Friday, August 20, 2010

New prospects for school-leavers: ThyssenKrupp Nirosta's initial training program saves young people from unemployment

Young people who have not yet found an apprenticeship place at the start of the training year are given another chance at ThyssenKrupp Nirosta: The Krefeld-based stainless steel producer offers 16 long-term internships under its initial training program to improve their prospects of finding work.

Young people who have not yet found an apprenticeship place at the start of the training year are given another chance at ThyssenKrupp Nirosta: The Krefeld-based stainless steel producer offers 16 long-term internships under its initial training program to improve their prospects of finding work.

Since the "German industry training pact" was initiated in 2004, ThyssenKrupp Nirosta has helped a total of 85 young people to start a career. After completing an internship, around 70 percent of participants in the initial training program have gained apprenticeship places. On the program the young people are taught the knowledge and skills they need for an apprentice trade, the company and working life. And if they are accepted onto an apprenticeship scheme, the internship - which begins on October 1 each year and runs for ten months - counts as six months towards the apprenticeship.

This is an impressive track record - both for the job seekers and for the company - because the need for this initial training program will continue on both sides in the future: It offers new hope to young people who have spent a long time looking in vain for an apprenticeship, and helps ThyssenKrupp Nirosta meet its continued need for young, motivated skilled workers in the future. "Success at last! I've sent off over 50 applications, all of them were turned down," says Inga Knieling, one of the new trainees. "Now I've finally got a foot on the career ladder." Jürgen Bröcker, head of training at the technical apprenticeship training unit of ThyssenKrupp Nirosta, is also pleased: "We've had very good experience with this program, because the internship gives us the opportunity to assess the young people's aptitude for each type of skilled work and to foster them accordingly."


ThyssenKrupp's training policy has been taking account of the demographic change in society for some years now. This is particularly important to the company. At almost eight percent, the apprenticeship training rate is higher than the company actually requires. "We offer our apprentices first-rate training and attractive career opportunities," says Klaus-Peter Hennig, CHRO at ThyssenKrupp Nirosta: "With our commitment and our high-quality training schemes we are fulfilling our social obligations towards young people."

ThyssenKrupp Nirosta is one of the world's leading manufacturers of stainless flat products with a broad range of stainless steel grades, sizes and finishes. The company has several sites in Germany and employs around 4,200 people.

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