Over four decades of cultivating Garden and Landscape Design expertise within the city of Osnabrück
In the heart of northwestern Germany, the city of Osnabrück is marking a significant milestone. For 40 years, the city has been nurturing the talents of young gardeners and landscape construction workers, contributing to the city's architectural landscape and providing a valuable career pathway for local youth.
The anniversary job fair, held recently, offered eighth to tenth graders the opportunity to explore various training professions. Among them was the Oberflächen- und Strukturbehandlung (OSB) apprenticeship program, a hands-on training in construction and related trades that has been shaping the city's workforce for four decades.
Over the years, around 120 young people from the region have been trained in gardening and landscape construction, many of whom have gone on to work for the city in various roles such as green care, sports facilities, tree control, or playground control. Others have sought new challenges with private companies in the gardening and landscape construction sector.
Two notable alumni of the program are Sabine Placke and Johannes Westermann, who started their apprenticeship in 1984 and are still working for the city after 40 years. Markus Diersing, a former apprentice, now oversees 13 apprentices in gardening and landscape construction in Osnabrück.
Diersing expressed his enthusiasm for the mix of technology, materials, theory, and practice in the profession. "The OSB apprenticeship program offers a unique blend of practical experience, technical skills, and professional development that prepares young people for a successful career in the construction and manufacturing sectors," he said.
Many projects in the city, such as the Felix-Nussbaum-House outdoor area, the city hall inner courtyard, and the Raiffeisen square, were former apprentice construction sites. The GaLaBau competition "Cup Kommun" was held, with Osnabrück participating alongside Meppen, Nordhorn, Haaren/Ems, and Bielefeld.
The jubilee event was opened by Finance Director Thomas Fillep, who emphasised the importance of the apprenticeship program in shaping the city's future. A jubilee celebration was held to honour the work of past apprentice classes, and the best apprentice of 2023 at the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture, Laurin Schiffer, completed his apprenticeship in Osnabrück.
Hisa Cercur, who fled from Iraq as a 17-year-old, received a further training scholarship for his excellent apprenticeship completion and is now a master of playground control. Interactive stations such as Bagger Challenges, reading vehicle errors, and waste separation actions were available at the fair, aiming to challenge and promote municipal young talent in the future.
As the city of Osnabrück continues to grow and evolve, the impact of its OSB apprenticeship program is evident in the city's beautiful landscapes and skilled workforce. For those interested in learning more about the history and specific impacts of the OSB apprenticeship program in Osnabrück, I recommend consulting local government archives, vocational training institutions in Osnabrück, or specialized publications on German apprenticeships and urban development.
The anniversary job fair provided an opportunity for eighth to tenth graders to explore various trades, including the home-and-garden sector, where they could learn skills like gardening and landscape construction. Over the years, many of these young trainees have contributed to enhancing the lifestyle and aesthetics of Osnabrück through their work on city projects.
