The Ernst-Barlach-Realschule Plus and the Kannenbäckerland Grammar School in Höhr-Grenzhausen are intensifying their relationship with seven businesses and institutions in the local area with immediate effect. The two schools have now arranged Chamber of Commerce school sponsorships with various organisations, including Steuler Holding GmbH, Sahm GmbH & Co. KG, Hotel ZUGBRÜCKE Grenzau GmbH, the Nassauische Sparkasse (all in Höhr-Grenzhausen), WEPA Apothekenbedarf GmbH & Co. KG in Hillscheid, Lidl Vertriebs-GmbH & Co. KG in Koblenz and the Höhr-Grenzhausen local authority association.
In concrete terms, the agreements between the schools and businesses cover the organisation of site visits and tours, work experience placements and open day(s), information events with company training staff, simulated selection procedures (assessment centre, on-line application procedures, aptitude tests), regular discourse between company and school representatives on educational and training-relevant topics, information events covering vocational training and career opportunities, teacher training practical courses - and much more besides.
Chamber of Commerce Regional Managing Director Richard Hover says, "School sponsorships are a great way for schools and businesses to establish contact with one another, to get to know each other better and to reach a binding agreement in the interest of the young people on the priorities of the collaboration. The initiative may be taken by either the school or the company. There is no entitlement to exclusivity and joint projects are carried out on an equal footing with each party designating a specific contact person." The Koblenz Chamber of Commerce, in co-operation with the regional SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT working groups of the Rheinland-Pfalz State Association of Employer Associations (LVU), assists schools and businesses throughout the entire Chamber of Commerce district in establishing sponsorships, organises annual experience sharing events and supports the collaborative projects with press and PR activities.
