A win-win situation

 

Lateral entry and immigration of skilled workers as an enrichment for companies and employees

Thomas Banzhaf is President of the German Federal Association of Gardening, Landscaping and Sports Facilities (BGL) and one of two managing directors of Banzhaf Gartenbau GmbH. For him, too, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find young talent and skilled workers. He sees the recruitment of lateral entrants and skilled workers from abroad as a real opportunity.

What has worked so far in your company to attract skilled workers and trainees? Do you have any tips?

Banzhaf: We have strategies for attracting good young talent. In my opinion, a very important factor - and we have always been successful with this in recent years - is close cooperation with the technical colleges where master craftsmen and technicians are trained. Offering internships is also extremely important. An internship is a good opportunity for the company to get to know new employees, recognize talent and then make offers accordingly. By also actively participating in school events as a company, you stay in contact with teachers and are therefore also present at schools.

 

“We are only at the beginning of the skills shortage in 2024.”

In your opinion, how important are lateral entrants or skilled workers from abroad to prevent the general shortage of skilled workers?

Banzhaf: In order to attract and retain good employees, you have to invest a little more as a company these days. In addition to providing modern tools and machines and corresponding orders, support in the private sector is also essential. Especially for skilled workers from abroad, it is important to provide assistance in finding a place in a daycare center or school or with insurance and registration matters. Unfortunately, the bureaucracy in Germany is still very time-consuming and complicated. If you are not familiar with this from your own country of origin, you are dependent on support in these areas. I would like to refer once again to the refugee guides of the gardening, landscaping and sports field construction associations - they do incredibly valuable work. Who else knows more about toleration, work permits and the stages of residence? It is therefore helpful for companies to be able to contact the refugee guides.

What prerequisites does a company need to have or even create in order to be able to recruit and support lateral entrants and skilled workers from abroad?

Banzhaf: The prerequisites for recruiting new employees are in place in most companies. There are great people working in our industry who always support their colleagues well. Through our regional associations, we have excellent contacts when it comes to legal issues or other matters, for example in the area of integration.

How do you see the shortage of skilled workers developing in the future?

Banzhaf: As already mentioned, we are only at the beginning of the skills shortage. It will become more difficult to recruit good skilled workers in the coming years. Companies will have to come up with even better ideas. In my opinion, public relations work plays a very important role here for companies in order to communicate their own advantages to potential employees. Contact with all types of schools is also very important - because schoolchildren are our future and the next generation entering the world of work. Our presence in schools - project offers, donations, internship offers and more - can already achieve a great deal.