Apprenticeship in Salzburg: handicraft with tradition and space for creativity
Hannes Brugger was born into the upholstery trade. Today he trains apprentices himself in the family business in Gnigl.
SALZBURG. Above all, it is the creativity and working with a wide variety of materials that he appreciates most about the interior decorator’s job, reports master upholsterer Hannes Brugger.
Apprenticeship in second chance education
The Brugger family business in Gnigl has been dedicated to the upholstery trade since 1904. Hannes Brugger has been the fourth generation to run the traditional business since 2012. “Our fields of activity include the production and renovation of different upholstery and furniture, floors, wall design, curtains and decoration as well as sun protection. The nice thing is that you see a result at the end of the working day,” says Brugger.
He himself chose the second-chance apprenticeship and had previously attended commercial school for three years. “Always with the aim of later pursuing a profession like my father, grandfather and both great-grandfathers,” says Brugger. He did his apprenticeship in his parents’ company, and after a few years of practice he took the master craftsman’s exam in Salzburg.
Apprentices are an important part of the company
For Hannes Brugger, training apprentices is part of it. “Over the years, there have been a number of young people who have learned the profession of wallpaper hanger with us. I took over the business after my father retired in 2012 and it was immediately clear to me that I would take on an apprentice. Then Magdalena came to us, who is now a master craftsman and is also working in the company. She was not only my first, but also the first female apprentice in our company. She passed the journeyman’s examination with distinction. I was very proud as boss. Sandra was the next apprentice , who, after completing her apprenticeship two years ago, will be taking her master’s exam next year,” says the upholsterer.
Be active and creative
If you are interested in the craft of wallpapering, you should have manual skills and enjoy designing rooms. “It’s also important to me that you work well together in a team,” Brugger is convinced.
Nowadays, as a training company, you should approach potential apprentices and new employees actively and often in a creative way. In addition, many people are not quite sure what exactly the profession of wallpaper hanger entails. “A lot of people need to be informed about what we do because they think it’s all about putting wallpaper on the wall. But the truth is that we cover all areas of interior design,” he emphasizes.
As a company, you have to give apprentices the feeling that they are an important part of the company. “This increases their motivation, their sense of belonging and their loyalty to the company,” adds Brugger.
Many opportunities with the teaching
Brugger is convinced that various further training opportunities or apprenticeships with a high school diploma would have contributed a lot to a better level of teaching. “Nevertheless, as master craftsmen, it always hurts us when we hear that you still have the opportunity to do an apprenticeship after you have dropped out of school. I am of the opinion that the apprenticeship is worth more – training companies not only form skilled workers, but also personalities. As a caregiver, you also take on responsibility for a young person,” says Brugger.
You can find another report on the subject of teaching in Salzburg here:
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