Heidelberg, November 27, 2024 – Training and continuing development as a recipe for success: The consultancy cbs Corporate Business Solutions is looking back on 25 years of its successful trainee program. Since October 1999, more than 450 young people have completed the program. Around two-thirds of the graduates are still part of cbs. In the intensive four-month training courses, not only technical business and SAP knowledge is taught, but also the soft skills that are important for everyday consulting work. A network of mentors and like-minded people supports the trainees during and after their training. This enables them to develop into the sought-after experts who are at the core of cbs' success.
“Our trainee program brings together people who want to make a difference and gives them a shared platform for development. It’s the perfect start to a career in consulting for young talent. They receive the necessary tools and a network for exchanging knowledge and experience. Graduates quickly take on responsibility in consulting and get directly involved in projects,” emphasizes Rainer Wittwen, CEO of cbs.
Around 450 consultants have now launched successful careers through the trainee program, making a significant contribution to the sustainable growth of cbs. The trainee program is a central component of cbs’ strategy. “By providing targeted training for our own experts, we strengthen the high quality and fit of our consulting team. In addition, the personal cohesion among the trainees fosters cross-departmental integration, which not only benefits the individual consultants, but also our customers,” continues Rainer Wittwen. The consulting company now employs more than 1,500 people and is represented at over 30 locations. Around 70% of German global market leaders rely on cbs consulting services. “The trainee program plays a crucial role in supporting this growth,” emphasizes Rainer Wittwen.
Around two-thirds of former trainees are still part of cbs. This also applies to the first cbs trainee cohort: in 1999, Marco Binz, Lars Morio, Kyra Honert, and Dirk Honert, among others, began their journey in SAP consulting – with a workforce of just 40 employees. Today, they are not only successful consultants, but also celebrated their 25th company anniversary together in October.
From trainee to manager
cbs gives young professionals the opportunity to grow by taking on challenging tasks. They can always count on the support of a special team spirit and the pioneering knowledge of a leading consultancy. Many of our former trainees go on to become managers and actively contribute to the international expansion of the company. One example is Henning Krug, a member of the management team, a trainee in 2007, and now responsible for the Sustainable Supply Chain & Manufacturing practice.
What makes the cbs trainee program special for him?
The cbs trainee program
Supported by experienced mentors and senior consultants, participants receive comprehensive training over a period of four months, covering topics such as best practice processes, SAP knowledge and consulting skills.
The cbs trainee program has become a fixture on the job market. Its high quality has been certified by the SAP Academy and it has already received several awards and seals of quality. The well-known online job exchange Absolventa awarded it the “fair and career-promoting” seal of quality, and the independent opinion research institute Trendence gave it the rating “Fair Trainee Program”.
In addition, cbs now has a strong global presence. Consequently, the Global Young Professional Program (GYPP) for APAC and the Young Professional Academy Program in the US are dedicated trainee programs overseas to support the expansion in those regions.
