New apprentices get started
KWS recently saw many new faces at its front entrance in Einbeck: There on August 2, 34 young people stood eagerly waiting to step inside to embark on a new journey in their lives. They will spend the next three to three and a half years completing apprenticeships in the areas of plant technology, industrial mechanics, industrial electronics engineering, sales representative for wholesale and export management and industrial clerk as well as in the dual study programs of business administration (B.A.), computer science (B.Sc.) and business informatics (B.Sc.).
The majority of the apprentices will work in Einbeck, while some will train in the company's other German locations in Wohlde, Seligenstadt, Wetze, Klein Wanzleben and Petkus (Baruth/Mark). In addition, the business apprentices will complete assignments at KWS in Berlin. KWS is also training a farmer at its location in Dreileben for the first time ever.
Apprentices are especially excited at the start of their training. And a lot of questions run through their minds: What can I expect? Will I find my way around the company? What tasks will I have? How will the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic affect training? For a smooth start at the company, apprentices first participate in an orientation program organized by their training supervisors. Instead of listening to theoretical lectures, participants engaged in many intriguing tasks that led to a lot of laughter. They also got to enjoy a guided city tour of Einbeck as part of the program.
For the second consecutive year, the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic will shape the start of the apprenticeship. Yvonne Knaak-Schweiß, apprenticeship coordinator at KWS, explains: “The situation is, of course, unique for our apprentices. Working with our trainers, we’ve been trying to set up the kickoff program and the time following it so our apprentices still get a wide variety of vital insights into the company’s work areas, have continuous designated points of contact and obtain the opportunity to develop networks."
