Chamber of Crafts Aachen

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Main building of the HWK Aachen, Sandkaulbach 17–21

The Aachen Chamber of Crafts (HWK Aachen) is the regional umbrella organization for businesses in the craft sector , based at Sandkaulbach 21 in Aachen . It was founded on April 1, 1900 on the basis of the Craftsmen Act of July 26, 1897 as a corporation under public law and represents the economic, political and social interests of its members. It operates in close cooperation with the regional guilds and Kreishandwerkerschaft Aachen together, over which it has the legal supervision. The HWK Aachen is part of the West German Chamber of Handicrafts based in Düsseldorf as well as part of the German Chamber of Handicrafts in Berlin and through this a member of the Central Association of German Handicrafts .

The HWK Aachen, whose chamber district includes the city ​​region of Aachen and the neighboring districts of Düren , Euskirchen and Heinsberg , currently has over 16,000 companies with around 110,000 people, with a total annual turnover of over 10 billion euros.

history

Three weeks after its official founding, the first full assembly of the Aachen Chamber of Crafts began its work with its constituent meeting on January 24, 1900, held in the restaurant zum neue Klüppel at Holzgraben 9. In 1908 she set up a new office at Aachener Couvenstrasse 13, which she kept until 1925. In April 1909 the HWK opened its first vocational school and at the same time obliged the master craftsmen to release their apprentices once a week for this facility, 40 days a year.

In the following April, the trade regulation amendment of February 1929 gave the HWK protection and expansion of its areas of responsibility and thus equality with the Aachen Chamber of Commerce and Industry . At the same time, the role of craftsmen was introduced into which all self-employed and manual departments of other companies, insofar as they worked on account for third parties, have to register.

As part of a new ordinance of June 1934, which decided to introduce the major certificate of competence , which requires the master's title to run a business, the HWK Aachen is obliged to implement this innovation in its area in terms of organization and training.

In the course of the Second World War , the HWK Aachen was forced to liquidate on April 1, 1943. It was then merged with the Aachen Chamber of Commerce to form the Aachen Chamber of Commerce, which was itself part of the Cologne-Aachen Gauwirtschaftskammer . Even before the official end of the war, when Aachen had already been liberated by the American allies, the appointed Lord Mayor Franz Oppenhoff was authorized in January 1945 to re-establish the HWK Aachen according to its old structures from before 1933. As part of this reorganization, the HWK resumed its work on March 4, 1945 with the renewed constituent assembly. She was able to keep her chamber building at Aachener Couvenstrasse 18, where she had resided since 1925, as it survived the war largely unscathed. A year later, on December 6, 1946, the HWK Aachen, but also the newly established guild committees, which were renamed as district craftsmen, were re-established as a corporation under public law by the Central Office for Economic Affairs in the British Zone approved. The large certificate of competence was also recognized as a prerequisite for registration in the role of craftsman and the participation of journeymen in the ratio of one third in journeymen to two thirds in independent master craftsmen in the plenary assembly and board of the Chamber of Crafts. In 1950 the committee for vocational education and training was finally constituted and in 1965 the HWK Aachen moved into its new building complex at Aachen's Sandkaulbach 21.

The HWK Aachen was able to pursue its systematic development in the following decades, found new educational and advisory institutions and enter into cooperation agreements, such as in 1985 with the RWTH Aachen on the intensification of technology transfer. This made it possible for her to continuously adapt to the respective changes and requirements in the skilled trades and the labor market.

tasks and goals

In accordance with the sovereign tasks assigned by the state, the HWK Aachen is obliged, within the framework of its economic self-administration and taking into account the applicable craft regulations , to maintain the role of craftsmen and the list of craft-related trades within its chamber area. It issues regulations for vocational training, leads the apprenticeship role and is responsible for the implementation of journeyman and master craftsman exams.

As a representative of the interests of its members, the HWK Aachen acts as a link between the public, politics, administration, institutions and associations. She participates in legislative initiatives that affect the craft and supports the preparation of reports.

