• Total of 122 trainees and students starting at German sites of Heidelberg this year
• Training places up by around a fifth
• IT topics such as artificial intelligence and developing digital business models covered in training
• Trainees working on a variety of future-focused topics
• Training partnerships becoming increasingly important

The training year at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) starts on September 1, 2021. Some 122 young women and men are embarking on their training or dual study program at one of the company’s four sites in Wiesloch-Walldorf, Brandenburg, Amstetten, and Ludwigsburg. At the Wiesloch-Walldorf site alone, no fewer than 85 trainees are moving into a redesigned training center. Training is currently offered in 11 occupations, alongside numerous technical, business, and interdisciplinary courses. The focus is on production-related careers, for example training to be a mechanic, mechatronics engineer, electronics engineer, or logistician. However, the importance of IT-related occupations and the relevant training options on offer are both continuing to grow. For instance, the number of training places for IT specialists is going up from four to five. Business information systems students specializing in software engineering or application management can look forward to exciting and varied challenges at Heidelberg.

“Our business information systems students have the opportunity to learn all about IT and business science in a practical setting. Depending on their interests and capabilities, there is also a possibility of specializing in the latest IT-related topics that are relevant to Heidelberg. Our students and graduates generally play a key role in our company’s digital transformation,” says Andreas Blum, who is in charge of vocational training at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site.

Artificial intelligence is also making its presence felt in IT-related occupations. In particular, it is becoming increasingly important in the end-to-end operation of presses and in automated end customer consulting. Heidelberg involves both trainees and students in the company’s future-focused activities from the outset – in the form of practical projects relating, for example, to electromobility, printed electronics, or software engineering.

Scope of training to grow in the coming years

Despite a significant decrease in headcount, Heidelberg is upping the absolute number of training places by around a fifth this year. Due to demographic change and the growing digitization of all areas of the company, the skills employees need are constantly evolving. The company will therefore be offering even more places for trainees and students over the coming years, in line with requirements.

“As digitization marches on, we need young talent to prepare us for the challenges that lie ahead – in our core business based on the printed sheet and also in new growth markets such as printed electronics and electromobility,” explains Prof. Rupert Felder, who is in charge of human resources at the company. “Heidelberg offers a high level of training in exciting disciplines, which then generally leads on to a permanent employment contract,” he adds.

Around 300 trainees are currently employed at the company’s four sites, approximately 230 of whom are based at the largest site, Wiesloch-Walldorf.

Training partnerships becoming increasingly important

Along with its own intake, Heidelberg is also accepting trainees from other companies in the context of training partnerships. Some 15 such trainees are currently at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site. This means smaller companies can avoid having to provide their own training courses or extend their vocational training. They save money by making use of the training offered by Heidelberg. For its part, Heidelberg can make better use of available training capacities and the young trainees learn to work in partnership with other companies at this early stage. “As a result, companies are more willing to make training available – in the light of demographic change, for instance. Our partnership strategy is making vocational training as a whole more attractive in the region,” says Felder.

Applications already open for 2022 training year

Applications are already being taken for training and study programs starting in September 2022. School grades are not the only deciding factor when it comes to a training place at Heidelberg. Just as important are applicants’ social skills, personality, and attitude to their career. Full details about vocational training at Heidelberg and an application portal can be found on the company’s website.