At the beginning of September 2021, SGL Graphite Solutions Polska sp. z o.o. in Nowy Sącz held the opening ceremony for a new apprenticeship center.
"As part of our BU strategy, we asked ourselves in which areas and at which locations we should develop further and then also invest," explains Burkhard Straube, Head of the Business Unit GS. "We considered plants in Germany, but also in Poland, especially in Nowy Sącz, and in China. The development of our company is based on well-trained and qualified employees, so we decided to invest in an apprenticeship program both here in Nowy Sącz and at the Chinese sites in Shanghai and Yangquan, China."
To work out the requirements, the project team was able to draw on the training program of the German sites, where such forms of teaching have been in place for many years. "During our visit to Bonn, we received many valuable tips and suggestions on vocational training," reports Elżbieta Dzień, HR Manager of SGL Poland and Project Manager for the apprenticeship center. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nicole Nelles and her team for the warm welcome and the great support we received. I would also like to thank all my Polish colleagues who have contributed to the development of this center and the implementation of this program which is so important for our future." The project team received also support from the Polish-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK), which specializes in the dual system of vocational training.
The trainees were recently able to move into the apprenticeship center, for which one of the warehouse buildings was converted, modernized and equipped with training processing machines, a classroom and a social room. The entire complex required for practical vocational training was housed in this way in a single building on the SGL Graphite Solutions site. This is where the first-year vocational school trainees now complete the practical part of their three-year apprenticeship to become CNC machine operators, while at the local school Zespół Szkół im. ks. Prof. Józefa Tishnera in Stary Sącz the theoretical lessons take place. After the three years, the next group of trainees will start their apprenticeship.
The ceremonial conclusion of this project was the inauguration event, which was attended not only by representatives of SGL Carbon but also by representatives of the local school Zespół Szkół im. ks. Prof. Józefa Tishnera and the Mayor of Nowy Sącz, Ludomir Handzel, took part. "I am proud that a high-tech company like SGL Carbon is located here in our city. I am very pleased that SGL Carbon has chosen the path of dual training," emphasized Ludomir Handzel. "This offers both SGL Carbon and our city to develop further. I wish you a successful implementation of this investment.“
At the end of the ceremony, Burkhard Straube addressed the trainees: "Our goal is to further develop the site. That is why we invest in training and further education of our employees. You, the young people, are the guarantee for the success of our company in the future. I am very happy to welcome you as the first generation, which will be followed by other trainees. I wish you happiness and joy and hope that you will feel comfortable here in our company, learn a lot and also enjoy working with us in the future.“
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