Bridges in Education

The funding program "Brücken in Ausbildung" in Hamburg supports small and medium-sized training companies that take on participants from vocational qualification or entry qualification measures of the 2021/2022 cohort into an apprenticeship. The focus of the initiative is a one-time grant of 400 euros per apprenticeship, granted for a maximum of twelve months. The aim of the measure is the sustainable strengthening of regional SMEs and the assurance of high-quality training positions in state-recognized professions according to the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) or the Crafts Code (HwO). The funding makes a direct contribution to securing skilled workers in Hamburg and facilitates access to the dual training system for qualified young professionals. The announced support enables a significant relief of the company’s budget framework during the training phase and pursues a long-term perspective for integration into the labor market.

Eligible are small and medium-sized enterprises according to the EU definition, whose newly hired apprentices have successfully completed the probationary period. A contractually agreed training start between August 1, 2022, and March 15, 2023, is also required. Applications can be submitted from the project start on August 1, 2022, until no later than two months after the start of training or the end of the probationary period to the Hamburg Investment and Development Bank (IFB Hamburg). IFB Hamburg is responsible for application review and processing on behalf of the Authority for Labor, Health, Social Affairs, Family and Integration. Each grant is awarded per apprenticeship and cannot be combined with other state subsidies for the same training period. The program started on August 1, 2022, and is designed to enable uncomplicated funding procedures.