Success in working life: Hochheim Technogroup integrate refugees

Persecuted in his homeland, opportunity in Germany – Asad Gill (25) completed apprenticeship and now a steady job

In his free time he likes playing football and he has just successfully completed his apprenticeship as an IT system electronics technician at Technogroup in Hochheim. Asad Gill is just 25, but his life has turned around 180 degrees in the past few years. He studied computer science for two years in this home country Pakistan, but his parents decided to leave their home town of Sheikhupura in Punjab for religious reasons. Asad Gill had already adjusted to his new home in Germany beforehand with a language course and brought his love of IT with him. With the support of the IHK Wiesbaden, he took up a vacant apprenticeship place at Technogroup. The Hochheim company works for companies nationwide and maintains computer centres. This service from one source saves companies a lot of money and presents the Technogroup team with new challenges every day.

Apprenticeship and appointment

Things carried on for Asad Gill directly after the successful end of the apprenticeship. Technogroup offered him a permanent contract of employment in the Stuttgart branch. An offer he was pleased to accept. “I’ve worked hard to reach this goal. Technogroup has helped me a lot, even helping me find a flat. The culture is different here, you have to be organised. I have gladly accepted all help,” says Asad Gill. The decision at the height of the refugee crisis was obvious for Technogroup. “There is a huge shortage of skilled employees in IT. This is also an issue for us, which is why we gladly took this step. The IHK Wiesbaden helped us with the forms in the beginning but this process has become normal for us and some other refugees are going through their training,” Klaus Stöckert, CEO of Technogroup.

Open corporate culture

For the Hochheim company this openness is important and part of the company. “IT is a logical discipline and taking the step to provide help was just as logical,” adds Stöckert. Asad Gill’s brother has also started an apprenticeship at Technogroup. “I know from experience that other companies act differently, so I like it here all the more. I said that to my brother too – they’re good. So he also applied,” says the young IT system electronics technician Asad Gill.