According to a recent study of the Thuringian Ministry of Economy, Labour and Technology of 2014, in Thuringia exist up to 2025 a need of skilled workers of about 281,000, due to the demographic changes and a strong economy. To counteract this shortage of skilled workers, Thuringian SMEs rely increasingly on training and employment of foreign professionals. There consists a great need of advice and support for the entrepreneurs concerning the treatment of foreigners who are to be trained or employed as quickly as needed within the company. Many vocational training leaders – in dual training they are the masters in the businesses – are under enormous pressure, to meet the new challenges with appropriate concepts and methods.Main target for selected trades is to analyze the German, Austrian and Spanish apprenticeships and to develop best practices in order to achieve the rapid integration of young foreigners through targeted job-related training in the company.As a result, know-how and innovative standards in the field of workplace apprenticeship should be shown particularly for refugees/migrants. The following topics:1. Work-related apprenticeships in the european context2. Vocational education and training especially for refugees and asylum seekers3. Check of the possibility of introducing the "operating aid“ in Germany and Spain. In Austria successfully practiced means "operating aid“ a financial support for entrepreneurs in difficulties.Five participants from each country are chosen according to the following criteria:- Established female entrepreneurs with best competences in education of apprentices and training of workers- Female entrepreneurs from SMEs whose business and staff management is exemplary.Besides female entrepreneurs there will be involved in each country responsible heads of vocational education and training in the ministries , CEOs of the chambers, leaders of operating educational institutions and migration officers for search and find opportunities for work-based apprenticeships for refugees and asylum seekers from the viewpoints of the requirements of labor market in the European context. The existing contacts of the european network Females Entrepreneurs in European Medium and Small Enterprises (FEM) can be used for further expansion of the European network of mentors for female entrepreneurs. A businesswoman of the UFH has already worked successfully in the EU Committee and will bring her european experience into the project.The following project activities are planned:Day 1: Arrival and get-together of the female entrepreneurs from the partner countries Welcome by the President of the Economic and Crafts Chamber, introducing the project, general exchangeDay 2: Consultation with education authorities of the Ministry, chambers and educational institutions, integrating migration officers of the countriesDay 3: Consultation with leaders of the chambers, district trade institutions and health insurance discussing the introduction of "operating aid", which supports SMEs financially in emergency situations and thus ensure their survivalDay 4 Morning: site visits, discussion about experienced processes of business leadership and succession Afternoon: visit of operating educational institutions and inter-company educational, discussion about workplace-related apprenticeship for a smooth integration of refugeesDay 5 Final meeting with evaluation and presentation of results, departureThe coordinator as the main manager and the managers/mentors support the participating female entrepreneurs in preparating and carrying out the meetings in the participating countries. The documentation of the project results will be deposited in each country in the Chambers of Commerce and district trade institutions and set on their sites as well as on the websites of the participating partners. This ensures that any interested person may consult it and extract the important information for him.The introduction of "operating aid" in Germany and Spain (following the example of Austria) guarantees more security to SMEs. Our project follows the Parliament's request to the Commission