Training for the mobility of tomorrow

The shortage of skilled labour is a major challenge that Stadler has been facing for some time now. In order to tackle the problem at its proverbial roots, in 2023 Stadler hired additional employees in St. Margrethen, Bussnang and Salt Lake City to train apprentices. It also launched the LAB, a state-of-the-art training centre at the Stadler headquarters in Bussnang. The letters LAB stand for “learner”, “training” and “laboratory” in German.

The LAB was opened in the reporting year in the presence of representatives from politics and business. It shows that Stadler is investing in attractive framework conditions to train skilled workers in Eastern Switzerland in its capacity as one of the largest employers in the region.

“The opening of the LAB underlines Stadler’s commitment to training the next generation and to promoting future specialists within the company. It gives apprentices a unique opportunity to look beyond the boundaries of their profession and to tackle joint projects. This form of cooperation reflects Stadler’s values and prepares the apprentices for a versatile and productive professional future,” said the head of the Stadler plant in Bussnang at the opening ceremony.

The new LAB training centre enabled Stadler to further increase the number of apprentices from around 80 to 150. In the summer of 2023, 41 new apprentices started their vocational training – a new record for Stadler. Apprentices spend a year benefiting from intensive training in the specialised areas of automation, design and mechanics to prepare them for their subsequent assignment in production. The training centre not only offers specialist training, but also strengthens interdisciplinary cooperation between different fields of apprenticeship. One of the greatest advantages of the LAB lies in the cooperation between the various apprenticeship areas. Proximity between the design and production departments is deliberately encouraged in order to achieve a deeper understanding of cooperation and interrelationships

n Bussnang, Stadler offers a total of ten apprenticeships leading to a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ): system and apparatus engineers, automation technicians, automation fitters, ICT specialists, IT specialists, commercial clerks, design engineers, logistics specialists, polymechanics and production mechanics. The combination of basic training and practical experience in various departments opens up a wide range of development opportunities for apprentices. After completing their training, apprentices at Stadler have a huge variety of prospects. In recent years, the retention rate has always been around 85 percent. In addition to further employment opportunities within the company, apprentices have the option of working at other Stadler locations in Germany and abroad. Stadler also offers ETH students places for their compulsory workshop internships.