Beyond the Boxes: IHK and Medline Europe Challenge the 'Dusty' Image of Warehouse Apprenticeships

Standardisation meets modernity

Recognising the lack of popularity in warehouse training, despite high demand for skilled workers, the IHK set out to proactively rebrand the profession. The goal was to show students that a warehouse apprenticeship is just as good a pathway to a rewarding, diverse career — one that involves technology, problem-solving, and efficient process management.

Medline, which has had a longstanding apprenticeship programme in Germany for 21 years, accepted the challenge, recognising the value it brings to students, their community and the company. It is especially significant as a number of those who went through the programme have since taken on jobs within the company in different areas. 

‘Our presence and impact in the Kleve community is important to us. By engaging students in this way, we are able to continue a Medline tradition of making strategic efforts to connect to the wider community in meaningful ways. Ensuring that younger generations are aware of the possibilities for impactful work and opportunities to be part of something bigger — like helping to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes across Europe — is truly rewarding.’ Till Warburg, Senior Director, Operations EMEA commented.

Medline was up to the task and appropriate for the mission, as IHK’s Bartels reflected, saying, ‘Right from our first interaction with Medline, the exceptionally clean and modern warehouse stood out. It immediately became clear that this company is perfectly suited to break the traditional image of the logistics industry.’

An interactive day in Kleve

The promotional effort focused on schools in the Kleve region. The IHK's outreach proved successful, with over 40 students from two schools participating in the Logistics Day event at Medline.

The day was structured to be both informative and hands-on, directly challenging the negative stereotypes:

• Presentations – Students first received a short presentation detailing the comprehensive IHK training programme and an introduction to Medline's operations. This section aimed to highlight the scale and impact of modern logistics.
• Practical Exercise – The highlight was a practical exercise where students got to step into the role of a logistics specialist. They actively participated in an incoming goods inspection, a core task that requires attention to detail, quality control, and system use — demonstrating the intellectual and methodical aspects of the job.
• Warehouse Tour – The event concluded with a tour of the warehouse, designed to reveal the modern environment, the technology, and the efficient processes that define contemporary logistics, moving away from the ‘dark and dusty’ imagery.

By providing a genuine, interactive glimpse into the world of warehousing and logistics, the IHK and Medline successfully showcased how crucial and dynamic a career in warehouse logistics truly is. Initiatives like this are vital for ensuring that Germany’s logistical infrastructure remains supported by a new generation of skilled and enthusiastic apprentices.

‘We are extremely proud to have been able to host these students and be part of the greater efforts to challenge certain ideas about this scope of work. We are hopeful that more of the younger generation will see themselves doing this valuable work and have a positive mindset going forward. There are so many untapped opportunities that we hope to engage them on,’ shared Mareen Weiß, HR Business Partner, Germany and organiser of the day’s activities at Medline.