Optimal start to professional life: Ten prospective specialists began their training at Stadtwerke Gießen on 2 August. To make the company even more attractive to young people, the regional energy service provider has made a number of changes.
At Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG), the sound training of young people is an integral part of the business model - even during the coronavirus pandemic. "Despite the sometimes adverse circumstances, we are sticking to our training mission," confirms Training Manager Ruth Biehl-Franze. And for good reason. By giving school leavers the ideal start to their careers, the regional energy supplier is not only assuming social responsibility, but also training urgently needed skilled workers. "As one of the largest companies in the region, we secure the next generation of employees with a practical and varied training programme. Because competition for qualified personnel is becoming increasingly fierce," explains Ruth Biehl-Franze.
In the meantime, the search for young people who would like to start an apprenticeship is sometimes difficult. SWG has therefore made a number of adjustments to make itself even more attractive as a training company. "We've purchased some new machines and tools for our training workshop, equipped all of our new recruits with laptops and have turned the tried-and-tested start week into two," says the training manager. The aim of the longer induction period is to make the theoretical and practical components much more varied so that the trainees can feel confident in the new, unfamiliar environment right from the start.
There is also a lot more content to teach today than there was a few years ago - keyword digitalisation and the associated possibilities, regulations and opportunities. In addition, the trainers gain time to deal with important topics in more detail. With their own notebook, the trainees can not only use digital training courses, but also gain access to the company's own intranet - and thus access to all relevant internal information.
Informative and exciting weeks
This year, ten young men and women are starting their careers at SWG. Three of them have decided to train as electronics technicians for industrial engineering and two as plant mechanics in plant construction. Two young women are training to become pool attendants, while an IT systems integration specialist, an automotive mechatronics technician and an industrial clerk complete the team.
As usual, Matthias Funk, SWG's Technical Director, kicked off the launch weeks with a warm welcome. As usual, the trainees in their final year of training were largely responsible for organising the event. Naturally, the organisers adapted the tried-and-tested procedure to the current hygiene regulations.
The content of the start weeks includes a first insight into the organisation of the company: Who does what in the SWG Group? How do I keep my training record? What values does SWG stand for? To get an initial overview of the company, the trainees started with a rally around the factory premises.