Initial Training and Education
Initial vocational and professional training has a high priority for United Internet. The Company trains future staff and gives young people a successful start to their careers. At present, it offers apprenticeships for the following commercial and technical career profiles: computer science specialists (application development/systems integration), IT systems management specialists, dialog marketing specialists, marketing communications specialists, and office management specialists. In addition, United Internet and Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) offer degrees in computer science; business information systems; law, tax, and business/accounting & financial control; business administration/marketing management; and business administration/digital business management at the university’s locations in Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, and Mannheim.
All program participants work in a wide range of different departments within the organization during their three-year apprenticeship or DHBW degree. They are fully integrated with the teams and day-to-day workflows during their time there. United Internet’s unique vocational training model allows apprentices and dual degree students to actively design how they spend their time in the Company, i.e., they can choose the specialist departments that match their interests from their second year onwards. The apprentice workshops at the Karlsruhe, Montabaur, and Munich locations are another major success. These are primarily used by technical apprentices, who spend an early part of their vocational training here to learn the basic skills that they will need later on when they are seconded to different departments within the organization. In addition to teaching specialist skills and methodologies, United Internet focuses during training on behavior that is in line with its system of values. This mix of technical know-how, methodological expertise, and conduct that adheres to the Company’s values forms the basis for a successful transition to the world of work once apprentices are qualified. The vocational training time spent in the Company is supplemented by (cross-location) apprentice projects. One example here is apprentices’ active contribution to, and design of, career orientation formats. As a result, apprentices completing United Internet’s vocational training programs are excellently positioned to take up permanent positions later on. United Internet has held a “Best Place to Learn” accolade since June 2020 and was successfully recertified in 2023.
As of December 31, 2023, there were 222 (2022: 211) young people in apprenticeships or studying throughout the Group. In the 2023 reporting period, 46 (2022: 40) freshly-qualified vocational trainees and students who had completed dual studies degrees or apprenticeships with the Company were offered permanent positions.
United Internet works together with schools, universities, and colleges to attract fresh talent at an early stage. A variety of trainee programs were developed that offer an apprenticeship or a dual degree course (in cooperation with the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW)) or help fresh graduates find their feet at the United Internet Group.
Since 2021, United Internet has participated in Offenburg University’s Mentoring Future program with the aim of supporting young female students, e.g., by offering them networking opportunities with young female employees and junior managers. The program provides for female staff from different United Internet departments to act as mentors for young women students. The feedback from the students confirms that the networking scheme has helped them transition between studying and work by providing insights into the process of starting one’s career and professional issues.
In addition, United Internet launched a talent retention program in 2021 that allows interested applicants and prospective candidates – from school students to managers – to remain in contact with the Company.
United Internet also has a special responsibility to its interns. As a signatory to the Fair Company Initiative, United Internet is committed to providing fair conditions such as appropriate compensation and personal support.
School students can get to know United Internet and the world of work in general through short internships. United Internet cooperates and holds events with schools, as well as offering careers advice and career discovery opportunities during Germany’s Girls’Day and Boys’Day, among other things.
United Internet’s apprentices also offer extremely popular one-week programming courses for children and young people aged 13 and over during vacations.
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