Personnel development
HHLA invested a total of € 4.6 million in educating and training staff from its locations in Hamburg in 2018 (previous year: € 4.2 million).
As of 31 December 2018, 59 apprentices and 13 students were receiving training in Germany in six different professions and seven dual study courses. 33 % of the 72 apprentices and students were female. The ratio of female students in 2018 was 54 % (previous year: 58 %).
Further details on the employee structure can be found in the management report. Employees, employee structure
The three-year average of the annual trend in expenditure for initial training, in-company training and continuing professional development in relation to headcount is one of the targets agreed with the Executive Board and is taken into account when determining Executive Board remuneration. Achieving the agreed target range triggers the payment of a corresponding bonus. Corporate governance, remuneration report
Continuing professional development (CPD)
All CPD activities at HHLA are designed to develop the professional, methodical and social skills of specialist staff and managers in line with demand. There is a particular focus on management training which, in turn, concentrates on providing the skills to manage increasingly complex systems. Agile methods and equipping staff to work on complex projects are at the heart of most offerings.
All internal seminars are open to staff from various departments and companies. These seminars also help foster an understanding of the diverse tasks, roles and functions in the Group’s various business fields.
The need for container handling operators is met via in-house training. Much of this training is delivered on a one-to-one basis using the handling equipment or live IT systems within operations. As the operational handling processes are constantly evolving, there is also an ongoing need for hands-on continuing professional development with practical relevance. The training opportunities for operative managers are geared towards development within the organisation via a change in the leadership culture and teaching professional and methodical skills.
In total, over 630 events lasting one or more days were held in the reporting period. These included more than 550 internal vocational courses conducted by HHLA’s own trainers over 2,673 training days. In addition, more than 80 one- to several-day events with over 960 participant days were organised as part of the company’s cross-segment seminar programme. 36 % of the participants were women (previous year: 31 %).
Vocational training and studying
HHLA offers a range of apprenticeships and dual study courses based on human resource planning at the companies in Hamburg. The focus is on technical and commercial occupations.
Cooperation agreements with vocational colleges, specialised grammar schools and secondary schools were further intensified to maintain a steady flow of suitable candidates for professions with a focus on mathematics, IT, science and technology. To further increase the proportion of female apprentices within these fields, technical internships were offered in particular to schoolgirls. The careers in which the company offers apprenticeships are presented at training fairs and schools by the respective departments with the aid of current apprentices. In 2018, the company participated in twelve fairs in the greater Hamburg area.
Training is enhanced by supplementary offerings to prepare for future demands within HHLA’s operating environment. In addition to subject-based instruction, apprentices and dual study course students learn about interdisciplinary collaboration right from the start of their training. In these supplementary courses, the apprentices and students take on responsibility and learn about solution-based work approaches. Digital expertise is also fostered as part of agile project management and by evaluating new technologies, such as augmented reality and 3D printing.
The concept developed as part of the AvM Dual pilot project launched in 2016 to prepare immigrants from the Hamburger Ausbildungszentrum e.V. (HAZ) for vocational training was successfully implemented in 2018. Five of the twelve young immigrants taking part were directly offered the prospect of an apprenticeship as a result. Another third will continue to receive support with job entry or career qualifications.
The “Intercultural skills in day-to-day work” seminar, designed in cooperation with the Maritime Competence Centre (ma-co), has now been firmly integrated into apprenticeships at HHLA. It aims to strengthen the social skills of apprentices and dual study course students, as well as promoting their personal development and their understanding of other cultures.