SPECIAL TRAINING COOPERATION LAUNCHED

According to Handelsblatt, around 6 million people in Germany do not have a recognized vocational qualification—a figure that is particularly significant in industry. In production areas in particular, long-standing employees often have a wealth of experience, but lack formal qualifications. This not only hinders personal development, but also exacerbates the shortage of skilled workers.

Against this backdrop, MANN & SCHRÖDER COSMETICS GROUP launched a special training cooperation with GELITA AG on November 17, 2025. It offers long-standing production employees – with or without a professional qualification in a related field – the opportunity to develop their skills in a targeted manner and acquire an advanced qualification with an IHK certificate in just one year.

The cooperation was established through the labor market hub of the Employment Agency. There, the continuing education program was presented to our human resources development department – an offer that was an excellent fit for our employees and quickly led to an intensive exchange with GELITA AG.

Together with the participants from GELITA AG, we were able to meet the required minimum number of participants and thus secure the start of the qualification program.

Four employees from our production department at MANN & SCHRÖDER COSMETICS GROUP are taking advantage of the opportunity to obtain a vocational qualification as machine and plant operators/food technology specialists. Thanks to their many years of professional experience, they can obtain the IHK qualification within one year instead of the usual two years.

The training takes place during regular working hours. One week per month, the colleagues attend classes at the GELITA AG plant in Eberbach (Odenwald) – together with nine Gelita employees.

The training is funded by the IHK Rhein-Neckar, the Bildungswerk der Baden-Württembergischen Wirtschaft (Baden-Württemberg Economic Education Association) and the Federal Employment Agency in Heidelberg.

The concept aims to counteract the shortage of skilled workers and demographic changes, as well as to promote employees in a targeted manner. It strengthens the team, it strengthens the company, and it is a sustainable investment in shared know-how.

With qualified specialists, we are not only ready for the future – we are actively shaping it!