The Vienna Trainee Challenge is organized by the Vienna Chamber of Labor (AK Wien) in cooperation with the GPA and focuses on knowledge related to commercial and administrative professions. In a two-stage process—class and state preliminaries—the participating apprentices’ subject knowledge is tested and evaluated using a standardized questionnaire based on the curriculum. This year, more than 14,000 young people took part in the competition; the top three from each class qualified for the state preliminaries. Julia Berthold, a 19-year-old from Vienna who is completing her apprenticeship at the BIPA branch at Hadikgasse 60 in Vienna, prevailed against strong competition in the state round and took first place in her third year of apprenticeship in the retail category—and was also honored as the top participant across all categories and years of apprenticeship. Her BIPA colleagues Ajla Drobic (2nd place in the 3rd year of apprenticeship) and Asli Bakir (3rd place in the 1st year of apprenticeship) also achieved top rankings.
Daniela Reumann, Managing Director of BIPA: “The fact that Julia Berthold came out on top among more than 14,000 participants is an outstanding achievement that demonstrates the dedication and enthusiasm with which our apprentices are learning their trade. The placements of Ajla Drobic and Asli Bakir also confirm that we have an exceptionally talented team of apprentices at BIPA. Supporting young talent and creating real career opportunities are central priorities for us—these successes are the best proof that this commitment pays off, both for our apprentices and for BIPA as a company.”
Training and Continuing Education: A Long-Standing Priority at BIPA
The success of Julia Berthold and her colleagues exemplifies the high priority that BIPA has placed on training and professional development for years—across all career levels. In addition to its apprenticeship program, the company also implements targeted development programs for experienced employees, such as the internal career program “Karriere.Sprung.Brett,” which specifically prepares selected BIPA employees from across Austria for their future roles as store managers and fosters both professional and personal skills.
Over the course of nine months (October through June), participants complete five modules on personality development, communication, on-the-job training, store organization, and key performance indicators, guided by internal and external trainers. The program culminates in a joint final project in the form of a “Key Performance Indicators Challenge.” This year’s closing event took place in June, where 19 participants presented their five group projects. The projects had been developed in teams over the past few months, with each team mentored by an experienced sales manager. The presentations impressed with their high quality and strong commitment, and provided a valuable platform for exchange with executives and experts.
Julia Zwonarits, Program Manager at BIPA: “As this year’s BIPA Career Springboard program comes to a close, we look back with pride on a successful run. The graduates have grown significantly, both professionally and personally, and have gained valuable insights for their future career paths. A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who contributed to the success of this program. We are convinced that the insights gained here will serve as a strong foundation for their next career steps, and we wish all graduates continued success, courage, and enthusiasm on their professional journeys.”
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