Volkmann apprentices visit the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament and Minister Laumann
A special day for our apprentices: at the invitation of Minister Karl-Josef Laumann, they visited the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament in Düsseldorf, accompanied by training manager Micha Kleinschmidt. The invitation stemmed from a personal exchange during the Minister’s visit to Volkmann GmbH in August 2025. During the visit, he learnt first-hand about our apprenticeship programme and the challenges of securing a skilled workforce. We delighted to have been given the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of state politics.
Even the train journey to Düsseldorf provided an opportunity for conversation and lively discussion amongst the participants. Upon arrival, the first item on the programme was a visit to the Rheinturm. From there, our trainees were able to experience the state capital from a completely new perspective and enjoy the impressive view over the Rhine and the Düsseldorf skyline.
The official part of the visit to the state parliament began at midday. Following the security check, there was an informative introduction to the responsibilities, working methods and history of the North Rhine-Westphalian parliament. It was particularly exciting to be able to watch an ongoing plenary session live from the visitors’ gallery and to witness political decision-making processes first-hand.
A particular highlight of the day was the subsequent round-table discussion with Minister Karl-Josef Laumann. Despite his busy schedule, he took the time to engage in an open and personal exchange with our apprentices. The discussion focused on vocational training, the prospects for young people, and current social and political issues. The participants took the opportunity to put their questions directly to the Minister and to share insights from their day-to-day training experiences. A valuable dialogue ensued, demonstrating just how important this exchange is between the worlds of politics, business and the next generation of professionals.
During a joint coffee break in the state parliament canteen, the discussions continued in a relaxed atmosphere before the group headed back to Soest in the afternoon. On the journey home, they reflected on and discussed the many impressions of the day.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Minister Karl-Josef Laumann and his team for the invitation and the opportunity to experience politics at first hand. The visit not only gave our trainees fascinating insights into the workings of the state parliament, but also helped them to understand political processes and their significance for the economy and society.