Inter-company training: What is it and what advantages does it offer?

Inter-company training has long since secured a firm place in the dual training system in Germany. What an Inter-company-training actually is, what advantages and disadvantages this form of learning offers, who pays the costs and how an application for inter-company training is processed - we shed light on all of this in this article.

With inter-company training we have the opportunity in the already effective German training system to provide trainees with theoretical knowledge and practical experience in a proper manner.

As a result, even trainees in smaller or extremely specialized companies learn all the prescribed contents of the respective training and are given the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge.

Let's take a closer look at the Inter-company-training construct.

An integral part of the dual training system

To really understand inter-company training, you should also know how the training system in Germany is actually structured.

Apprentices undergo what is known as dual training. Vocational training in the dual system is partly practical, i.e. at the training company, and partly academic, i.e. at vocational school.

In Germany, around half of each age cohort chooses the path to vocational training via actual apprenticeships.

The aim of this training, at two places of learning, is to focus on learning practical skills and knowledge in the company and learning theoretical basics in the vocational school. The dual training system is one of the most important reasons for Germany's low youth unemployment rate by European standards.

Now, there are plenty of companies in Germany that also provide training - but not every company has the facilities to adequately impart the required learning content. This is usually due to one of the following two reasons:

• The company specializes in one area and cannot teach certain contents of the training occupation

• The appropriate training personnel are not available

This is where inter-company training comes into play. Inter-company training refers to the part of training that takes place neither in the training company nor in the vocational school - but in a inter-company training center.

Here, trainees can learn all the content they are expected to learn during their training in practical and hands-on lessons.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of inter-company training?

Inter-company training actually has only advantages - for the trainee and the training company alike.

Advantages

• Trainees receive all the learning materials and resources needed to learn the content relevant to their training.
  
  
• The trainees get to know other people who are undergoing the same or comparable training. This improves knowledge transfer and learning success, and creates connections and friendships.
  
  
• Experienced training personnel impart their knowledge - sometimes also in very small groups, which improves the learning effect.
  
  
• The content of the inter-company training is based on the training framework, so that exactly the knowledge required there can be passed on.
  
  
• The knowledge and technology transfer that the trainee undergoes at the inter-company training center also reaches the training company - after all, you never stop learning.
  
  
• The training company can concentrate on its core business because it outsources the otherwise very time-intensive components of the training to the training center.
  
  
• The trainees learn more effectively so that they can be better integrated into the productive processes of the training company.
  
  
• Costs can be kept low under certain conditions thanks to public funding programs.

Disadvantages

The disadvantages, however, are limited to a single (possible) disadvantage for the trainee.

• For the training courses, which usually last several weeks, some trainees have to travel a long way to the inter-company workshop - so overnight stays near the workshop may be necessary.

The LEWA Attendorn Training and Further Education Center - Challenging and Promoting

We are very familiar with inter-company training. After all, LEWA Attendorn was founded almost 100 years ago as a training center for domestic training!

Since 1928, we have placed great emphasis on training young people from other companies

Together with around 220 apprentice-beginners per year, we work here on a common future by sharing and passing on the expertise we have gathered over decades, our modern technologies and our experience as specialists in training young people.

Conclusion

Inter-company training is an integral part of the dual training system in Germany. With this, even trainees in smaller or extremely specialized companies are given the opportunity to learn all the prescribed contents of the respective training. Inter-company training is advantageous for both the trainee and the training company, and there are no disadvantages - provided the trainee is willing to travel.

LEWA Attendorn also offers its experience, infrastructure and knowledge as a training and further education center. Every year, we teach more than 800 trainees in individual training courses or over complete training years in theory and practice. You are welcome to visit our training and continuing education program - at the LEWA Attendorn Campus.