The 2020 training year at Heidelberg is underway, with 99 young men and women embarking on their training or dual study courses at one of the company’s four sites in Wiesloch-Walldorf, Brandenburg, Amstetten, and Ludwigsburg in Germany.
This year’s training year commenced on September 1 despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The focus of the Heidelberg training is on production-related careers, such as training as a mechanic, mechatronics engineer, electronics engineer, or logistician.
According to Heidelberg, the purpose of the training is to inculcate digital learning content utilising cutting-edge technologies. The company said this is becoming increasingly important as digitisation spreads throughout all areas of the company and new digital business models come to the fore.
Practical examples include the use of augmented reality technology during service and maintenance work on presses, for instance. This trend applies across the board, to commercial specialties and dual study courses in all disciplines, as well as to technical and IT-related careers.
In addition, Heidelberg said the popularity of dual study courses is growing ever higher, and not just because they integrate theory and practical projects in the company.
“Here, too, digitisation is playing a key role. For example, the dual study course in digital media/media management and communication covers technical principles for e-commerce and mobile applications, followed by planning media projects, media research, and media automation,” it said.
“The business IT course teaches key business management and information technology skills. All the dual study courses center on participants developing their own ideas and trying them out in practice at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Heidelberg head of human resources Professor Rupert Felder said the company has invested in up-and-coming talent, and as a leader in sheet-fed offset presses, offers the best opportunities for highly skilled training, which then leads on to a permanent employment contract.
“This year, as in previous years, we took on practically all our newly qualified trainees, as we need young people with their ideas and passion – an important investment in the future of Heidelberg,” he said.
Applications are already being taken for training and study courses in September 2021. A full range of information about vocational training at Heidelberg can be found on the company’s website.
In light of demographic trends and the ongoing digital transformation, the company added that it is planning to progressively increase the number of training places in the years ahead.
“With primarily older employees retiring in the medium-term, Heidelberg will continue to need trainees with an interest in various information technologies and exciting careers in a digital production environment,” it stated.
The company currently employs around 300 trainees at its four sites, approximately 230 of whom are based at the largest site, Wiesloch-Walldorf.
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