More training positions in the Administrative District of Freudenstadt – this is the declared aim of a new initiative recently started by several companies in the region. On Thursday, 21.12.2006, the personnel managers of the companies ARBURG, Bürkle, Homag and Fischer, together with representatives of the Chamber of Trade, the Administrative district of Freudenstadt, the trade-training centre and the "Christophorus Förderschule", met in Freudenstadt at the invitation of Dr. Kurt Schmalz, managing director of Schmalz. They decided on a plan with which they wish to assume more social responsibility and to offer more young people a chance to learn a trade in the coming year.

The plan consists of two modules:

Module 1 is aimed at smaller companies in the district who do not have the personnel for training first-year apprentices. The companies participating in the initiative will provide the training in this first year, after which the trainees will complete their training in the smaller companies. Finally, when preparing for the examinations, the trainees will have the opportunity of returning to the large company for a short period. This model permits small companies to train qualified personnel at an acceptable cost. This training will be available for various skilled trades, such as mechanics and electronic technicians.

In module 2, the companies of the initiative will make additional training positions available in their own factories. These positions are aimed primarily at persons with learning problems or those leaving special schools. The training is available for semi-skilled mechanical trades.

Companies interested in this training can obtain further information from the Chamber of Trade for the North Black Forest. The same applies to school-leavers who are looking for training positions for 2007. Please contact Mr. Martin Keppler, IHK-Nordschwarzwald, Dr. Brandenburgstr. 6, D-75173 Pforzheim, phone: +49(0)7231/201-149, keppler@pforzheim.ihk.de

The participating companies would welcome any other companies in the region who would like to support this initiative.