Apprenticeship kick-off at Aurubis: Optimal learning conditions in an industry full of promise

A new class of trainees jumpstarted their careers at multimetal producer Aurubis’ Hamburg site at the beginning of September. This year the Hamburg Senator for Schools and Education Ksenija Bekeris joined Aurubis CEO Dr. Toralf Haag in welcoming all the new trainees.

Senator for Schools and Education Ksenija Bekeris addressed the group: “Aurubis produces metals that serve as the foundation for electric vehicles and the production of renewable energies, for example, making it an innovative and important employer in Hamburg. The company also offers trainees a modern training concept and variety of occupations. I wish the apprentices all the best for a successful start.”

This year, 75 people are starting their education at the Aurubis plant in Hamburg. Aurubis, a particularly efficient and sustainable smelter network, trains its future specialists in a total of 12 occupations as well as in dual work/study programs. Additionally, the multimetal company is again partnering with the neighboring secondary school in the Veddel district and offering “10-Plus”, an apprenticeship preparatory program that gives young people an opportunity to attain entry-level vocational qualifications in the metal and chemical fields as the start to a career.

During his welcome speech, Aurubis AG CEO Dr. Toralf Haag emphasized that the apprentices are starting their career paths in a forward-looking industry: “You have made a great decision and chosen an apprenticeship in a company that is a crucial enabler of the key megatrends of our times. The metals from Aurubis are what make the innovations of tomorrow possible. Your work here can help society move forward here in the future.”

Aurubis Hamburg Deputy Plant Manager Marco Alken: “Once again, we successfully filled all 75 trainee spots. There was great demand for these spots. This is nothing to take for granted these days with the skilled labor shortage, and reflects how appealing our training concept is. We also take particular pride in the fact that over 85 % of those who have completed their training have decided to continue working for Aurubis in the past ten years.”

As Hamburg’s second largest industrial training provider, this is another sign of Aurubis’ ongoing dedication to offering optimal training to young workers. The multimetal provider makes ongoing investments in a modern, forward-looking learning environment — as evidenced by the Innovation and Training Center (IAZ) in Hamburg, which opened in 2019 and includes flexibly designed rooms for group work, studying and working that create individual conditions for optimal learning. Additionally, Aurubis continues to develop its training concept to adapt to constantly changing demands. This includes using the advantages of a modern, digital working and learning environment to gainfully transfer knowledge.

Thirteen people are starting apprenticeships at Aurubis’ German recycling site in Lünen, located in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, as well. There, Aurubis offers eight different apprenticeship occupations and is one of the largest training companies in the region.