Rolls-Royce Power Systems takes on apprenticeship finishers

• 36 young people complete their vocational training at Friedrichshafen
• Fabio Kleiner and Benjamin Maucher win CTI prize for outstanding merit
• Extra apprenticeships for IT specialists from 2019

36 young people are starting their careers at Rolls-Royce Power Systems in Friedrichshafen. After up to three years of college, practicals and endless exams, they got to celebrate the end of their apprenticeships on July 24.   Fabio Kleiner, an apprentice industrial mechanic, and Benjamin Maucher, an apprentice mechatronics technician, were awarded the CTI Prize by the Lake Constance & Upper Swabia Chamber of Trade & Industry for their excellent performance.   “We need motivated, skilled young people to be able to meet future challenges. I am delighted that we have been able to offer all 36 finishers a contract of employment,” said HR Director Marcus A. Wassenberg. “We’re one of the few companies that likes to take on all its apprentices.   And that’s something we’re very proud of because it enables them to focus fully on their training, without having to compete with others or worry about their future,” said Works Council Chairman Thomas Bittelmeyer.

This year, Ellen Hartmann became the first female warehouse operator to finish her apprentice training, and received special commendation for her performance. This profession was included in the apprenticeship program for the first time two years ago. Finishers also included 17 industrial mechanics, 8 mechatronics technicians plus 2 design mechanics, 2 automation electronics technicians, 2 technical product designers, 2 metalworking operatives, and 2 office administrators with a supplementary foreign languages qualification. “I'm delighted for all finishers as they enter a new chapter in their lives,” said Martin Stocker, Head of Apprentice Training. “We want them to remain just as open and eager-to-learn as they've been up to now, and we hope they make use of the opportunity to develop their careers here in the company.”

Rolls-Royce Power Systems also conducts apprentice training at other sites. Two young men completed the scheme in Augsburg. In Bergen (Norway), there are set to be 15 finishers in a variety of disciplines.   Six apprentices completed their training at the company's US facilities in Mankato and Aiken. The US apprenticeships are based on the German model, something that caused the subsidiary, mtu America, to attract attention nationwide.   

Power Systems is to add information technology to its line-up of apprenticeships from next year. As well as IT technicians majoring in application engineering, there will be dual work/study Bachelor of Science degree courses in computer science specializing in information technology or IT security. “We need skilled people for our journey from being an engine maker to being a solution provider, and our apprenticeship scheme is a major part of this,” said Wassenberg.   

The new discipline will see the number of vocational training places rise from 74 to 84 per year of entry. Young people interested in vocational training at Power Systems can find out more about the various careers at our company website www.rrpowersystems.com. The deadline for applications for the coming intake year, i.e. September 2019, ends this September.