Forklift manufacturer Still employs around 9,000 people worldwide. Over 200 young people are currently completing their training and studies at Still across Germany in seven different apprenticeship programs and nine dual study programs. Seventy-one of them started their careers at the beginning of September.
During an almost two-month onboarding phase, the trainees get to know the company and its values. They benefit from an excellent training standard, thorough onboarding, and sustainable integration into the company.
To train the innovation leaders of tomorrow, Still relies on a smart training and study program that prioritizes not only content-related aspects but also topics such as cross-team collaboration and values-based leadership, as well as providing modern equipment from day one. Training manager Jan Wehlen explains: "In addition to the technical content, personal appreciation and trustworthy support play a crucial role."
In the forklift construction seminar
At a traditional Welcome Day, the management team welcomes all new apprentices and dual-study students across Germany on their first day at Still. The Welcome Day takes place at the company headquarters in Hamburg and is broadcast live from there to all branches.
The welcome day marks the start of an almost two-month onboarding process: In addition to technical fundamentals, IT and security briefings, training in the use of new work materials, and a multi-day practical safety and occupational health seminar at the employers' liability insurance association, the trainees and students grow together as a cohort during this time and learn to rely on one another and to work independently and reflectively. Interdisciplinary team building, workshops, and joint leisure activities are just as much a part of the program as a professional campaign photoshoot and the cohort-wide summer festival, where master craftsmen and supervisors personally man the grill and ensure the well-being of the next generation of intralogistics professionals.
Self-Build Project:
The crowning achievement of the onboarding process is a four-day forklift construction seminar, which has been an integral part of the training program for over 20 years. Here, the new trainees work in small groups to establish their own intralogistics company and lead it to success on all levels – including the construction of their own forklift. The models are then presented to a jury from Still Management, extensively tested, and test-driven. "Our forklift construction seminar has become legendary and is a highlight every year – for the trainees and students as well as for the instructors and the jury," explains Jan Wehlen. "It's always fascinating to observe the participants' commitment and the many innovative and clever ideas that emerge during the forklift construction process. For the expert jury, this also provides an exciting glimpse into the intralogistics generation of tomorrow."
Still has received numerous awards and certifications for its training program. However, the most valuable – and lasting – recognition for the company is the long-term loyalty of many employees who pass on their wealth of knowledge and experience to the next generations.
M. Schwenn
One of them is Maximilian Schwenn. He completed his apprenticeship as a structural mechanic at Still in Hamburg in 2010 and has since gained experience in various departments and positions within the company. He also completed further training with Still to become an industrial master craftsman in metalworking and a certified vocational training instructor, and today he trains future welders. "I know from my own experience how intense and challenging the first few weeks of an apprenticeship can be – when everything is new and unfamiliar, your daily routine changes drastically, and you have to get used to many things. That's why it's so important to me to support young people in this process and guide them as partners and on equal footing," explains Schwenn.
Photos: Still
The next group of candidates for 2024 is already ready to start – the first contracts for the start of training next year have already been signed.
