts. The aim of this agreement is for the city of Bonn to pay particular attention to the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises and create good framework conditions. Five major subject areas are defined in the SME agreement: Labor and training market policy, transport policy, climate protection and energy policy, economic development and urban development as well as digital service offerings (Smart City Bonn). Topics such as the compatibility of family and career and the recruitment of university graduates for the skilled trades are also addressed, as are, for example, e-mobility in skilled trades businesses, procurement practices and the promotion of innovation and technology transfer. The content of the SME initiative is currently being revised and will then be relaunched under the name Masterplan Handwerk 2024.
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