Craftworkers

Skilled crafts

It is estimated that there are over 39,000 skilled trade companies active in the Metropole Ruhr. These employ approximately 280,000 employees, generating sales of approximately 25.4 billion euros. With this they constitute a significant part of the economy of the region. The majority of these companies fall into the category of small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) and therefore face the problems typically associated with companies of that size.

These range from financing difficulties to planning for succession within the company. However, there are also challenges that skilled crafts companies are faced with to a particular degree. The increasing competition from foreign companies, the dilution of professional status and the heightening of competitive situations through new business situations (such as Dutch auctions on the internet).
Establishing a trade or handicraft company in these turbulent times would appear to be no easy task. It is therefore important to have as much information available beforehand in order to be able to estimate the available options - and therefore the risks and opportunities -  in good time.