Berlin scaffolding firm pushes for vocational training reforms amid fierce competition
A Berlin scaffolding company has opened its doors to showcase the value of vocational training. Module Spezial-Gerüstbau GmbH hosted discussions on apprenticeships as part of Vocational Training Week, organised by the Berlin-Brandenburg Federal Employment Agency. Managing director Andreas Krebs shared his own career path while calling for changes to attract more young people to skilled trades.
Attendees, including Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner, explored how to improve training opportunities in a city where competition for apprenticeships remains fierce. With roughly 15 applicants vying for every 10 slots, experts say better incentives and preparation are urgently needed.
The event took place in an unusual setting. Visitors had to climb over steel plates and navigate through towering metal walls just to reach the meeting room at the company's site. Krebs, who began his own career in scaffolding, used the moment to highlight the hands-on nature of skilled trades.
He pointed to a persistent problem: many young applicants lack the basic readiness for apprenticeships. To fix this, he proposed summer jobs as a way to build experience before formal training begins. Krebs also argued for tax- and social-security-free wages during apprenticeships, allowing trainees to keep their full earnings. Mayor Wegner backed Krebs' concerns, stressing that clearer incentives are needed to boost social mobility. The city's training landscape remains competitive, with recent job fairs—such as the May 2026 *jobmesse Berlin*—drawing over 80 companies across sectors like IT, technical trades, and office management. Yet despite employer participation, demand still outstrips supply. Krebs revealed that his last apprentice left due to a fear of heights. Undeterred, he plans to fill three new slots next year. Beyond youth training, he called for stronger adult education programs to steer people away from unskilled work and toward structured apprenticeships.
The discussions come as Berlin's vocational training sector faces ongoing challenges. With more applicants than openings, companies and policymakers are under pressure to adapt. Krebs' proposals—from tax-free wages to summer job trials—could shape how the city prepares its next generation of skilled workers.
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