At the Audi Brussels training center, King Philippe of Belgium met with students who are undergoing training to become plant and maintenance technicians at the Brussels plant. There are currently 34 apprentices at Audi Brussels. The junior staff come from two partner schools with which the automobile manufacturer has been cooperating since 2012. In the robot training room, the King was shown the technical subjects that the students learn as part of their dual training and what their career prospects are. The royal visitor sought personal contact with the young people, asked many questions and was impressed by the expertise of the course participants.
For some time now, the King has been interested in goal-oriented training for young people in companies. In the past, the Belgian royal family had already initiated a study trip with education experts to the Federal Republic of Germany and Switzerland to find out about the advantages of dual vocational training. This afternoon, a symposium will take place in the Royal Palace of Brussels under the patronage of His Majesty the King. The focus will be on optimizing the integration of young people into the labor market.
Audi Brussels was named as an attractive employer by the Top Employer Institute for the fourth time in succession last week. In particular, the junior staff program and succession planning were decisive factors. Erik Prieels, General Director Human Resources: “When we decided in 2012 to work more closely with two partner schools on training, that was exactly the right decision. We not only offer talented young people sound training in a modern environment, but also the prospect of an attractive job once they have successfully completed their dual training.” The further development for future technicians practiced by Audi Brussels and its two partner schools in Halle and Woluwé-Saint-Pierre is regarded as a perfect response to the ongoing shortage of skilled workers.
Since the beginning of the dual training program at Audi Brussels almost seven years ago, all successful graduates have been offered jobs as plant technicians or maintenance technicians at the Brussels plant. During the factory tour, King Philippe also met four former apprentices. Today, these skilled employees work in car body production and car assembly.
His Majesty the King was impressed by the transformation process the factory in Brussels has undergone since his last visit in March 2016. In a construction period of around two and a half years, the plant was completely converted to an e-mobility factory and prepared for the production of the Audi e-tron electric SUV. In addition to large-scale structural and construction measures at the plant, there was also an intensive qualification process. Employees received more than 200,000 hours of training to learn the latest technologies required to produce an all-electric car. Patrick Danau, Plant Director at Audi Brussels, sums up: “We are very pleased about this visit and the gesture of recognition from the royal family. The interest shown by His Majesty the King is positive recognition of the great commitment that our employees, our social partners and the Audi management have shown over the past several years in making series production of the Audi e-tron possible.”
Audi Brussels currently employs approximately 3,500 people. Since the start of production, Audi Brussels has been producing the series version of the Audi e-tron in CO2-neutral plant operation.