Eddy Koop has achieved what many would like to have: he has landed his dream job. “For me, that means being outdoors, travelling around and doing something meaningful,” explained Edgar Koop, who is simply known as ‘Eddy’ to his colleagues. The 35-year-old will be taking over REMONDIS Rhineland Region’s apprenticeship department on 01 August 2025, a position that will see him supporting 20 different branches. His career path has certainly been unusual – but this is hardly a rarity at REMONDIS: “I began my career at REMONDIS Olpe in 2009 when I did an apprenticeship to become an HGV driver,” Eddy Koop said, reminiscing. With several more qualifications and a whole host of experiences and encounters under his belt, he will now be responsible for the apprentices. This remarkable career can be put down to a number of different reasons: the friendly and open working environment, the good work-life balance, the flexible working hours and his attentive bosses, who challenged and encouraged him and showed him how to move up the career ladder. And it is precisely these arguments that he now uses to try and convince young people to do their apprenticeship at the company – and for them to stay on afterwards.
A level of enthusiasm that is truly catching
Eddy Koop stayed on. Having completed his two-and-a-half-year apprenticeship to become an HGV driver, he worked in this profession for a further three and a half years before going on to gain his master qualifications in road transport. This also meant that he was qualified to train other people. “I wanted to be close to home and do something meaningful there,” he explained. This master certificate was soon followed by the next qualification. “I was able to get a further certificate under my belt by taking the exams to qualify as a ‘Master Professional of Technical Management’.” Qualifications and exams are, however, just one side of the coin. When the person also genuinely loves their job and working with other people, then they really are an ideal addition to both the team and the company – as is the case with Eddy Koop. His colleagues can really sense his dedication – as can the people he meets at trade fairs, events and job interviews. “We travel to town events and job fairs as well as to festivals held by fire departments to tell the people there about the apprenticeship courses at REMONDIS and about the job requirements, course contents and career prospects,” he said. The result: a great feeling of accomplishment and affirmation of this commitment whenever new colleagues are found at such events. “I was at just such an event recently and was able to recruit a new apprentice for the coming apprenticeship year.”
“We travel to town events and job fairs as well as to festivals held by fire departments to tell the people there about the apprenticeship courses at REMONDIS and about the job requirements, course contents and career prospects.”
REMONDIS Rhineland Region
REMONDIS Rhineland Region has a network of around 20 branches. Its approx. 2,000 employees ensure that the company’s daily operations run smoothly. Thanks to its decades of experience, specialist know-how and regional proximity to its customers, REMONDIS Rhineland Region is the company to turn to for all matters involving recycling and waste management. Offering a wide range of products and services, the company delivers solutions for all kinds of businesses – from small firms to large corporations. Its work focuses on providing its customers with the support they need as well as on managing and processing more than 460 different categories of materials – no matter whether it involves residual materials, recyclables or hazardous waste. It offers take-back schemes for all kinds of transport and sales packaging. Furthermore, REMONDIS Rhineland Region supplies its customers with high-quality branded products – from white pigments, to fuels, through to plastic pellets..
Meaningful work
Besides the good working environment, suitable work-life balance, reasonable apprenticeship salary and good career prospects, there is a further criterium that Eddy Koop can use to convince the young people: “More and more of the young people I meet wish to do something meaningful in their immediate environment,” he continued. “Many are attracted by the idea of working for an international recycling company, such as REMONDIS, that focuses on recycling and material life cycles – whether it be as a driver or a forwarding and logistics specialist.” And then there is the fact that this industry remains strong even in a crisis and offers secure, future-proof jobs. The young people are also attracted to REMONDIS as it has many business locations and can offer them jobs within the company across the country.
