THE ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE NEXT DOOR
In a strategic initiative, the skilled trades and the city of Düsseldorf have been working very closely together for the last two years. The results of this successful cooperation range from innovative craftsmen's yards to participatory events and new study programmes.
"Skilled trades. The economic power. From next door." - This is the motto of a nationwide communication campaign launched 15 years ago by the German Association of Skilled Trades - incidentally on the initiative of the Düsseldorf Chamber of Skilled Trades (HWK). And the motto applies also to Düsseldorf's skilled trades sector itself: around 7,600 businesses, 45,000 employees and 2,200 trainees play a key role in shaping the well-being of the state capital in this (sometimes somewhat underestimated) way. However, like the economy as a whole, this economic powerhouse is currently stagnating, too.
Christian Zaum ,
Head of Economic Affairs Düsseldorf
Additionally, the skilled trades sector has its own issues and challenges. This is why the state capital itself together with the Düsseldorf Chamber of Skilled Trades and the Düsseldorf District Skilled Trades Association launched the Skilled Trades Masterplan at the beginning of 2023. "Derived from the idea of the Industry Masterplan, this strategic initiative is intended to institutionalise the specific interests of the skilled trades more strongly in cooperation, accompany and shape concrete developments and raise the profile of the skilled trades in the public eye," explains Düsseldorf's Head of Economic Affairs Christian Zaum. The joint action guideline provides for a coordinated approach in ten central municipal fields of action: urban development, mobility, climate protection and sustainability, commercial areas, business development and digitalisation, education, procurement procedures and economic activity of municipal companies as well as municipal finances.
In this context, existing collaborations such as the Climate Pact and the Mobility Partnership will also be further promoted. ‘After all, this is the central understanding that motivates all those involved: vibrant neighbourhoods with short work and supply routes, climate-friendly and resource-saving construction, decarbonisation and many other challenges simply cannot be managed without the contribution of the skilled trades,’ says Andreas Ehlert, President of the HWK. Now, two years later, the first successful conclusions can be drawn from this masterplan. ‘We have succeeded in integrating the skilled trades even more closely into administrative processes and also into processes such as municipal heat planning,’ says Christian Zaum.
A great deal of progress has also been made in terms of usable space and development prospects: ‘Tangible improvements to the situation are in sight with regard to the reutilisation of disused large industrial estates for trade and commerce in the state capital and also with a view to new trade yard projects,’ says Andreas Ehlert. A current, good example of this is the "Südlich Am Tetelberg" project (see info box). City-owned IDR (Industrieterrain Düsseldorf Reisholz) has also been playing an important role in the conversion of craftsmen's yards for many years - with sites in Reisholz, Holthausen, Benrath and Rath. Düsseldorf’s Office of Economic Development’s real estate service is on hand to assist in the search for suitable locations.
Andreas Ehlert ,
President of the HWK Düsseldorf
As is the case everywhere in Düsseldorf's business scene, there is plenty of networking going on - with a number of helpful event formats serving as a platform. For example, the "manufakTOUR", an annual tour of Düsseldorf's creative crafts that has been taking place since 2022 (see info box). The aim is to make (artistic) craftsmanship more visible, educate people about techniques and skills and raise awareness of high-quality products. This year, from 9 to 11 May, more than 90 businesses at over 50 locations throughout the city will be opening their doors to the interested public. The "Experience Craftsmanship" format also celebrated its premiere at the end of January 2025. Together with Lord Mayor Dr Stephan Keller and Head of Economic Affairs Christian Zaum, members of the Committee for Economic Development, International and Regional Affairs, accompanied by the President of the Chamber of Skilled Trades and representatives of the Skilled Trades sector, visited Sebastian Fuchs Bad und Heizung GmbH & Co. KG. The tour of the certified climate-neutral company in Bilk was followed by a visit to the Chamber of Skilled Trades Academy, which runs 23 master craftsman schools. ‘The Experience Craftsmanship is about creating awareness of current issues and developments among policy makers. In this case, for example, it became very clear how the skilled trades can help shape the energy transition and that this will not succeed at all without the skilled trades,’ explains Christian Zaum.
Another mega topic, which was also anchored in the masterplan as described, is the education and promotion of the tradespeople of tomorrow. A number of exemplary cases show how this works in Düsseldorf - for example, the free school fair "Lust auf Handwerk", a cooperation between the City- and the District Craftsmen's Association. It last took place on 4 April 2025 on the campus of Freiherr-vom-Stein-Realschule and Technisches Berufskolleg Färberstraße. Young people from year 8 onwards from all secondary schools in Düsseldorf as well as parents, teachers and anyone else interested were able to experience and gather information directly from around 20 trades of Düsseldorf's Skilled Trades sector. Last year, around 3,200 pupils from 42 Düsseldorf schools visited the fair. Another example: in the winter semester 2025/2026, Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences will for the first time offer the Bachelor's degree course "Building, Energy and Systems Technology", or HEAT for short. This part-time degree programme is aimed at companies in the field of sanitary, heating and air-conditioning technology (SHK) and all those who aspire to a management position in trade or industry or to start a business. More international attention will be attracted by EuroSkills, the European Skills Championships, which will take place in Düsseldorf in 2027 and is expected to attract up to 150,000 visitors from all over Europe.
Sebastian Fuchs (left), managing director of Sebastian Fuchs Bad und Heizung GmbH & Co. KG, with Lord Mayor Dr Stephan Keller (centre) and Head of Economic Affairs Christian Zaum (2nd from left)
‘The skilled trades provide a huge opportunity. It is an indispensable, important and sometimes somewhat misjudged sector of the economy. It is forward-looking, creative - and it just combines so many things. I can only recommend that young people looking for a career take a look at all these opportunities,’ says the Head of Economic Affairs. And when it comes to economic prospects, the President of the Düsseldorf Chamber of Skilled Trades adds: ‘As old as the idea of prosperous cooperation between the local authority and skilled trades is, it remains a long-running favourite with a view to a bright future.’ •
"MEISTERQUARTIER" - STACKED CRAFTSMEN'S YARDS ON TETELBERG
One in four skilled trade businesses in Düsseldorf is currently looking for a new location. The respective requirements for premises range from less than 100 to more than a thousand square metres, and the required room heights and depths also vary greatly. The ‘MeisterQuartier’ initiated by the Green Party mayoral candidate Clara Gerlach and outlined by Stöbe Architects is intended to provide a solution to this. In a mixed-use neighbourhood, where a secondary school, residential buildings and offices are also being built, craftsmen's workshops with a flexible shelving structure are planned. The building will be able to fulfil a wide range of requirements in terms of space, room heights and depths. In terms of transport, it is connected via Südring and Völklinger Straße. The upper floors can be accessed directly via ramps by lorries the height of Sprinter-class at the minimum. And the energy supply is secured primarily via solar panels along the south façade.
‘With the MeisterQuartier, more than 15,000 square metres of floor space could be created, offering space for more than 50 craft businesses in flexible layouts at one location. This would meet a significant chunk of the demand from skilled trade businesses in Düsseldorf at a central location. A major added value is the bundling of the craftsmen's workshops in one building, which will offer future customers quick and direct access to various trades. The next step is for us Greens to formally start the planning with a city council resolution,’ says Lord Mayor candidate Clara Gerlach.
Text: Tom Corrinth
Pictures: Michael Lübke, Manfred Grünwald, Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf/Claus Langer, Atelier Rutz&Petrovic, Jochen Rolfes, Stöbe Architekten