Welcome Center for skilled worker immigration continues to grow

20.01.2025 - More than 70 companies advised in 2024, "THAMM Plus" project supported.
v.l.n.r. Ulf-Birger Franz, Dezernent für Wirtschaft, Verkehr, Kultur und Bildung der Region Hannover, Christine Mikliss, Senior Beraterin des GIZ-Projektes „THAMM Plus", Michael Erben, Geschäftsführer Autohaus Bennigsen GmbH, Mohamed Chamakh, KFZ-Mechatroniker aus Tunesien, Tatia Chkhenkeli und Tornike Murtskhvaladze vom Welcome Center der Region HannoverHanover Region

Started as the "Welcome to Region Hannover" pilot project, consolidated as the "Welcome Center" since March 2024 - and with more and more success stories. Since its foundation, the Hannover Region Welcome Center has been supporting companies in the recruitment and integration of international specialists and young professionals. Since the pilot project was founded, 18 skilled workers from Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt have been successfully placed in regional companies; since it was established last year alone, 6 people have been placed and more than 70 companies have taken advantage of the Welcome Center's advisory services.

Cooperation with the "THAMM Plus" project taken to the next level

The cooperation between the Welcome Center and THAMM Plus has now been formally agreed. The Welcome Center has been a regional partner of the THAMM Plus project, which is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, since 2021. As a German development cooperation project, THAMM Plus supports ministries and authorities in North Africa in establishing regular migration channels for work and training. At the same time, it enables companies in Germany to fairly recruit skilled workers and trainees from Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt. There is close cooperation with the Federal Employment Agency and local initiatives such as the Welcome Center of the Hannover Region for the associated placement. The project has been commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is co-financed by the European Union (EU). With the signing of a new cooperation agreement, this successful partnership between the Welcome Center and the THAMM Plus project has been given a firm framework. The cooperation will enable the Welcome Center to provide targeted skilled worker profiles from North Africa that meet the requirements of regional companies.

"Many companies are already benefiting greatly from the services of the Welcome Center. Our consulting cases show that the demand for support with the immigration of skilled workers is constantly growing - even beyond the Hannover Region. We have been able to place various skilled workers, from CNC technicians and HVAC plant mechanics to specialists in system catering. This has shown that companies that already have experience with international employees or refugees benefit particularly from the support. We want to continue to actively promote this."
Ulf-Birger Franz, Head of the Hannover Region's Department of Economics, Transport, Culture and Education
"As a development cooperation project, THAMM Plus focuses on establishing sustainable structures for processes of development-oriented labor migration. To this end, we work closely with government partners in the countries of origin. Through collaborations such as with the Welcome Center of the Hannover Region, we ensure that the trainees and skilled workers as well as the host companies have local contacts in Germany. This is extremely important to ensure the long-term success of skilled worker migration and integration."
Christine Mikliss, Senior Advisor of the GIZ project "THAMM Plus"
"The shortage of skilled workers in Germany is something that everyone has to adjust to. It will continue to exist in the coming years. This is why such placement offers for skilled workers from abroad are not a short-term opportunity, but a sustainable one for local companies. In its projects to recruit skilled workers, the Federal Employment Agency focuses on fair migration and coordinates the recruitment of personnel abroad with the respective agencies in the country of origin. It is worth finding out about the opportunities in good time. The Welcome Center and the joint employer service - a cooperation between the Hannover Employment Agency and the Jobcenter Region Hannover - are happy to advise on ways to recruit skilled workers from abroad and work together to speed up the process."
Heike Döpke, Chairwoman of the Management Board of the Hanover Employment Agency

Support for companies in times of skills shortages

The Welcome Center is a central point of contact for companies in the Hannover Region that want to recruit and integrate international specialists and junior staff. The services range from individual advice and support with recruitment and integration to training in intercultural skills. After the consultation at the Welcome Center, the Federal Employment Agency comes into play. It brings employers and employees together and thus supports the work.

Future prospects of the Welcome Center

In recent years, the Welcome Center has become an integral part of the Hannover Region's business development activities and has established itself as a specialist office for skilled immigration. It not only supports companies in the Hannover Region, but also serves as a role model for other regions.

Ulf-Birger Franz, Head of Economic Affairs, looks to the future:"More and more skilled workers and companies are finding each other through the consultations at the Welcome Center. This shows that we are on the right track and that we are gathering more and more expertise. We will continue to expand this expertise in the coming years in order to provide regional companies with the best possible support in securing skilled workers."

Contact us

Hanover Region
Head of Welcome Center
Tornike Murtskhvaladze
Head of Welcome Center
Hanover Region
Employment Promotion
Department of Economic and Employment Promotion

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