#schongenial: Mr Hochreiter, your company has always focussed heavily on training young skilled workers. How many apprentices are you currently training in your company?
Wolfgang Hochreiter: We currently have a total of 10 apprentices. They work in the office, food technology, meat processing and laboratory technology departments.
#schongenial: Do you also take on apprentices from abroad, for example from the Czech Republic?
Wolfgang Hochreiter: At the moment, all our apprentices come from Austria. However, our doors are open to applications from all regions. That's why we have also set up campus rooms so that interested parties from further afield can do an apprenticeship with us.
#schongenial: Having your own training campus is an impressive investment. What motivated you to take this step?
Wolfgang Hochreiter: The campus was a long-standing vision of mine that we have now been able to realise. In the face of international competition, we have a great need for skilled labour and the campus enables us to train future specialists and managers to meet our requirements. The opening was a milestone for our company and a decisive step towards the future.
#schongenial: How long did it take for this vision to become reality?
Wolfgang Hochreiter: The planning and implementation took some time, but we were able to officially open the campus on 23 April 2022. We invested a total of seven million euros in this modern training centre.
#schongenial: That's a considerable sum. What is your focus when training apprentices?
Wolfgang Hochreiter: A particular focus is on training food technicians and butchers. Food technicians are technical experts who master modern production processes and high-tech equipment to produce food. They are in high demand in areas such as product development and quality assurance.
Butchers, on the other hand, are responsible for the professional processing of meat and sausage products. Their training includes manual skills as well as knowledge of food hygiene and storage. In times of increasing demands on the quality and origin of food, both professions are essential in order to fulfil consumer expectations.
#schongenial: To be able to offer such specialised training, you certainly need qualified teachers. Who teaches on campus?
Wolfgang Hochreiter: Our apprentices are trained by internal experts and external specialists. External lecturers bring valuable knowledge from industry, technology and personal development. In this way, we guarantee practical and comprehensive training. Trained teachers are also available to the apprentices for individual support.
#schongenial: And how many apprentices have taken part in this programme so far?
Wolfgang Hochreiter: Around 20 apprentices have taken part in our training programme so far. The feedback has been almost exclusively positive. Both the trainers and the apprentices have given us very good feedback in surveys, which of course makes us happy.
#schongenial: How does the campus influence your employer branding, your image as an employer in the region?
Wolfgang Hochreiter: Our training programme significantly strengthens our employer branding, as we are making targeted investments in the skilled workers of tomorrow. Our collaboration with internal and external experts demonstrates our commitment to high-quality training and employee development. This makes us a very attractive employer and positions us as a company that invests sustainably in its talent.
#schongenial: In addition to training, you also seem to attach great importance to the quality of life of your apprentices.
Wolfgang Hochreiter: That's right, we offer 17 accommodations directly on campus that meet the standards of a four-star hotel. We also specifically promote language skills, particularly in German, through our own language centre. We also offer individual support from trained teachers.
#schongenial: Thank you very much, Mr Hochreiter, for these exciting insights and all the best for the future!
