Around 900 school pupils visited the company KSM Steel in Kragelund near Hedensted on Thursday, September 10, for an event where more than 20 trades presented themselves to young people.
The event was organized by Hedensted Municipality together with local companies, DR reports. Pupils could hear about work as carpenters, hairdressers, blacksmiths and truck drivers, and try practical tasks on site.
Among the visitors was Jonathan Lerche Laursen, an eighth grade pupil at Tørring Skole. He told DR he is interested in blacksmith work and wanted to test the truck simulator, partly to follow his family into the trade.
Horse hooves and safety shoes
One of the stands belonged to Mia Stolbjerg, a farrier who brought four lower legs from a horse. Pupils were allowed to hammer nails into a real hoof, which according to DR met a mixed reception.
Stolbjerg said a few of the young people were bold enough to try it. The activities were designed to let pupils feel the physical side of the trades rather than only hear about them.
Municipality among the leaders
Hedensted Municipality is at the very top nationally when it comes to getting young people to choose a vocational education, according to DR. Mayor Ole Vind of Venstre said the municipality must contribute to educating more people within the vocational programs.
DR notes that it is generally difficult to get young people to choose the vocational route. The Confederation of Danish Industry, Dansk Industri, is also working to attract more young people to skilled trades.
Per Møller, director of KSM Steel, which hosted the event, said the company has good experience with this approach working. He pointed to the value of pupils seeing how the work is done and talking to adults employed in the trade.
Johannes Saugbjerg, board chairman of DI Sydøstjylland, praised the event. He described the municipality as a role model for how close cooperation between schools, companies and the municipality can lead more young people to choose a vocational education.
The event brought together more than 20 different trades from the municipality in one location. Organizers used simulators, tools and live demonstrations so that education and working life became more concrete for the pupils.
KSM Steel is located in Kragelund, in Hedensted Municipality in eastern Jutland. The company acted as host for the day, with the municipality and participating businesses running the individual stands.
