ÖBB Annual Report 2023

Group Management Report 192 Österreichische Bundesbahnen-Holding Aktiengesellschaft Consolidated Financial Statements | Group Management Report 147 Railway-specific learning and development Railway-specific learning and development is organised by the Learning and development Department of ÖBB- Infrastruktur AG as a Group-wide competence centre. In 2023, ÖBB employees made use of 126,631 participant days. More than 100 specialist training staff organise and conduct out in-company learning and development in railway professions. Approx. 257 different learning and development programmes are provided in the training tracks of operations management and shunting, traction technology training or safety in the track area. This has also included railway technology training since 2023. GRI 403-5, 403-7 Other Group companies, subsidiaries and business units also offer additional specific training courses. To round off its range of in-service training courses, ÖBB also cooperates with external educational institutions. GRI 404-2 Potential technicians (career beginners) have the opportunity to join ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG directly with the “infra:techrotation” programme. In October 2023, seven new technicians started work in their role and are supported by an internal training programme designed specifically for this programme. The aim of this programme is to cover personnel requirements in the technical area in a targeted and needs-based manner and to prepare the new technicians for their future tasks in their first year. Apprenticeship program in the ÖBB Group The ÖBB Group is one of the largest technical apprentice instructors in Austria and offers 27 apprenticeship professions nationwide. ÖBB is currently training approx. 2,000 young people to become highly qualified specialists. The subgroups ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG and Rail Cargo Austria AG mainly offer apprenticeships in commercial professions. In contrast, ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG and Österreichische Postbus Aktiengesellschaft primarily train apprentices in technical vocational fields. GRI 2-7, 401-1 The training has received international and state awards. In 2022, for example, ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG was awarded the “VET Excellence Award” by the European Commission. ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG also holds the seal “state-awarded apprenticeship company” at national level, the Viennese quality seal “TOP apprenticeship company” since 2015, and the designation “excellent apprenticeship company” in Tyrol and Vorarlberg. The graduates regularly win numerous prizes and awards at vocational competitions each year. For example, apprentices from the Vienna training workshop took first place in the “Industry 4.0” category at SkillsAustria and successfully participated in the WorldSkills. The apprenticeships in the ÖBB portfolio are currently becoming “greener” and more digital. In the future lab of the apprenticeship training at the Vienna site, a virtual reality training designed by apprentices and trainers was implemented. It reproduces Vienna’s main railway station and enables virtual training on railway technology there. In addition, augmented reality is also used in apprenticeship training. This enables, among other things, virtual representations of complex technical components, e.g. electric motors. For example, instructors at the Graz training workshop have programmed an application in which ÖBB train components and facilities can be displayed virtually in real size or on a scale independent of location. Young skilled workers at ÖBB are also currently being introduced to new manufacturing technologies in a forward-looking manner, such as in the area of additive manufacturing. The first apprentice groups are currently producing their own 3D printer. In this way, they make themselves fit for the future and in particular have access to cost-saving and more flexible options in maintenance and servicing. ÖBB also promotes the “Apprenticeship with Matura” and thus open up an opportunity for apprentices to gain further qualifications. Besides professional training, the promotion of social competence is also of great importance. Under the motto “Women & Girls into Technology!” the apprenticeship training is committed to making technical training even more attractive for women and girls. It is showing an effect. In 2022, the share of women in the new intake of apprentices was 24.2%. The new “Next Level Apprenticeship” apprenticeship campaign and the accompanying redesigned website www.nasicher.at are designed to get young people excited about ÖBB. A newly structured application process enables online-based applications for apprenticeships at ÖBB. Investments are also currently being made in new buildings and conversions in the area of apprentice training: the Bludenz and Knittelfeld training workshops were reopened in 2020. The Innsbruck training workshop was renovated and extended by an additional building. In St. Pölten, the local apprentice residence was also newly built and opened in 2021. At present, the Attnang-Puchheim training workshop is still being renovated and extended by an annex. Approx. EUR 44.0 million was made available for this purpose. | MR147