Pupils Start New Education Project at Bombardier Transportation

(3BL Media) August 17, 2012 - Bombardier Transportation’s Hennigsdorf site in Germany has launched a new CSR initiative by inviting pupils from a local high school (pictured) to learn about the requirements and challenges of a working environment in an education workshop called “Lernwerkstatt”.

Twelve-year-old René Sonntag is excited about meeting Bombardier experts after he and his brother developed a prototype to generate environmental friendly electricity. “I want to present our idea to the Bombardier engineers. Perhaps we can implement this idea together,” said the eighth-grader.

The objective of “Lernwerkstatt” is to provide pupils aged 12 and 13 with an insight into a working environment. Over a period of two years, a group of girls and boys from the Albert-Schweitzer-Oberschule (high school) in Hennigsdorf will spend one-and-a-half hours per week at the Hennigsdorf site. Their time will be split between tasks at the workshop and in the office environment.

“In recent years we have seen many young people who were surprised by the working environment when they started their apprenticeships with us,” said Verona Granow, who coordinates apprenticeships at Hennigsdorf. “Lernwerkstatt will teach young people how to work in teams, apply for an apprenticeship or a job, but also how to saw and drill and, for motivation, build a soap box at the end of their two-year experience.”

The pupils, their parents and the school director were welcomed by the site management and the HR team and were given a tour of the manufacturing site, on August 9. 

Susanne Kortendick, Labour Director Germany, said: “We need to continuously fill our talent pipeline given Germany’s ageing population. Another challenge for us is helping to develop some young people’s social skills so they can become effective team players. Here, young people can learn that responsibility, reliability and commitment are essential for successful teamwork. Lernwerkstatt demonstrates that we take seriously our corporate social responsibility in the communities where we operate. If we are successful, these young people will apply for an apprenticeship at Bombardier and strengthen our future workforce.”

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is part of our daily life at Bombardier. For more information about our activities at Bombardier Transportation please contact Jessica Jung, Director CSR Communications at Jessica.Jung@de.transport.bombardier.com

About Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation, a global leader in rail technology, offers the broadest portfolio in the rail industry and delivers innovative products and services that set new standards in sustainable mobility. BOMBARDIER ECO4 technologies – built on the four cornerstones of energy, efficiency, economy and ecology – conserve energy, protect the environment and help to improve total train performance for operators and passengers. Bombardier Transportation is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a very diverse customer base with products or services in more than 60 countries. It has an installed base of over 100,000 vehicles worldwide.
 

About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world’s only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation. 

Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, we posted revenues of $18.3 billion USD. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Follow Bombardier Transportation on Twitter @BombardierRail.