Apprenticeship

The Deutsche Bahn is the German privatized national railroad company and one of the biggest providers of apprenticeships in Germany with about 8,200 placements. An initiative called Chance Pluswas started in 2004 by DB in cooperation with other German-based companies. The programme was created as a follow-up to the Vocational Education and Training Pact, which was signed in 2004 between the German government and employers' organizations.

• Second chance programme which combines employers' commitment to workplace experience with further training;
• Targets young people who cannot find an apprenticeship placement or a job after graduation due to a poor academic record or insufficient core work skills;
• Recognizes the importance of core work skills for employability;
• Provides support to participants throughout the programme.

Vocational training

The German BP Foundation was founded in 1998 as an initiative aimed at combating youth unemployment. The objective of the Foundation is the promotion of youth employment, especially through the active support of occupational qualification, retraining, social support and mentoring of unemployed young people. The Foundation has funds of 5.5 million euros and currently supports projects worth 200 000 euros.

• Recognizes the importance of formal qualifications; 
• Introduces core work skills.

Apprenticeship

In 2006 the German Confederation of Employers' Associations (BDA) compiled a 58-page report on activities taken by employers’ organizations to combat youth unemployment. The purpose of this initiative was to disseminate information in support of the aims of the National Pact on Vocational and Educational Training between the German government and employers' organizations.

• Takes stock of a wide range of activities undertaken by German employers to tackle youth employment problems;
• Has helped strengthen employers' commitment to the National Pact on Vocational Education and Training.