The most extensive task complex of the HWK Aachen concerns the advisory, service and educational offer for its members. In the field of education, it maintains its own academies and training centers in various localities in its chamber district and is also involved in several supraregional training and qualification companies. In the area of ​​advice and service, she supports the search for apprenticeships and craftsmen as well as the placement of building energy advisors and experts. In addition, it arranges cooperation partners both in the entire Euregio Meuse-Rhine and in neighboring countries for cross-border craft businesses. With its participation in start-up initiatives, the HWK Aachen supports its members in job placement and business start-ups. This includes, among other things, the in 2004 jointly with the city of Aachen and the Verein Kulturwissenschaftliches Gründungszentrum e. V. participation in the establishment of a new start-up center in Aachen, which is intended to support cultural workers and craftsmen on their way to independence. This initiative was supplemented in 2007 by the participation of the HWK Aachen in the Startcenter NRW, where it bundles the advisory services and services for those willing to start a business together with the IHK Aachen and the responsible districts at five locations within the Aachen city region . In 2008 it was recognized as an exemplary project within the "Simply start up" competition by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology .

Educational centers

The Aachen Chamber of Crafts currently has five training centers for inter-company training and further education, all of which were founded after the Second World War and are spread across the entire chamber district. These are:

  • the education center of the HWK Aachen , set up in the rooms of the central building in Aachen, which houses the following individual facilities:
    • the Gewerbeförderungsanstalt (GFA) , founded in 1959, which one year later also becomes a recognized course facility for plastics technology of the Institute for Plastics Processing at RWTH Aachen , the German Association for Welding Technology (DVS) and the German Association for Gas and Water (DVGW). In 1983 this area was transferred to the Vocational Training and Trade Promotion Institution (BGE) Aachen. The organization of the young craft design competition for North Rhine-Westphalia in 1969 was also under the leadership of GFA .
    • the Academy for Business Management, founded in 1981, in which craft entrepreneurs can qualify as "business economists in the craft".
    • the online academy , founded in 2000, which offers the possibility of completing distance learning courses using a multimedia-enabled PC with Internet access.
    • the training center for hairdressers and beauticians , founded in 2010 with financial support from the federal government and the state
  • the vocational training and trade promotion center (BGZ) Simmerath , founded in 1969 and opened in 1972 in the Kranzbruchstraße in Simmerath as a cooperation measure of the HWK Aachen with the trade union IG Bau-Steine-Erden and the donor association for the promotion of the craft in the Aachen region eV This is where the Inter-company training for all construction and finishing trades , for roofers - as well as for carpenters - and the bakery trade . In 2011, the BGZ was also the first and only in the Aachen chamber district to be equipped with an innovative deep rescue system, which can be used to train rescue teams from great depths.
  • the Vocational Training and Trade Promotion Institution (BGE) Aachen , opened in May 1983 in Tempelhofstrasse in Aachen. This is responsible for the inter-company apprenticeship training in the professions metal technology, plant mechanics, welding technology, electrical engineering , information technology and mechatronics . The course center for plastics technology from the GFA Aachen was also integrated into this facility and its offers were also opened to specialists and managers from the neighboring countries of Belgium and the Netherlands . In addition, the BGE offers further training opportunities for skilled workers from the professions mentioned as well as promotion qualifications to master craftsmen and business economists and supports the promotion of technology transfer.
  • the Academy for Handicraft Design Gut Rosenberg , founded in 1985 in association with the FH Aachen and established from 1994 on Gut Rosenberg in Aachen-Horbach . With this academy, the HWK builds on its previous collaboration with the Werkkunstschule Aachen , which was transferred to the FH in 1971. At Gut Rosenberg, basic and advanced training courses are offered in the field of craft design and, after the expansion in 2003 by a second academy for corporate management in addition to the academy in Aachen, also in operational management as a two-in-one concept . In 2008 the Academy was awarded the Advanced Training Innovation Prize by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, and one year later it was approved as the first competence center for craft design in Germany.
  • the Training Center for Motor Vehicle Technology (TraCK) in Düren , founded in 2003 and responsible for training and further education in the automotive industry.

Until a few years ago, the Vocational Training and Trade Promotion Institution (BGE), founded in Düren in 1980, was responsible for the inter-company apprenticeship training in the professions of metal technology , plant mechanics , welding technology , painters and varnishers as well as vehicle varnishers Car painters are offered advancement qualifications to become master craftsmen. In 2003, this facility was closed and the training offers were distributed to the training centers BGE, BGZ and TraCK.

In addition, the HWK Aachen has cooperations with the training centers in Euskirchen and Eupen as well as with the training center of the Heinsberg district craftsmen.

