Dirk Simon, Head of Vocational Training KSB Halle
9 min read

​​KSB apprenticeships: "Good trainers require empathy."


As Head of Vocational Training of the Halle site, Dirk Simon's objective is not only to see young people complete training in specialist knowledge and skills but also to strengthen them socially and personally, and to create interest in a future with KSB. What is his recipe for success? 

KSB.com: Your final-year apprentices just received their certificates as skilled tradespersons. How satisfied are you with the examination outcomes? 

Dirk Simon: I am very satisfied. I am proud that we continued the trend of all our apprentices passing the examinations. We have only got As, Bs and a few Cs as final grades. I expect we will once again be called up on stage at the chamber of industry and commerce for having one of the year's best students. That has happened pretty much every time in the last few years.  

Are there any apprentices you are particularly proud of? 

There are a few, but I would like to mention one in particular. When I met him as an intern in our company four and a half years ago, I noticed that he was a good guy and very skilful with his hands. However, his maths report did not read too well and it was obvious that he would find the theoretical part of the apprenticeship difficult. For this reason he not only attended the vocational classes and support programmes run by my trainers; in his free time he also made use of the vocational support services offered by the Federal Employment Agency – for three and a half years. He had clearly set himself the goal of completing his tradesman apprenticeship, and he absolutely rocked it. He got a B in his skilled tradesman report. Naturally, we will offer him a permanent employment contract. In a time where everyone criticises young people, I find such commitment mega cool. I really like being able to accompany and support a person in this way and to see that we chose well. 

Dirk Simon – Empathy is his most important tool

Just like the people he looks after, Dirk Simon was once an apprentice at the Halle location. This was at a time when the Halle site was still in the German Democratic Republic, was not part of KSB yet, and was called "VEB Kombinat Pumpen und Verdichter" (a state-owned pump and compressor company). He became Head of Vocational Training here in 2010. In close cooperation with his colleagues at the Pegnitz and Frankenthal sites, his task is to arrange apprenticeships that will strengthen young people socially, methodically and personally and prepare them for their working life. He makes sure that curriculums and apprenticeship structures with placements in different departments are observed. He conducts applicant interviews and meetings with parents. He also organises trade fair stalls and project days to inspire young people to join KSB. Empathy serves him well as his most important tool: Being able to listen to concerns and problems and, together with his colleagues, establishing a team culture among the apprentices. 

Dirk Simon

What distinguishes a KSB apprenticeship from those of other companies? 

For us, people come first. We take our apprentices seriously. Accompanying them in this important phase of the lives is what we are about. That's why our apprenticeship concept across all sites not only focusses on learning specialist knowledge and skills but also includes personality development. 

What does this concept look like in practice? 

A lot of projects we conduct with our apprentices are based on outdoor education. The apprenticeship starts with our opening seminar, where we might tramp up the Brocken mountain, for example, so the apprentices establish a sense of belonging within the group. Often, we participate in sports events, such as a fun run organised by the company or other organisations or the "Run against racism". This is not only intended to enhance physical fitness but also for the company to act as a beacon. Another example is an apprentice exchange we organise with a nursing home to provide a change of perspective. We also frequently participate in social projects, for example, we once set a whole week aside to repair a kindergarten's scooters and tricycles. Very special are our Azubifit seminars dealing with healthy nutrition, stress management and ergonomics.

For all these projects coordination and exchange of experience with the other Heads of Vocational Training at the Frankenthal and Pegnitz sites is key for me. Just how important apprentices are to KSB is reflected by our facilities, for instance by our training centre with great training and social rooms, and by the state-of-the-art machinery in the training workshop. Or by providing every apprentice with a free tablet, enabling an almost paperless apprenticeship. 

What does this training concept mean for your apprentices? 

It means they are happy in the team they work with. We receive consistent feedback from our interns: "I was impressed by how I was treated here." This is how we can win young people for our company. We often compete for apprentices with companies such as Porsche, BMW and BASF. Our current apprentices play an essential role in winning new apprentices for our company – because they look after the interns and make them feel welcome. 

What do you think makes a good trainer?

The role of a trainer has changed from being an autocrat to being a companion. Being able to base decisions on individual situations is important. On the one hand, a trainer has to have empathy and enjoy approaching young people, talk with them and support them. On the other hand, a trainer also has to be very strict: zero tolerance applies to occupational health and safety. And last but not least, a trainer requires a lot of expert knowledge to gain acceptance. 

KSB offers a whole range of vocational apprenticeships. How can someone who has just left school choose the right vocation? 

The royal road to finding the best match is to do an internship at KSB. We put a lot of effort into winning young people for an internship, where we show them the different professions at KSB and what apprenticeships we offer. For example, I might ask an intern if they feel like using a lathe to get to know the profession of a metal-cutting mechanic.  

What are your criteria for selecting apprentices?

First and foremost the person – that is absolutely essential for me. I observe people during their internships and assess who would be a good fit. How they come across is important – this starts with a simple "Good morning". Are they open and willing to learn new things? Do they tell us a little about themselves? How do they treat their colleagues? Do they approach others? Do they observe rules, e.g. the occupational health and safety regulations? Do they show interest? Are they skilful? It hasn't always been like that. When I started my position as the Head of Vocational Training 13 years ago, we still based our selection on grades. Our apprentice who attended vocational support programmes for three and a half years and who is now a skilful, recognised and popular employee would not have made the selection process back then due to his bad maths grade. Today I can say, he is a great person and a great fit for KSB. 

What do you do outside of your work as Head of Vocational Training at KSB? 

I have been a football referee since 1982. That's a great hobby. I was honoured to referee some of my almost 2000 matches at a professional level – including two international fixtures. 

Head of Vocational Training and referee – that’s a good match. 

That’s true: My skills as a referee also help me in my job. Especially having to respond to situations within a fraction of a second. And sometimes I do have to caution people and hand out cards when rules aren't observed. At the end of the day, it is my job to make sure that everyone finishes their job safely, whether in the training workshop or in the stadium.

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