Training your own professionals

Mennens recently opened its own Tech Academy - an internal training center with the aim of preparing qualified engineers and EKH inspectors for Mennens’ very specific and varied professional practice. Trainers André de Jong and Henk Drent explain the usefulness and necessity.

Why do you need your own Mennens Tech Academy? Henk begins, "The pool is thin. Every organization is crying out for good technical personnel. But the current technical courses do not sufficiently match our professional practice, which is very specific. One day you are inspecting a small hoist, the next you are standing on top of a 25-ton crane. And at the most diverse locations. 

At the same time, the customer expects quality, which is what we stand for. We have therefore had internal company training for years. The Mennens Tech Academy goes even deeper into the subject matter. Participants take exams here and receive a certificate. This also makes us more attractive as an employer and allows us to offer retraining." 

The training courses are given by our own, experienced people. In addition to André de Jong and Henk Drent, there’s Peter van Wanrooij and Arjen Zwart.

Shadowing an experienced engineer

Previously, new colleagues were paired with an experienced engineer for at least a year to learn the tricks of the trade. André: "The idea was that you would encounter different customers and jobs during that year. Yet it often turned out that people hadn’t covered everything by the end of the year."

"Participants are introduced to every practical situation"

Training faster and better

The Mennens Tech Academy fills this gap, says André: "With our team of four trainers in total, we mimic every practical situation. This way, engineers enter the real world better prepared and are independently productive more quickly. The focus here is now on the EKH inspection mastery 'above the hook'. The EKH is the industry association ‘Erkende Keurbedrijven Hijs- en Hefmiddelen’, or Recognized Inspection Companies for Hoisting and Lifting Equipment."

'Know what you are inspecting'

The Mennens Tech Academy also provides participants with tools for a deeper understanding of technology. André: "Our starting point is 'Know what you are inspecting'. So we not only explain how to inspect a brake. We also teach the participants what types of brakes there are and how they work. And we introduce them to the products of various manufacturers."

Additional modules

The standard curriculum is the same for everyone. In addition, the Mennens Tech Academy offers additional modules. Henk: "So you want to know more about frequency converters, electrical switching or how electric motors work? You can."

Affinity for engineering

Everyone is welcome at the Mennens Tech Academy. From experienced engineers to school leavers and lateral entrants. André: "You don't have to be fully technically skilled, but some affinity with technology is helpful."

Continuous development

There are many great plans for the future. André and Henk: "Among other things, we are working on educational programs for 'under the hook', specialized product training as well as cleanroom cranes. This way we’ll offer more and more training opportunities, become more attractive on the job market and ensure the best quality for our customers."

Interested? Check out our vacancies (only in Dutch)

Getting started as an executive secretary

Not long after, Hieke was asked for the position of executive secretary. " I worked on correspondence, organized everything for trade shows and edited the Mennens magazines, among other things. I also still regularly helped out in other departments."

HR Advisor

Meanwhile, Hieke fills the role of HR advisor: "Nowadays the management and the management take care of their own correspondence. And a lot of that is automated."

Hieke concludes, "Like me, lots of others have grown in their jobs. From the workshop to field service or an office position. Lots is possible at Mennens."