Germany has a shortage of workers

The gist of the message was: "We have lots of young, motivated people looking for vocational training and we're wondering if you're interested."

Von Ungern-Sternberg was working for the Freiburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts in southwest Germany, a trade body that represents skilled workers, from bricklayers and carpenters, to butchers and bakers, and the companies that employ them.

The email arrived at an opportune moment.

"We had a lot of desperate employers, who couldn't find anyone to work for them," says Von Ungern-Sternberg. "So we decided to give it a chance."