Continental has opened its own training center for employees in Gifhorn. The site is the 13th training location the company has set up across Germany.

Accordingly, Germany’s labor minister Hubertus Heil, and the Second Chairperson of IG Metall, Christianne Benner attended the opening ceremony of the new training center.

Earlier, the company launched the Continental Institute for Technology and Transformation (CITT). Since 2019, it has spread to 13 locations to date including the latest one in Gifhorn. These centers have trained almost 9,000 individuals already as part of its goal to transform.

Preparing for Future Demands

With digitalization and Industry 4.0, automotive manufacturing is facing profound technological transformation. Particularly, these key megatrends impact the working world of the future. Employees need perspectives to face the change and actively shape it. As a competence center for transformation, CITT accompanies employees on this path and supports them in expanding their individual employability through tailored programs and qualification opportunities.

Hubertus Heil (SPD), Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs: “The world of work is changing rapidly as a result of technological and social developments. This requires bold and responsible action from everyone involved. Continental’s ‘from work to work’ initiative is a prime example of how a socially fair transformation can be shaped with courage and drive.”

In addition, Heil said in Gifhorn, the employees of today need to be equipped for the work of tomorrow. “This will safeguard local jobs and industry, which I’m happy about not only as Minister of Labor but as a member of the Bundestag with a close connection to the region.”

Meets Needs of Market Demand

Continental employees at the Gifhorn location will be trained to meet the needs of Stiebel Eltron as well as those of the regional labor market. Particularly, Stiebel Eltron is planning to set up a stainless steel cylinder production facility for heat pump heating systems at Continental’s location in Gifhorn. For that reason, Continental and Stiebel Eltron have signed a letter of intent to take over production and functional areas.

In July 2023, Continental announced that it would be phasing out its business activities at the location by the end of 2027.

“It remains our firm intention to move as many of our employees as possible from work to work,” said Dr. Ariane Reinhart, Continental Executive Board member for Human Relations and Sustainability. “The training offered through the CITT is an important part of creating opportunities for employees in Gifhorn.”

The agreement with Stiebel Eltron is the first major result of Continental’s “from work to work” initiative, which, through appropriate training, aims to ensure a seamless transition to a new job within Continental or on the external job market for employees. To achieve this, Continental is currently in talks with several companies.

Needs-Based Training Since 2019

Continental launched a comprehensive training initiative for the transformation of jobs in 2018. Accordingly, a key part of the initiative is the CITT, established in 2019, to strengthen the employability of individual employees. The training measures aim to ready future-oriented professions. Around 8,500 participants had been trained through the CIIT by the end of 2022. By the end of 2023, they will number 9,500. Through the CITT, employees can retrain for the internal and external job market at full pay. Moreover, unskilled and semi-skilled employees can, for example, complete a further training course certified by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce with the option of obtaining a full professional qualification.