The Skilled Trades – Tradition Meets Future

Craftsmanship – or the skilled trades – stands for work shaped by practical skills, creativity, and personal dedication. Unlike mass production, the skilled trades deliver tailor-made solutions, close to people and their needs. Small and medium-sized businesses are at the heart of this sector, combining tradition with innovation.

Today, craftsmanship means much more than manual work: it is a driving force for digitalization, sustainability, and the energy transition – while staying deeply rooted in local communities.

What makes the skilled trades unique?

• Diversity: From construction to electrical work, metal and wood, textiles, food, healthcare, design, and more – over 130 recognized trades shape daily life.

• Personal service: Individual solutions instead of industrial standard products.

• Strong organization: In Germany, the Crafts and Trades Regulation Code (Handwerksordnung) defines the professions, qualifications, and training paths. Guilds and chambers of crafts provide structure and self-governance.

A rich history

• Middle Ages: Guilds regulated training, quality, and rights. Masters, journeymen, and apprentices became pillars of community life.

• Industrialization: Freedom of trade (1810 in Prussia), new materials, and machinery transformed the trades.

• Today: Digital technologies, sustainable practices, and international cooperation ensure that the skilled trades remain a future-oriented economic and cultural pillar.

Training in the skilled trades

Germany’s dual training system is admired worldwide:

• In the company: Apprentices learn directly on the job – hands-on, customer-oriented, and with real responsibility.

• At vocational school: They acquire technical knowledge, mathematics, economics, and general education.

• Qualification: After about three years, the journeyman’s exam opens doors to careers as master craftsman, specialist, or even to higher education.

This model secures skilled workers for businesses and creates excellent opportunities for young people.

Our partner trades

As a foundation, we are closely connected with a wide range of professions, for example:

• Sanitary, heating & air-conditioning (SHK): Plant mechanic for SHK systems, plumber

• Electrical trades: Electronics technician for energy & building technology

• Metal & plastics technology: Metalworker, mechatronics technician

• Roofing trades: Roofer

• Building cleaning trades: Building cleaner

• Photography trade: Photographer

These examples show the breadth of opportunities – from high-tech professions to creative and artistic careers.

The trades shape the future

• Digitalization: Smart-home systems, 3D planning, CNC machinery

• Sustainability: Heat pumps, solar technology, ecological building materials

• Global networking: International standards, new markets, cross-border cooperation

At the same time, the trades remain local, personal, and reliable – an essential part of everyday life.