Archive 2020
Here you will find selected reports on events organized by us, news and work in projects in 2020
Road construction work and Corona restrictions: Survey on the situation of companies on Steindamm
What impact does the Covid-19 pandemic have on businesses now and perhaps in the future? And what measures have entrepreneurs taken to respond? ASM project staff surveyed
“Activating migrant businesses at Steindamm for responsible coexistence in public spaces” in October 2020, business people at Steindamm.
Most of the 20 respondents stated that they had already experienced problems due to the ongoing renovation work on Steindamm before the imposed contact restrictions and closures. This primarily related to the delivery of goods. Nevertheless, business was good before the pandemic. This assessment was particularly evident in restaurants.
Like elsewhere, the food retailers on Steindamm are reporting consistently strong business. Some are even ordering more goods from their suppliers. Travel agencies, on the other hand, complained about a lack of customers. They are also missing bookings for pilgrimages. All businesses have developed protective measures. Among other things, they are installing plexiglass screens, disinfecting their tools, and limiting the number of customers in the store at one time.
To limit the financial damage, some entrepreneurs applied for grants from the support programs, while others applied for short-time work benefits. Applying for subsidized loans was not considered a good solution for overcoming the financial difficulties. Accordingly, none of the 20 respondents reported having applied for a loan.
Hairdressers and travel agencies, in particular, expressed great uncertainty regarding future economic developments. Many respondents do not rule out another lockdown like the one in the spring. A textile retailer based on Steindamm drew the following conclusion from the current situation: "We need to focus more on online retail."
Status conference on training projects of the Ministry of Education:
ASM Managing Director Marion Wartumjan presents KAUSA Service Center Hamburg
The Minister of Education and Research announced the good news right at the start of the virtual JOBSTARTER plus status conference on October 6 and 7, 2020. The JOBSTARTER plus program will continue, said Anja Karliczek. Over the past six years, 230 Jobstarter plus projects have been funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). These, in turn, have supported 22,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in providing training. "We must do even more to promote the attractiveness of training and secure training positions in SMEs," said the minister at the start of the two-day livestream conference in Berlin. To achieve the latter, it is also important to support trainers.
Together with studio guests and participants connected via video link, Karliczek discussed, among other things, how vocational training could be made more attractive in a panel discussion. A decline in the number of training contracts has been observed for some time, and this cannot be attributed solely to demographic change. Christina Ramb, a member of the Executive Board of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations, advised merging vocational and academic training. High-performing school leavers must be reassured of their fear that they will end up in a dead end with a dual training program. The President of the Central Association of German Skilled Crafts, Hans Peter Wollseifer, emphasized the importance of "eliminating clichés and demanding greater recognition for the skilled trades." In numerous trades, the skilled trades are already operating digitally, making them attractive to young people.
The panel discussion was followed by expert forums, which participants could follow live and participate in with questions. Representing the KAUSA service centers operating in each federal state, the KAUSA service centers in Hamburg and Dortmund provided insights into their work in the "Integration in Training" forum. Marion Wartumjan, Managing Director of the Association of Self-Employed Migrants (ASM), highlighted the intensive collaboration with mainstream institutions and the structural integration of the project as key success factors for the KAUSA service center in Hamburg.
ASM leverages the synergistic effects of the various support programs for its own target groups. For example, the KAUSA service center in Hamburg is supported by a project funded by the Hamburg Social Services Department. This makes it possible to inform key stakeholders, parents and migrant communities, about the dual training system. And through the training coaching funded by the DOHLE Foundation and the trainees' get-together, also hosted by ASM, the young people placed in the KAUSA project can receive individual support to achieve their training goals.
Wartumjan highlighted the comprehensive consulting services as the most important support tool for the target group – migrant-run SMEs. Between 2015 and 2020, more than 500 migrant-owned businesses received training advice as part of the project. As a result, more than 650 young people were placed in training programs at these companies.
René Leicht, former head of the "New Self-Employment" research department at the Institute for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ifm) in Mannheim, used figures to illustrate why it is worthwhile to support SMEs owned by migrants: "Twenty years ago, 13 percent of entrepreneurs had a migrant background; today, it is 20 percent." In absolute numbers, that's 500,000 entrepreneurs around the year 2000 and 700,000 entrepreneurs today.
A survey conducted by the ifm among migrant companies found that the participation of migrant companies in training has increased in recent years. 18 percent of the 4,500 SMEs surveyed reported having at least one trainee. Regarding domestic companies, however, it has long been known that many are no longer available as training companies. Taking the number of employees into account, the training intensity is just as high as that of domestic companies, according to Leicht.
Murat Koc from the KAUSA Service Center in Dortmund, part of the UBV eV (German Association of Migrant Workers), presented the training fair for migrant-run SMEs developed as part of the project. With a great deal of patience and at least six months' lead time, they managed to attract even the smallest migrant-run businesses to participate in the fair. According to Koc, these businesses are otherwise rarely represented at training fairs.
