Educational support from Spain for Leimen
In Spain, many well-educated, motivated young people are looking for promising career prospects. The German city of Leimen lacks educational professionals, especially for daycare centres. Career-in-bw connects both sides.
The tension between the need for educational professionals in Leimen, Baden-Württemberg, on the one hand, and suitable qualified pedagogical professionals in Spain on the other, forms the basis of the work of Career-in-bw, from which the project with the city of Leimen emerged.
Career-in-bw is a brand of Apontis GmbH, a subsidiary of Bildungswerk der Baden-Württembergischen Wirtschaft e. V. (BIWE) specialising in transfer and personnel services.
Project launch and background
The impetus for this project with Spain came in the summer of 2023 directly from the Leimen city administration, which needed to fill open positions in municipal kindergartens on short notice.
Career-in-bw took over the coordination between the language course provider in Spain and the location in Leimen. Together with the German Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZAV), Career-in-bw recruited suitable applicants, prepared them linguistically and culturally, and supported them in getting started in Germany.
In October 2023, representatives of the city of Leimen and the Career-in-bw project management team travelled to Barcelona for 14 job interviews. At the end of November, ten selected young people from Spain came to Germany for a one-week internship to get to know the everyday work and environment.
This was an important step for both sides. The week-long internship helps future skilled workers become familiar with their new environment and makes starting in a new country tangible.
Cooperation with local partners
The rapid recruitment of interested Spaniards was made possible thanks to established structures and cooperation with local partners. Career-in-bw's local partner is the company Humboldt Business Communication.
Humboldt Business Communication has specialised in mobility projects and language courses since 1986. It selects young people on the basis of qualifications and interviews and prepares them for Germany with recognised language qualifications. Cultural preparation is carried out jointly by Career-in-bw and Humboldt Business Communication.
Applicants often receive information about job opportunities in Germany directly through universities, social media or regional employment agencies. There are no placement fees for applicants; the client – in this case the town of Leimen – bears the costs of preparation and support provided by Career-in-bw. Funding is available for European applicants.
Preparing for the new country
Before arriving in Germany, participants in Spain complete an intensive German course up to level B1. In addition, both sides, the Spanish professionals and the future teams in Leimen, undergo intercultural training. Knowledge of each other's culture is a central component of successful integration.
Parallel to the training, Career-in-bw coordinates all formal steps, including the recognition of qualifications and travel arrangements.
Start in Leimen
In February 2024, the first ten skilled workers moved to Leimen.
Career-in-bw provided them with dedicated contact persons to assist them with all organisational tasks – from registering at the citizens' office and opening a bank account to explaining German peculiarities such as broadcasting fees and waste separation.
During their first few months in Germany, they attend a part-time language course up to level B2. Outside of work, the skilled workers are assigned a mentor who supports them and helps them integrate into everyday (working) life.
Prospects and success factors
The first skilled workers have settled in well and enjoy their work with the children. Difficulties with the recognition process or finding accommodation were successfully overcome. The positive response from the town of Leimen was so great that another ten skilled workers from Spain followed in spring 2025.
From the perspective of career-in-bw, the key success factors for successful recruitment of skilled workers are:
- close coordination with the employer in Germany
- reliable partner structures in the country of origin
- comprehensive language preparation
- cultural preparation for skilled workers from abroad and German employers/staff
- personal support for professionals and daycare centres
Conclusion
Recruiting international skilled workers – whether in education or other fields – requires a holistic approach: language, culture, legal recognition and social support must be integrated, as must a stable network of partners.
Taking these factors into account can help to effectively address the shortage of skilled workers and attract international talents to the German labour market in the long term.
