When a firm goes bankrupt, many apprentices are left back at square one and facing an uncertain future. A special program set up years ago in Hanover is designed to help in precisely such scenarios.In April, hydraulic systems manufacturer Hyco Pacoma joined the long list of victims of the economic crisis, leaving its 24 apprentices out on the street. But now the local government has joined forces with other local companies to secure all of them new placements. Report by Jürgen Schneider