Silhouette International Apprentice Academy
Headquarter Linz

Outstanding Performance in Apprenticeship Training
State Award for Silhouette International

Since the establishment of the family-owned business Silhouette International in Linz in 1964, apprentices have played a key supporting role for the eyewear manufacturer. Young men and women are trained in eight different apprenticeship programmes. In addition to vocational training, Silhouette International also offers a wide range of additional services through its Apprentice Academy, which makes a significant contribution not only to the quality of the training but also to the well-being of the apprentices.
Appreciation for this fact is demonstrated not just in the many applications that Silhouette International receives from young people each year who want to complete their apprenticeships with the company; just a few days ago it also became apparent in the form a state award for outstanding performance.

Human Resources Manager Mag. Tarek El-Dabbagh recently accepted the state coat of arms for its outstanding apprenticeship programme presented by Christine Marek, the Austrian State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour.
Very few companies are able to satisfy the criteria to become state-certified firms where apprentices are trained and receive this award from the Ministry of Economics and Labour. This year only two companies from Upper Austria were honoured with this exceptional award.
“Apprentices are an investment in the future,” we’ve followed this creed since the establishment of our company in 1964, explains Mag. Klaus Schmied, a second-generation family member and executive responsible for the areas of Human Resources, Production, Administration and Finance.

The Silhouette Apprentice Academy is particularly successful. Here young people not only have the opportunity to obtain their European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) and a Berlitz Certificate in English – soft skills are also trained, for example within the scope of a mutual apprentice day or a joint apprentice excursion or through team and communications training or in business simulations. During their three to four years of training, apprentices have the opportunity to visit a number of different departments according to a rotation principle. This offers them the chance to become familiar with almost every area of the company before embarking on their own professional careers.

Currently, the leading international eyewear manufacturer is training 24 apprentices in eight different apprenticeship programmes. The occupational fields range from office clerks to mechatronics technicians, toolmaking technicians, production technicians and computer technicians to designers and machine assembly technicians. A popular favourite is the new dual apprenticeship as toolmaking technician/plastic shaper, which requires a four-year apprenticeship.
“Around 90 to 100% of our apprentices stay with the company after their training," Human Resources Manager Mag. Tarek El-Dabbagh proudly draws a positive balance. And he continues, “For us this – in addition to the state coat of arms – is one of the best awards we could possibly receive.”