Active and forward-looking personnel development
Besides wishing to find a good apprenticeship, a growing number of school-leavers are also hoping to train in a company that can offer them job security. Looking at the way the German economy developed last year, this is no longer something that can be taken for granted. Many companies have had to cut their workforce and make the decision to no longer invest in apprentices. It is essential, however, that firms have an active and forward-looking personnel development concept if they are to hold their own in the competition for young talent. Which is why the RETHMANN Group still sees apprenticeships as being a crucial economic factor and intends to continue its successful training programmes. This year, over 600 young people began their professional careers at one of the RETHMANN Group companies – laying the groundwork for a sustainable future in the industry of their choice.
A conscious decision to actively help protect the environment
An ever-growing number of first-time employees wish to have a sustainable future. While at school, they spent much of their spare time focusing on environmental and climate issues and taking action to try and improve the situation – from using less plastic to taking part in climate action demonstrations, to name just two examples. Many young people are now deliberately deciding, therefore, to do an apprenticeship in an environmentally friendly industry.
According to the 2020 Status Report on the German Circular Economy, around 310,000 people work in the circular economy in Germany alone and generate a turnover of ca. 84 billion euros. The importance of the sector was further underlined when the German government placed the circular economy on its list of key industries last year. However, the spotlight is not only being shone on the sector because of the essential services it has provided during the pandemic but also because of the way it is actively helping to protect the environment.
The RETHMANN Group’s apprenticeship figures
Following the start of the 2021 apprenticeship year, there are now almost 2,200 young people doing an apprenticeship within the RETHMANN Group, 616 of whom began their course this year. As usual, the majority of them are working at REMONDIS. The recycling experts alone are training 1,351 young people, who are either in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd year of their apprenticeship course, among them 431 apprentices who joined this year. The international logistics specialist Rhenus currently employs 662 apprentices, 121 of whom are new intakes. And Selm-based Saria has a total of 77 apprentices, 27 of whom began their course this year. The world’s largest provider of local public transport services Transdev (in which REMONDIS owns a 34% share) employs 86 apprentices in Germany, 37 of whom joined this August.
Once again, the HGV driver apprenticeship course is top of the list of the most popular professions with 372 apprentices. This is followed by those wishing to become industrial management assistants (187 apprentices) and office management assistants (129 apprentices).
Around 40 apprentices attended the event at the Lippe Plant in Lünen that was held to congratulate and welcome them to the company
Honorary chairman of the supervisory board, Norbert Rethmann, at the welcome party held for this year’s new apprentices
New apprentices welcomed by Norbert Rethmann
The traditional welcome party was held in the reception area of the company’s head office building at the Lippe Plant under the patronage of the honorary chairman of the supervisory board, Norbert Rethmann, with appropriate hygiene measures in place. A group of approx. 40 apprentices from a variety of courses were invited to the event to represent this year’s new intakes.
“Recycling our valuable resources and handling them sustainably are two vital preconditions for preserving our planet for future generations. What is needed – in particular from younger generations – are innovations, new creations and sustainable prospects to create a strong societal impetus,” commented Norbert Rethmann during his speech.
REMONDIS apprentice with the best results
Christin Pieper, an apprentice at REMONDIS Assets & Services in Lünen, was recently presented with a special award during the honours ceremony held by the Dortmund Chamber of Commerce (IHK). She was named ‘Best Apprenticeship of the Year’ for her industrial management assistant course having achieved the highest results of her approx. 6,500 fellow course members from Dortmund, Hamm and the district of Unna, who all took their final exams in 2021. She believes that her employer was one of the reasons for her being able to achieve this: “The intensive revision courses that were held in small groups and began a good 12 months before the finals took place provided me with the best possible support.” Christin currently works in supply chain management and is already looking to the future: “At the moment, I’m studying Economics at FH Münster alongside my job and should graduate with my Bachelor’s degree at the beginning of 2023. I can well imagine doing my Master’s after that.”
Christin Pieper received her special award during the honours ceremony held at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. She was congratulated by IHK president Heinz-Herbert Dustmann (right) and deputy managing director of the IHK, Wulf-Christian Ehrich (left)
Image credits: image 1–4: © REMONDIS
