Press Release 22nd June 2022

BILLA apprentices take over markets

With the successful project "Apprentices run stores", BILLA is bringing apprentices before the curtain for the tenth time in a row this year and putting the management of seven BILLA stores in the hands of the next generation for a week.

Apprentices Murat Ceper and Aylin Kainz are looking forward to the challenges in the coming week. / Copyright: BILLA / Harson, Reproduction for PR purposes free of charge

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From 20 to 24 June, 225 apprentices manage seven BILLA stores in five provinces and prove their leadership qualities
Sales competition and the organisation of a charity event await the managers of tomorrow
BILLA is currently training more than 1,700 apprentices in ten apprenticeship professions throughout Austria, making it one of the most important apprenticeship companies in Austria
Start of the big apprentice search for about 700 positions in autumn 2022 - especially for integrative and inclusive applicants

225 apprentices from the various regions will be working in different markets in Vienna, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Carinthia and Styria from Monday, 20 June to Friday, 24 June. In doing so, they demonstrate leadership qualities and team spirit. The project "Apprentices run stores" not only shows the diversity and variety of apprenticeships at BILLA, but also highlights the high value placed on our apprentices and the promotion of young talent.

""Apprentices run stores" is a great opportunity for our junior staff to prove themselves and to put what they have learned into practice on their own responsibility. The 10th generation of apprentices is already taking over selected stores for a week and I am sure that our apprentices will master this challenge brilliantly this year as well," emphasises Harald Mießner, BILLA CEO, and explains further: "As one of the largest training providers in Austria, it is our task to prepare the apprentices in the best possible way for everyday working life by providing them with know-how and expertise in the specialist areas and offering them a wide range of opportunities for further training.

""Apprentices run stores" is a great opportunity for our junior staff to prove themselves and to put what they have learned into practice on their own responsibility."

Harald Mießner BILLA CEO

Run stores and get involved in good causes at the same time

Before the apprentices take on responsibility in the participating stores, they are well prepared at regional information days and get to know each other through various team-building measures. After all, coordinating a BILLA store with sometimes more than 50 employees is only possible as a functioning and committed team. In order to discover work processes and different procedures in areas such as fruit and vegetables, delicatessen, checkout or stock management, the apprentices rotate through the positions every half day. A competition provides extra motivation - at the end of the project, the sales performance of the fresh food areas in the seven stores is compared and the winners receive attractive bonuses. In addition, BILLA has created a charity event for the first time within the framework of "Apprentices lead markets" to once again do justice to the good cause. Here, our sales team, together with the apprentices, is free to plan and implement a charitable project in their participating store. We have already received great concept proposals - from barbecues to organised tastings in the markets - and 100% of the net proceeds go to charitable organisations in the region.

Murat Ceper, a prospective retail salesman with a focus on food in his 3rd year of apprenticeshipincluding the Matura, is looking forward to "Apprentices run markets": "I expect an interesting week in which I can exchange ideas with other apprentices and get to know a market from as many different sides as possible. I think it's great that we apprentices are trusted to run a market largely on our own." Sila Sahin, who is in her third year as a delicatessen apprentice, is also motivated: "I think it's great that we apprentices take on the entire responsibility for a market and that we are trusted so much. Of course, I think we can also learn a lot here, as I have already learned through my sales managers that there will be workshops. I find it particularly exciting to be allowed to get a taste of a management position."

327 available positions in a wide range of apprenticeships for individual personalities

Diverse, varied and unique is not only the assortment in the stores, but also the range of apprenticeships at BILLA and BILLA PLUS. More than 1,700 apprentices are currently being trained in ten different apprenticeships, such as retail salesperson with a focus on food, delicatessen, digital sales or confectioner. Currently, 327 positions at BILLA are still waiting to be filled by motivated young people.

Firmly anchored in BILLA's DNA, inclusion also plays an essential role in apprenticeship training. It is important, for example, to provide young people with disabilities with the best training opportunities and thus to promote young talent at the highest level in all areas. To this end, BILLA has been building a strong cooperation network for several years. BILLA currently employs 247 integrative apprentices – 57 of them with an assessment notice. There are currently 60 more apprenticeships available throughout Austria where young people with disabilities can start their training at BILLA.

The start for the big apprenticeship search at BILLA is in autumn 2022 – around 700 open apprenticeship positions are expected here.

Depending on interest, BILLA offers a variety of options around apprenticeship training: In the apprenticeship with Matura model (comparable to A-levels), the final examinations can be completed during the apprenticeship period. In addition, apprentices can gain valuable international experience through internships abroad. Particularly ambitious apprentices who achieve good results at vocational school and in the final apprenticeship examination can expect attractive bonuses. After successful completion of the apprenticeship, there is also the opportunity to apply for the junior management programme and advance to become one of the managers of tomorrow.