Rolls-Royce supports “Teilqualifizierung plus” qualification

• Skilled metalworkers: new intake this autumn/fall
• Rolls-Royce taking part for the first time

It is no secret that skilled workers are much sought-after in the metal industry. The training institute of local business association Baden-Württembergische Wirtschaft e.V. is looking to counter this with a starter-skills project entitled “Teilqualifizierung Metall”. The third intake is to get underway in Friedrichshafen this autumn/fall.

The metal and electrical industry is the largest employer in Germany's southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg. “Since March 2010 alone, 168,500 new jobs have been created in this area,” said Dr. Carolin Bischoff, CEO of the Lake Constance & Upper Swabia regional group of industry body Südwestmetall e.V.. In her view, well-trained operatives are the very cornerstone of this industry. Many jobs are unable to be filled due to a lack of skilled workers, which is why the association is giving its support to this initiative.

The Talent Workshop, the Lake Constance District Job Center and the Constance & Ravensburg branch of the German Labor Agency are partners in the third round of the project, working on the new plans in conjunction with the Training Institute. The Power Systems division of the Rolls-Royce Group will be getting involved for the first time, starting October 1. “By supporting the TQplus program, we are meeting our social responsibility as a major employer in the area,” explained Martin Stocker, Head of Apprentice Training, adding, “It is important for us to support refugees and migrants in their professional skills training in order to give them a new future.” This program replaces the entry-level vocational skills training at Rolls-Royce, which has opened up career prospects to a large number of refugees since it started up in 2016. The third intake of the metalworking starter-skills project is aimed at migrants and refugees in the Lake Constance area with or without prior knowledge of metals. In addition to the TQplus qualification, which is recognized throughout Germany, participants obtain help in learning the German language, finding a job and integrating into professional life.

“We're all set!” The last two intakes saw participants simply brimming with motivation. They successfully met the requirements of the German labor market and were able to complete their training and obtain certificates. “For some, this was the first basic qualification in their lives," said Monika Martin, project manager at the training institute, adding, “Often, these people do not have the opportunity to complete any vocational training in their home countries.” The project is to run for 6 months and alternate between theory and practical stages. In Norbert Merkel's Talent Workshop in Bermatingen, participants learned the basics of metalworking. Sawing, milling and drilling were all on the agenda. Norbert Merkel, CEO of the Talent Workshop, stressed the importance of giving people the opportunity to learn a trade in a modern, innovative industry that offers them the chance to earn their own living in future. Over two thirds of the participants were then successful in finding permanent jobs in the Lake Constance area.

Under the banner of the nationwide “TQ” starter-skills initiative by employers, the German employers' associations and training institutions want to establish the joint seal of quality entitled “One TQ better”. The nationally recognized seal of quality stands for security, quality and better opportunities on the labor market.

Further information is available from Stefan Weiß, +49 7541 3979310 or weiss.stefan@biwe-bbq.de, or from the responsible case manager at the Job Center, or from the consultant at the German Labor Agency.