School meets business: getting young people excited about the plastics industry

At 16, did you already know where you wanted to go on your professional journey? With the range of choices available to young people today, it can be difficult to make a decision at first glance. That's why it's beneficial to be taken by the hand and introduced to different professions.

Wentus GmbH from Höxter sets a good example: the medium-sized company has entered into a cooperation with a local secondary school to get young people interested in plastics production while they are still at school. It doesn't always have to be just the offer of an internship: In this interview with K-MAG, Melanie Zurmöhle explains what other activities the company offers.

What goal are you pursuing with the cooperation?

Melanie Zurmöhle: The cooperation should make it easier for us to find apprentices and make our apprenticeships known and interesting. We want to be perceived more clearly as a training company.

The schools pursue the goal of making internships possible. The students should get an orientation as early as possible and, at best, have the opportunity of an apprenticeship directly after graduation.

What does the implementation look like on site, how do the pupils get an insight into the industry?

Zurmöhle: We have a wide range of activities and can offer the students a lot. On the one hand, we offer them activities in our company:

For example, they can complete two-week internships with us. In addition, we offer a Girls' Day, where the pupils get an insight into the company for one day.

On an open house day, we welcome the pupils and their parents to our company. The parents are also invited along for later interviews, so that they get a secure feeling of where their children will be doing their training and who their contact persons are. That goes down very well.

However, we also approach the schools. For example, we have a cooperation with the teaching staff for STEM professions: The teaching staff comes to our company and looks at the opportunities on site so that they can then prepare the students for the internship and the required STEM topics in the best possible way.

In addition, our human resources department goes directly to the schools together with young trainees and introduces itself. The trainees are on an equal footing with the pupils: since they "speak the same language", so to speak, the pupils benefit particularly from this conversation.

What advantages do the students have from the cooperation?

Zurmöhle: The transition from school to in-company training is difficult for some young people, because the "bubble" of school suddenly stops. If they have done an internship before, the transition is easier because they have already seen one or the other face and know the working atmosphere. Another plus point is the involvement of parents: If they have already had a look at the company, the trainees can talk to them about it better at home if problems arise.

How do you think your company can continue to attract motivated skilled workers in the future?

Zurmöhle: We want to and have to be an attractive employer, offer benefits such as a job bike or similar and create a work-life balance. Our union affiliation is an advantage. We will strengthen and further expand our regional presence in order to be recognized as a good employer. We will also offer interesting working time models and, above all, live sustainability.