TALENTready ⚓ Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland e.V.

The TALENTready project team - © TALENTready

Companies in Hamburg across all sectors are struggling with the same problem: a shortage of qualified skilled workers. Attracting, developing and retaining employees has long been a key factor in maintaining a competitive advantage, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is exactly where TALENTready comes in.

This Hamburg-based project employs data-driven, digital and AI-supported approaches to assist companies in securing their skilled workforce for the future. TALENTready is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project is supported by six Hamburg-based cluster organisations that are pooling their expertise and breaking new ground together:

“Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are under enormous pressure in competing for skilled workers. With TALENTready, we provide them with concrete, practical tools to help them shape recruitment and development strategically and digitally,” explains Klaus Maak, TALENTready project manager at the Maritime Cluster Northern Germany.

The focus is on practical, application-led solutions throughout the entire skilled worker life cycle: from recruitment and development to employee retention.

The first step is a comprehensive analysis of the challenges currently facing the participating industries. Based on this analysis, digital HR tools are identified, evaluated and specifically adapted for use in SMEs.

These range from AI-supported recruitment and data-driven personnel planning to innovative personnel development and retention concepts. All measures are developed in close collaboration with companies and HR managers.

A core element of TALENTready is concerned with establishing learning networks that are resilient. Through cross-sector exchange formats, companies, clusters, academia and other stakeholders come together to test solutions and share knowledge. These results are then systematically processed and bundled in a cross-project HR toolbox that will remain accessible after the project has ended.

TALENTready is closely linked to both Hamburg’s skilled labour strategy and its regional innovation strategy. By using digital technologies in a targeted way, strengthening SMEs and actively networking key players, the project is helping to prepare Hamburg’s economy for tomorrow’s working world.