Holdings

In addition to its own educational institutions, the Aachen Chamber of Crafts is involved in other institutions and societies whose common goal is to promote small and medium-sized businesses and the qualification of young skilled craftsmen and skilled workers. The most important of these investments are:

  • the community of founders for the promotion of handicrafts in the Aachen region e. V. , founded in 1968. It serves to supplement and support the work of the HWK and the guilds through targeted economic development measures. In doing so, it not only concentrates its measures on the chamber district, but also operates networks in the entire Euregio Meuse-Rhine
  • the non-profit sponsoring association for vocational training and trade promotion center e. V. , founded in 1969 by the HWK, the IG Bau-Steine-Erden and the donor association for the promotion of craft in the Aachen region e. V. Its main task is the financial, logistical and structural administration and support of the BGZ that it has set up in Simmerath.
  • the Society for Vocational Training, Innovation and Materials Testing mbH (BIW GmbH) , founded in 1992 as a 100 percent subsidiary of HWK. Its core areas are materials testing , machine and building evaluation and quality management, as well as the bundling of all services that deal with further development and advice on all aspects of vocational training
  • QualiTec GmbH , also a wholly-owned subsidiary of the HWK Aachen, founded in 2001. Its main tasks are the placement of skilled workers as well as the cooperation with the employment agency and the job center with measures for entry-level qualifications for young people. Their offer is aimed primarily at large customers and foreign craft businesses.
  • the Vocational Training Center Euskirchen (BZE) , founded in Euskirchen in 1970 in the legal form of a public-law special purpose association. Under the sponsorship of the HWK, the IHK Aachen and the Euskirchen district, it is intended to support and promote structural change in its region through appropriate qualification measures and model concepts.

public relation

As part of its public relations work , the HWK Aachen published the joint bulletin "Official organ of the Aachen, Düsseldorf and Cologne Chambers of Crafts" from 1921 and initially together with the Düsseldorf and Cologne Chambers of Crafts. In 1946, with the approval of Prime Minister Karl Arnold , this was replaced by the company's own newsletter "Aachener Handwerk", which was renamed "Grenzland-Handwerk" from 1949. In 1960 the HWK set up a department for press and public relations, which among other things renamed the chamber organ "Grenzland-Handwerk" again in 1969 to "Handwerkswirtschaft. Independent monthly newspaper for economy, politics, technology and culture".

In addition, the HWK offers detailed information and documents from all areas of activity for its member companies and interested users via its constantly expanded and revised website.

Another focus of her public relations work is participation in numerous exhibitions , markets and trade fairs . In particular, the HWK Aachen, in cooperation with the city of Aachen, has succeeded in establishing the annual artisan market, which it has organized since 1977, as a constant. Thanks to its international popularity, it has meanwhile become the European market for artisans and is one of Aachen's cultural highlights. In addition, the HWK caused an international sensation in 1986 when it performed with great success as the organizer of the first world congress of blacksmiths with 400 guests from 26 nations, after which the world congress was held twice in Aachen in 1991 and 1996.

Honors

In accordance with the customs of the trade, the Aachen Chamber of Skilled Crafts awards not only the usual certificates for work and company anniversaries, but also the award for the Golden Master’s Certificate and certificates for merited honorary officers such as for top master, honorary master or honorary master craftsman . It also awards the ring of honor or the badge of honor to personalities who have rendered outstanding services to the entire craft at federal, state or chamber district and guild level.

President

  • before 1933: Fritz van Engelshoven, master painter
  • provisional from 1933: Gürtler Engelbert Reiff
  • 1945 - 1974: Walter Bachmann
  • 1974 - 1994: Anton Immendorf , master bricklayer and building contractor, honorary president of the HWK Aachen
  • 1994 - 2020: Dieter Philipp , master painter, former president and subsequent honorary president of the ZDH and the HWK Aachen
  • since 2020: Marco Herwartz, master electrical engineer

literature

  • 100 years of the Aachen Chamber of Crafts ; Verlag Wirtschaft und Bildung, Aachen, 2000, ISBN 3-920998-02-2

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ HWK Aachen - educational centers
  2. Kunststoff-hwk-Aachen
  3. ^ Educational center for hairdressers and beauticians
  4. ^ BGZ Simmerath
  5. Welding technology at the HWK Aachen
  6. ^ BGE Aachen
  7. ^ Academy for Craft Design Gut Rosenberg
  8. ^ Training center for automotive technology
  9. HWK press release of September 18, 2003
  10. ^ HWK Aachen - Participations
  11. ^ BIW GmbH Aachen
  12. QualiTec GmbH
  13. BZE Euskirchen
  14. ^ European market Aachen

Coordinates: 50 ° 46 ′ 43.1 ″  N , 6 ° 5 ′ 17.5 ″  E