From South America to Bad Arolsen: Plastics Technologists at HEWI
A first for HEWI and TalentOrange: On 8 August 2025, Andrés Felipe Parra Tibocha (24) from Colombia and Vyctor Marques da Costa Gomes (26) from Brazil began their apprenticeship training as plastics and rubber technologists at HEWI in Bad Arolsen. TalentOrange carefully selected the two candidates in their home countries. In a multi-stage selection process, they prevailed against around 40 other applicants. The in-person selection interviews took place in mid-2024 in Bogotá (Colombia) and Recife (Brazil).
In autumn 2024, the two apprentices started a 7-month full-time intensive language course in their home towns, aiming for level B2. During this period, they were intensively prepared for (professional) life in Germany by both HEWI and TalentOrange. Both Felipe and Vyctor had already completed vocational training in mechanical engineering and chemistry in their home countries—an ideal foundation for the apprenticeship training as plastics technologists at HEWI.
“We are very pleased to welcome Andrés Felipe and Vyctor as two highly motivated apprentices at HEWI. They bring valuable prior knowledge that prepares them optimally for training with us,” explains HEWI Managing Director Thorsten Stute. “For us, this project is an important building block in our long-term skilled labour strategy.”
For TalentOrange, the two young men are the first apprentices in the industrial sector—following 13 years of experience integrating skilled professionals in the healthcare and social services sector. HEWI, too, has recruited apprentices from abroad for the first time. Many companies are facing the question of how to fill their apprenticeship positions as graduating cohorts become smaller. In 2024, according to the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), 69,400 apprenticeship positions remained unfilled: BIBB / Stagnation in the apprenticeship market
Michele Klimek, HR Officer for Recruiting and Training at HEWI, says the international recruiting process was a “rewarding experience.” In addition to technical questions, the discussions focused on the diverse cultural backgrounds and, above all, the courage to leave one’s home country. “We see a major opportunity in working with international apprentices,” emphasizes Thomas Hansmeyer, Head of Production + Logistics at HEWI. “Cultural exchange not only promotes collaboration, but also strengthens key competencies such as openness, empathy, and teamwork.”
Both apprentices are grateful and motivated: “I’m very happy to have been given this opportunity,” says Andrés Felipe. “Germany has always been a country with great technical know-how for me—and now I get to become part of it myself.”
Vyctor adds: “The people at HEWI welcomed me very warmly from the very beginning. I’m looking forward to learning a lot here and continuing to develop.”
As early as 2022, every tenth apprenticeship contract was concluded with an apprentice from abroad—and this figure will continue to grow, thanks in part to committed young people like Vyctor and Andrés Felipe: BIBB / New analyses on apprentices from abroad
We wish both of them a great start and every success!
Pictured (from left to right): Thomas Hansmeyer (Head of Production + Logistics), Andrés Felipe Parra Tibocha (trainee), Daniel Wilke (Technical Training Manager), Vyctor Marques da Costa Gomes (trainee), Throsten Stute (Executive Management), Michele Klimek (HR Specialist, Recruiting + Training)