The Fraunberg trade association sees one of its main tasks as advertising for its own cause.
At the annual general meeting in the Gasthaus Strasser in Oberbierbach, not only a new, modern flyer was presented.
There were also indications of how young people could be approached specifically via social media for training in local medium-sized companies.
Oberbierbach – "Times have changed for us too, energy costs are rising rapidly, bankruptcies in our districts cannot be ruled out," said Gerhard Hilger, the association's chairman, describing the current situation.
He and his 45 members, around half of whom came to the meeting, would like more targeted support from the state, "not according to the watering can principle".
Because the additional costs that arise in their companies cannot be passed on to goods and customers.
In addition, there are far too few advisors in the district to help with acute problems.
With one exception, as Vice Chairwoman Christa Nett praised: the employment office.
“Not only is there enough money here to turn unskilled workers into skilled workers.
According to the federal government's Qualification Opportunities Act, there are good further training opportunities and trained staff here, and we've had very positive experiences," said Nett.
In individual cases, even driver's licenses for prospective drivers are financed, and in the construction sector there is also help from the respective professional associations.
Nevertheless, as Claudia Scharf presented the new advertising flyer in DIN A5 format, it is essential that the trade association draws attention to itself.
All member companies can present themselves in this booklet, which will later appear three times a year, preferably with a QR code.
“This is exactly the tool that the younger generation in particular likes.
Because she can take a picture of this code with her smartphone and see a company's website directly," explained Scharf.
Initial experience has shown that applicants can even be recruited for vacancies in this way – “sometimes an interesting sentence on Instagram is all it takes”.
In order to keep up with the times, you also need money.
"We don't have to be stingy," said Hilger after treasurer Manfred Lechner had submitted his report on the club's finances.
Although there was hardly any movement in the cash flow last year apart from a donation to the children's home, the association's assets of around 10,000 euros offer, according to Hilger, "a good cushion for further activities".
Auditor Sabine Pösl confirmed clean cash management.
Praise also came from Hans Rasthofer, the deputy mayor.
"Thanks to the lively activity of the association, the trade tax in the municipality has risen from EUR 200,000 to around one million euros".
The community can afford a lot with this money, even if there are still many needy people in the community, as Anni Gfirtner, the third mayor, emphasized.
But it wasn't just about money that was talked about: Hilger stated that the goal was to go back to company tours after the long period of the pandemic: "We want to visit the airport, the Weißbräu and the thermal baths soon."
"Sometimes one sentence on Insta is enough"
Trade tax advanced