Girls' Day 2018: Hands-on technology to explore at Brose

94 seventh and eighth-grade girls discovered how exciting and diverse technical careers can be at Brose on Girls' Day. The girls had an entire day to try out their practical skills as mechatronics technicians, technical product designers, tool and diemakers, machine operators or IT specialists. They also gained interesting insights into everyday work life at the international automotive supplier's training locations in Coburg, Bamberg, Hallstadt, Würzburg, Wuppertal and Berlin.

This was the 15th time Brose participated in the nationwide campaign. The mechatronics specialist uses Girls' Day to directly address and recruit tomorrow’s female specialists. “We get girls excited about technology early on and show them the many attractive job opportunities available to them: a wide range of apprenticeships in a modern working environment and a chance to work internationally,” explained Michael Stammberger, Head of Apprenticeship and Training Brose Group. “We have already taken advantage of Girls' Day to convince a number of young women to complete an apprenticeship or a dual-track studies program in our family-owned company.”

Participants aged twelve to 15 put their practical skills to the test in a number of different areas with the help of some of Brose's current apprentices: they gained initial IT experience by taking a computer apart. In mechatronics the girls used electrical components to make an “LED flower”. Those interested in electronics presented a game they created called “Hot Wire”. The participants learned about the tool and die making and machine operator professions by building their own “Parcheesi” game made out of Plexiglas.

Eva Dohles is a good example of the success of this special day dedicated to the future of girls. She took part in Girls' Day at Brose herself four years ago, taking on the role of tool and die maker. Today she is in her first year of apprenticeship training in this career field with the automotive supplier. “The assignments are varied and what's most exciting for me is working on machines,” the 17-year-old says. Among other tasks, she showed the students how to work with tools and program a CNC milling machine. 14-year-old Emily Jung can easily see herself following Eva Dohles' example: “I’m interested in technology in general. It’s a lot of fun trying out the different jobs here in the training workshop,” said the high school student.

Around 400 young men and women are completing their apprenticeship or dual-track studies program at Brose worldwide. The company trains apprentices to become mechatronics technicians, electronics technicians, IT specialists, technical product designers, tool and die makers and machine operators in technical vocations.