Modern apprenticeships
When Eddy Koop talks about what everyday working life is like during an apprenticeship at REMONDIS, then it is very clear just how important this division is to the company. The young people are given intensive support and modern facilities have been installed for them to ensure they get the best out of their course. “These range from truck simulators for the HGV driver apprentices, to special vehicle bodies for teaching how to secure loads, all the way through to the tablets that they use to access our digital e-learning platform,” he said, giving details about the practical side of the courses. And REMONDIS’ commitment to these courses have been well worth its while. “Practically every year, our apprentices can be found among those achieving the best results in the Chamber of Commerce’s exams,” he said, not without pride. “Our apprentices are given intensive support and advice and we are always there to help them whenever they need us.” This also sometimes includes helping them get through personal problems and crises as well as through those periods when they may be lacking the motivation they need. Eddy Koop and his three colleagues are there – to give them tips and advice and, in many cases, simply to listen. One special event that the apprentices look forward to is the nationwide get-together that REMONDIS puts on for all of its HGV driver apprentices every summer. “They can swap stories, talk to one another about the exams and build up a network of contacts within the company.” All the apprentices will be meeting in Kalkar, a town in the Lower Rhine region in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, in August this year.
A typical day
As far as Eddy Koop’s job is concerned, no two days are the same. His list of responsibilities is long and he always has a wide range of tasks to deal with. “But that is precisely what I like about my job,” he said. All in all, there are around 70 apprentices working in REMONDIS’ Rhineland region. “I work together with the HR department to coordinate both the recruitment and employment of the apprentices as well as the process of taking them on after their courses have finished. I help out in the seminars, organise our visits to job fairs etc, give advice on further training courses and pass on the grades and assessments to the HR department.” What’s more, Eddy Koop is also involved in the examination committee at the Chamber of Commerce in Cologne as well as in the prevention committee for waste management at the BG-Verkehr (Trade Association for Transport). And things are unlikely to change here in the foreseeable. At the end of the day, he joined the company with the goal of staying there. If everything continues as successfully as it has so far, then maybe the next generation from the Koop family will make their way to REMONDIS. “My three-year-old son has already begun asking me where the old bottles are taken and why old paper is put into a separate bin,” he said with a grin on his face. His son is very lucky to have a dad who is a professional and who really understands and appreciates the recycling industry and REMONDIS. Here’s wishing you the very best for the future!
simpleclub – the digital learning platform for HGV drivers
REMONDIS Rhineland Region launched its ‘Digital HGV driver apprenticeship’ project for its approx. 300 HGV driver apprentices in 2024. All of the REMONDIS Group regions are now actively taking part in this initiative. It covers the whole of the curriculum required for the three-year HGV driver apprenticeship. RECADEMY, the company’s central apprenticeship and training platform, has been supporting the implementation of the whole of the project. The simpleclub contents are a mandatory part of the company’s HGV driver apprenticeship. The apprentices can use the tablets provided to access the different types of content, which include texts, videos, interactive animations and exercises. “This tool has proven to be extremely useful as it allows us to focus on the individual apprentices and cater to their precise needs,” commented Eddy Koop. Language barriers can be overcome as – thanks to AI – the content is available in practically every language. “What’s more, all of the apprentices can use it to go through the content again at their own speed and revise for their exams,” said Eddy Koop.
Apprenticeships at REMONDIS
Five questions for Nina Scharpe, an apprentice training to become an HGV driver in her second – and soon third – apprenticeship year at REMONDIS Rhineland Region.
What has been one of the best things about your three-year apprenticeship so far?
Actually, the thing I like best is my everyday work. I always go to work with a smile on my face and the smile is still there when I leave. Every day is fun – it makes no difference what I drive, where I drive to or who I’m driving with.
What have you found difficult?
Sometimes I found it difficult to carry or push certain things as I didn’t have the strength. I’ve found the right technique now though, so I rarely have any problems anymore.
What is the contact with your trainers like?
If I need something then I can either message my trainers via WhatsApp or ring them up, even if it’s late in the evening. We always treat each other with respect but also in a relaxed way which I find good as this makes the communication in the apprenticeship easier and more friendly.
What are you planning to do after your apprenticeship?
I would like to stay at REMONDIS and, if I had the choice, drive a hook-lift truck.
Would you recommend an apprenticeship at REMONDIS and, if yes, why?
Yes, I most definitely would! An apprenticeship at REMONDIS means doing everyday work that involves a whole variety of different tasks. There is a kind and supportive team of colleagues who are always happy to help and answer all possible questions. The company has great trainers, who have their apprentices’ backs, listen to them, support them and teach them. I get so much support as an apprentice here – no matter whether it’s at the company’s own driving school, the simpleclub, the in-house classes or simply having someone there who’s happy to listen.
Image credits: images 1–4, 6: © REMONDIS; image 5: Freepik: katemangostar
