Dual education in Hong Kong and Hamburg
Apprentices benefit from a. hartrodt's international program with lots of knowledge and direct contacts.
In the Chinese special administrative region of Hong Kong, a. hartrodt is training according to the German dual system and offers a four-week stay at the company headquarters once a year. Since 2024, there has been a summer exchange for one participant in Hamburg, reports Katarina Ognjuk, HR Business Partner at a. hartrodt Germany: "The apprentices arrive here extremely motivated and are immediately given a lot of responsibility." This time, after his first year of apprenticeship, Theodor von Merveldt is getting to know the operational activities at the family-owned company’s headquarters until the beginning of August. The 19-year-old is "really enjoying" the international program.
International enterprise with English as business language
After graduating from high school, the Munich native wanted to "go straight into a company". He can think of no better way to start his career than to do an apprenticeship in freight forwarding and logistics services in an international enterprise like a. hartrodt, where the business language is English. Hong Kong fascinates him as an "exciting city with great economic significance". He found out about the apprenticeship at AHK Hong Kong from friends.
"Got to know a completely new mode of transport"
During his stay in Hamburg, Theodor von Merveldt "got to know a completely new mode of transport" in the trucking department at a. hartrodt, as the focus in Hong Kong is on air and sea freight. The apprentice is enthusiastic about the "direct contact with haulage companies". He also likes the overview of "the entire process" after familiarizing himself with individual processes in Asia, such as accounting. He finds it particularly valuable to meet the Managing Directors in person and to exchange ideas with other trainees. While the apprenticeship in Hong Kong lasts 22 months, it can be shortened to 2.5 years in Germany.
After his final exams at the end of June 2026, the young freight forwarder can imagine "working in logistics for a few years" or starting a bachelor's degree in economics in Germany. There, a. hartrodt also offers dual study programs.