Prime Minister Schweitzer praises continuing education initiative at Röchling Automotive

Worms, November 17, 2025 | How can digital transformation in production be achieved without leaving employees behind? One possible recipe for success was revealed during a visit by Minister President Alexander Schweitzer, Susanne Wingertszahn, Chairwoman of the DGB Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland, and Jessica Rauch, Deputy Regional Director of IG BCE Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland, to the Röchling Automotive plant in Worms. Together with Arbeit und Leben gGmbH, the automotive supplier is focusing on the “Good WorQ – Good Work through Qualification” project, which supports employees in acquiring digital skills, for example.

Since April 2025, the partners have been developing tailor-made learning opportunities for newcomers and career changers as well as for employees with low formal qualifications. The focus is on practical training in process understanding, communication, and digital application skills.

"Digital change and the transformation of the world of work can only succeed if people are able to help shape it. Projects such as ‘Good WorQ’ show how qualification and operational reality can come together. It is important to emphasize that continuing education and training are valuable both for personal career development and for companies, which thereby gain qualified specialists. Lifelong learning is the key to the future in the constantly changing world of work," emphasized Minister President Alexander Schweitzer during his visit.

“We are delighted that ‘Good WorQ’ enables us to specifically address the needs of newcomers and career changers at Röchling Automotive,” explains Ute Rosenfelder, Managing Director of Arbeit und Leben gGmbH. “The project will be successful if it supports employees in taking on responsibility and actively shaping digital change. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

Jakob Breuer, Plant Manager and Managing Director Worms at Röchling Automotive, emphasizes the importance of the collaboration: “Our employees learn in a practical way, which makes their learning more sustainable. At the same time, the principle of ‘helping hands’ strengthens team cohesion – and that only works because we have an experienced partner in Arbeit und Leben who develops the right learning formats with us.”

Collegial support as a factor for success

One concrete example is the introduction of a new digital time recording system in production. 113 employees have already been trained in six short workshops. Technically savvy colleagues support their teams in their daily work as so-called “helping hands.” The principle is also applied in the so-called “scan box”— a measuring room in the production hall — where the aim is to improve knowledge transfer between departments with new learning and communication formats.

Continuing education as a joint investment in the future 

For the company, the initiative is a strategic investment in the future. “The automotive industry is undergoing profound change, which we can only cope with through continuous training,” says Andrew Greenlees, Commercial Managing Director Europe at Röchling Automotive. “With workplace-oriented learning formats, we are not only securing jobs, but also the innovative strength of our Worms location.”

Susanne Wingertszahn, Chairwoman of the DGB Rhineland-Palatinate Saarland, is also optimistic about the next steps: "When works councils and company management work hand in hand, the result is often good work. The project at Röchling Automotive is a prime example of this. The ESF Social Partner Directive addresses precisely what is often lacking in companies: continuing education, equality among employees, and securing skilled workers. What is emerging here is something that can be proudly presented as a blueprint for other companies, and not just during Continuing Education Month."

Jessica Rauch, deputy regional director of the IG BCE trade union, welcomes the continuing education project at the major supplier: “Röchling Automotive had the courage to take this path in times of transformation together with the works council and in cooperation with Arbeit & Leben. And it is the only right way. We can only shape change with the employees and not without them.