Every year, the Reinickendorf Training Buddy honours companies in Reinickendorf that are particularly committed to training young people. The first Ausbildungsbuddys were awarded in 2012 - colourful Buddy Bear miniatures designed and painted by pupils, making them unique works of art.
The four 33 cm tall blanks of these Buddy Bears have been donated by Buddy Bär Berlin GmbH since the start of the initiative, which is also represented on the jury that selects the designs. The project receives valuable support from the Reinickendorf Economic Development Agency. An expert jury selects a total of four companies, which are divided into different categories: Small companies with up to 50 employees, medium-sized companies with up to 250 employees and large companies with 250 or more employees. The fourth Buddy Bear is awarded to a company that is particularly committed to the inclusion of trainees with disabilities. The award ceremony for the Buddy Bears takes place in a festive setting organised by the award-winning company of the previous year. The guests will include prominent speakers from Berlin's business community, including the Managing Director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Jan Eder. For the past five years, the Berliner Sparkasse has been a major supporter of the Ausbildungsbuddys award ceremony.
In addition to the Buddy Bear miniatures, the approximately one metre tall ‘Wanderbuddy’, which was designed by Gert Pätzold at the start of the initiative, is awarded each year. One of the four award-winning companies receives this impressive bear sculpture and has the opportunity to display it as a figurehead in their premises for a year. A golden plaque on the bear's rectangular base refers to the name of the company.