On the second day of the conference, whose four expert forums were again preceded by a panel discussion, participants concluded that the dual training system is in a poor state. "The willingness and participation in training have declined. Today, a fifth of companies still offer training, compared to a quarter a few years ago," said Prof. Dr. Dietmar Frommberger of the University of Osnabrück. Dr. Volker Born of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts cited a 70 percent increase in costs in recent years as one of the obstacles to training. SMEs need support structures in the form of external training management. This is also important for the quality of training.
A third of the trainees surveyed annually by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) regularly complain about this. Although around 70 percent say they are satisfied with their training, those dissatisfied usually come almost exclusively from the hotel, catering and food retail sectors, according to Matthias Anbuhl of the DGB. Dr. Kristin Körner from the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Integration of the State of Saxony-Anhalt expressed concern that the demands on trainers have increased due to dropouts and migrants starting training. Trainers, Dr. Körner also emphasized, therefore need support. In the concluding forums of the day, most speakers also emphasized the need for training-related projects – and welcomed Minister Karliczek's announcement to further fund such projects.
In memory of a committed campaigner for professional integration: Rainer Aliochin
On September 24, 2020, our longtime colleague, the Managing Director of AAU eV in Nuremberg, Rainer Aliochin, would have turned 55. It was a shock for us to learn that Rainer was taken from his life on July 23. We mourn with his family and his team..
The AAU was modeled on our predecessor,
the
The Association of Turkish Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups, or ATU for short, was founded in 2018. Similar areas of responsibility and framework for our non-profit work led us to work with Rainer Aliochin on various national committees for more than 13 years.
His extensive knowledge of migrant business start-ups, his numerous ideas and projects, enriched every exchange. His tireless commitment to opening up migrant businesses to the dual training system deserves high recognition, even nationwide. With Rainer, we lose a personality of the kind that seems to be becoming increasingly rare these days: wide-awake when it comes to his surroundings. Equipped with high levels of professional expertise and accumulated experience. Committed to action and always argumentative on the issue. He had an attitude that we share: enabling, not hindering. An infinite number of people can be grateful to him because, together with his dedicated team, he opened up career paths for them that were previously difficult to access.
Dear Rainer, we thank you for the intense encounters, for the many short conversations outside of the program, for the little jokes and encouraging gestures on the sidelines of work. We will never forget you and all you have accomplished.
Marion Wartumyan
Management & Team ASM
#unschubladisierbar - I don't fit into any drawer - Action for Diversity Day 2020 on 26 May
"Who likes to be pigeonholed? Companies value diverse people, perspectives, skills, and opinions. They're an asset. They make us rich."
Trainees in need: Fundraising campaign for training coaching
A living room donation campaign on April 28, 2020, raised €2,042.50 from 23 donors for ASM's training coaching. In addition, the project portal
betterplace.org We have contributed an additional €380 for the support and guidance of trainees. This brings the total to €2,422.50 available for training coaching. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to all donors on behalf of the trainees! Trainees like Omid and Kata have found their way into a training company through us and are among those who can now receive further support:
Omid is a second-year sales trainee. Originally from Afghanistan, he's about to graduate and needs a lot of support with his studies. Tutoring has been arranged, but cannot take place in person due to the social distancing measures. Thanks to donations, we're increasing the number of online coaching sessions so he can successfully pass his final exam this year.
Kata from Macedonia is in her first year of training as a dental assistant in a group practice. She started her vocational school classes immediately using e-learning and needs additional support and guidance throughout her training. Dealing with the independent processing of learning content presents her with significant challenges. Kata and her family lack access to digital devices for financial reasons. Therefore, she cannot print and edit documents. This donation will now make more intensive support in using e-learning possible.
By the way, Omid and Kata came with a Duldung to us and now have a residence permit.
Help urgently needed Help urgently needed
Corono crisis: fatal consequences for trainees
Some trainees with a refugee background are not only facing financial problems during the coronavirus crisis because their training companies have applied for short-time work, but also see their goal of obtaining secure residency status jeopardized. In many cases, successfully completing their training is necessary for this. Since they haven't had in-person classes at vocational schools for weeks, group learning and teacher support are no longer available. With financial assistance, these trainees can purchase laptops and printers/scanners and participate in digital learning.
If you want to help us support trainees in need:
Founders’ Forum: Young female entrepreneurs with a migration background report on their path to self-employment
Company grStartups by Hamburg residents with a migration background were the focus of the first Startup Forum of 2020 at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce on February 26, 2020. At the event, jointly organized by the Chamber, the association Entrepreneurs Without Borders (UoG), and ASM as part of the "Migrant Economy Service Center" project in the IQ Network Hamburg, those interested in starting a business received information and tips on planning, financing, and the first steps in self-employment. The Chamber's offerings were presented, including the monthly consultation day for people with a migration background, the Hamburg Startup Network, and the flyer "Together for Hamburg," developed specifically for newcomers and migrants. It lists all relevant partners and their consulting and support services for those seeking to start their own business.
