Three new apprentices ready for Tratec Halvorsen

Text and photo: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Communications

- All the mechanical workshops in the region are struggling to get hold of apprentices. The fact that we have three people who will start with us is fantastic, says Nielsen.

While Morten Klungeland (17) is going to apprentice as an industrial mechanic, Duncan Janke (18) and Johan Rafoss (17) want to train as welders.

- We have been lucky. Almost no one wants to become a welder anymore, even though it is the competence we perhaps need most in the workshop, says Nielsen.

THE TRIO BEGINS on the two-year education course on 5 August, but has already started somewhat with a summer job in the workshop at Øyesletta.

- My impression is that the company works with a lot of exciting technology and has many good people. That's why I applied to be here at Tratec Halvorsen, says Morten Klungeland, who is from Høyland between Lyngdal and Korshamn.

- It will be a long drive to work, so I probably have to get up at five o'clock every day. But I have a light motorcycle and aim to use it when I commute to work, says the 17-year-old.

DUNCAN JANKE lives in Korshamn. He has a car and can offer Morten a ride when necessary.

- I like TIG welding. Tratec Halvorsen is the largest company in Lister that does this. That's why I was never in doubt where I wanted to learn, says Duncan.

He has been on placement with Tratec Halvorsen from school several times, and feels he knows a bit about what he is doing.

- I have seen how good the people who work here are at welding. That's how good I want to be, says Duncan, who wants to work hard to obtain the various welding certificates as quickly as possible.

FOR JOHAN RAFOSS it was a conversation with workshop manager Nielsen that was decisive for him applying to Tratec Halvorsen.

- We went on a company visit with the class while I was in my first year at Flekkefjord upper secondary school. Then I spoke to John, and he seemed like a decent guy. I think it will be a nice place to work, says Johan, who has a much shorter journey to work than the other two apprentices.

- I live at Feda, and can take the moped to and from work, Johan smiles happily.

THE LAST TWO over the years, John Vester Nielsen has had professional responsibility for two apprentices, who both took their subject test with the best grade earlier this summer. Now he is looking forward to taking on three new apprentices.

- It seems that interest in vocational subjects has picked up somewhat. For us at Tratec Halvorsen, it is important to contribute to educating young people for our profession, he says.