Following this, speakers Katarzyna Rogacka-Michels of ASM and Petra Ehrhardt of UoG interviewed two young entrepreneurs. Their accounts highlighted the importance of support in overcoming regulatory hurdles, especially for those with an immigrant background who wish to start a business.
In a conversation with her business start-up advisor, Rogacka-Michels, Sofia Dilya Laurent recounted her journey to self-employment. With the founding of "Heimatlicht," a family support organization, a long-held dream came true for the Uzbek-born entrepreneur. The social worker developed her organization's concept independently and received support from ASM in fine-tuning the start-up concept through the IQ project "Service Center for Migrant Economy." Founder Mónica Orjeda, originally from Peru, then moved into the restaurant industry. In an interview with Ehrhardt, the owner of "Bodega Lima" explains how, with the support of UoG, she managed to overcome the challenges of a business plan and commercial regulations.
New working aid “Winning companies for training”
How can companies that no longer provide training be persuaded to offer training? The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training's "Winning Companies for Training" toolkit provides tips and numerous practical examples of how companies can become ready for training and be supported on their journey to becoming a training company. The individual chapters offer the most important information to motivate companies to provide training and to support them on their journey to training – starting with good reasons for training, through the requirements for being able to provide training, to the rights and obligations of training companies. Anyone looking for concrete recommendations for action will find a selection of measures and solutions to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the practical examples.
You can find the publication online athttps://www.jobstarter.de/arbeitshilfe-betrieberead or download as PDF:https://www.jobstarter.de/arbeitshilfe-betriebe-pdf.
Which KfW development loan is suitable for my company?
Katarzyna Rogacka-Michels, start-up consultant and project manager at ASM eV, in conversation with Ingo Uecker, savings bank business economist at Haspa in the SME/StartUp Center division, about the different subsidized loans and the information necessary for applying.
Katarzyna Rogacka-Michels (KRM): Mr. Uecker, the KfW quick loan for companies with more than 10 employees is available. And? Can I already apply for the loan through you, Haspa?
Ingo Uecker (IU): Unfortunately not yet, because we as a bank don't yet have access to the KfW system. This means that technically, it's not yet possible. We expect this to be possible starting April 22.
KRM: What documents do I need for the application?
IU: The final decision hasn't been made yet. We're using the information sheet and the supplementary information for the 2020 KfW Express Loan application. In this case, Program 78 of the KfW form. The basic simplification of this loan is that there is no risk assessment by the bank, and the applicant himself confirms information and data about the company in Part A. In Part B, from page 5 onwards, the bank/credit institution must confirm the number of employees and annual turnover, as well as provide information on profit determination and the Schufa entry. For us as a credit institution, this means that we need a basis for this and will rely on the confirmation of the tax advisor. This loan also requires that you have made a profit between 2017 and 2019 or 2019.
KRM: Some companies complain that the interest rate for this KfW quick loan is quite high, at 3%—especially compared to other KfW loans. Would you recommend a different KfW loan to these companies?
IU: The interest rate is very good either way. I don't consider that crucial. First and foremost, I would look for a program that's right for my company. There are clear criteria for KfW loans that I would go through. Is my company five years old or older? For companies that have been on the market for more than five years, loan program 37, the KfW Entrepreneur Loan, is an option. For younger companies, program 73, the ERP Start-up Loan – Universal, applies. It's important to consider whether my company has been active on the market for three years and, as of January 31, 2019, had no financial difficulties, meaning it was making a profit. For both loan programs, the reduced interest rate is 1.00–2.12% pa. And then there's the special program for large companies with a volume of €25 million or more. For start-ups and young companies, there is also the KfW start-up loan, loan program 67, which is available up to 100,000 euros with an annual interest rate of 1.56%.
KRM: What credit options are available for companies that don't fit into any category? For example, companies that have only been on the market for two years and have fewer than 10 employees?
IU: In Hamburg, we hope that the Hamburg Liquidity Loan (HKL) will close this gap. It's currently taking some time, but this will allow us to gain experience of how the current programs are working and where additional needs exist. We hope the loan will provide significant support, especially for the restaurant industry.
KRM: How does HASPA lend for new businesses or business acquisitions that were planned and are now pending? A customer reported that he had held talks, the acquisition was imminent, and now he hasn't received any approval.
IU: First, we're taking care of existing customers and securing liquidity during the coronavirus crisis. This example makes it clear: Talking with the bank doesn't necessarily mean you have a commitment. In cases of start-ups and acquisitions, it's important that you don't start the process until you have the bank's approval. So, if I want to start the acquisition in May and undertake activities beforehand, but don't have the bank's approval, this is an entrepreneurial risk that the bank doesn't cover.
We're trying to raise customers' awareness of this process—with varying degrees of success. So, first get the bank's approval, and only then take action!
We conducted the interview on 16 April 2020
