Trainees get involved
Implement projects independently and across departments.
Training? Of course at Bode!
At Bode Naturkost, we offer a wide range of apprenticeship paths. In five different occupational fields we train you in: Clerks in wholesale and foreign trade management, IT specialists for application development as well as for system integration up to Clerks for freight forwarding and logistics services as well as in Warehouse specialists.
All apprentices during their training, go through all departments, from logistics to marketing, as well as quality assurance and goods purchasing and sales. This gives everyone a comprehensive Insight into internal processes as well as international and national trade. This develops commercial skills and builds social and professional competence. In addition, it makes clear how important communication and collaboration are, which makes teamwork much easier.
Take a look at here our current job openings.
Apprentice project team
Another valuable part of the training at Bode Naturkost is working together in an apprentice project team. This is a team in which all of the company's trainees from logistics and administration work together on project-based tasks. This gives the trainees broad insight across departments. Together, they independently take responsibility for the complete handling of major projects that are initiated directly by management. This can include product development, presenting a topic on the website, or a campaign for customers. To do this, the young professionals meet once a week to define goals and how to implement them. Each member is given their own task and regularly takes on roles such as chairing the meeting and taking minutes. Meetings and communication can take place in person or digitally, depending on the situation.
Get to know our energetic trainees here:
Diyar Asif started his training as a wholesale and foreign trade management clerk in August 2024:
“From day one, my colleagues welcomed me warmly. It was exciting and insightful to have the chance to get a feel for all departments. I enjoy coming to work every morning because I am never alone with my tasks. The sense of community here is strong, and everyone is willing to help when I have questions or challenges. What I particularly appreciate is the focus on team building. The efforts to create a harmonious working environment are clearly noticeable and helped me feel like part of the team very quickly. I am looking forward to my time at Bode Naturkost.”
Richmond has been an integral part of our apprentice team since February 2023. After successfully completing his training as a warehouse logistics specialist, he is now training as an IT specialist for system integration:
“My brother inspired me back then to pursue training in warehouse logistics. The colleagues in the warehouse welcomed me with open arms at the start and always support me with everything!”
After I successfully shortened my training in the logistics department, I decided to fulfill one of my childhood dreams and train as an IT specialist for system integration.
“Bode did not hesitate to give me this great opportunity. I was welcomed very warmly in my new department, IT. Their willingness to explain complex topics to me impresses me every time anew. I call it ‘learning by doing.’ From day one, I was given responsibility, and whenever necessary, I was actively guided to ensure that I produced high-quality work.”
Lars Awuley Lartey started his training as a wholesale and foreign trade management clerk at the end of 2022:
Since the beginning of my training, I have come to know my profession as a wholesale and foreign trade management clerk in many different facets. With my communication and organizational strengths, I feel settled in the profession and can use them, among other things, when dealing with customers. Due to the rotation through different departments, I get to know the work-related interfaces particularly well, and I take away all the relevant aspects I need in order to act independently as a specialist. I find the focus on sustainability especially interesting—not only with regard to the goods, but also with regard to our business partners and customers, with whom I am in contact every day. My team always encourages me and helps me make the best of the challenges in my working day. With a similarly positive feeling, I also get to work on new projects and exchange ideas weekly with the apprentice group, which for me is also an opportunity to contribute my own ideas. The team supports me in doing so, and I am able to achieve personal successes, most recently as leader of our Christmas project.”
What do former trainees say about the training?
Wholesale and Foreign Trade Management Clerk:
“Alongside my move to Hamburg at the start of my training, Bode Naturkost offered me the perfect opportunity to start over here. A warm welcome at the company and the harmonious atmosphere within the team completed, in my eyes, a thoroughly positive working environment. Open communication, independence, and flexibility continually encourage motivation and directly demand an independent way of working. Motivating project formats foster a sense of personal responsibility early on, as well as independent engagement with a variety of topics, and yet you can still count on support in any difficult situation.”
Clerk for Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services:
“Before that, I worked in the warehouse at Bode Naturkost for six years. Due to physical limitations, I was given the chance to reorient myself. I would describe the open communication between us trainees and management as a kind of ‘small family.’ My trainer not only has an open ear for my professional problems, but also for my personal ones. If you asked me why I enjoy being a trainee here, I could answer in just one word: TOGETHERNESS!”
Wholesale and Foreign Trade Management Clerk:
“After a few detours in my career path, I finally ended up at Bode for my training and immediately had the feeling of being part of the diverse team. You are quickly fully integrated into your department and valued, and even as a trainee you soon get your first own tasks and projects. There is no need to fear boredom here! In addition, from day one Bode has been willing to support not only my strengths and potential in everyday work, but also on other occasions. This allowed me to enroll in a bilingual vocational school class, take part in internal and external training courses, and also travel abroad for a multi-week external course program.”
Natthaly Natschke and Michelle Hoppe lead the trainee project team as co-heads:“We have already experienced the trainee project team in many different constellations, starting with our own time as trainees. As former trainees at the company, we bring a valuable perspective to our role as co-heads of the trainee project team. We know firsthand the challenges, expectations, and opportunities that come with an apprenticeship at this company. This experience allows us to understand the needs and concerns of the current trainees even better and to address them in a targeted way. We know how important it is to receive support while still having room to develop and realize your own ideas.
Now we are looking forward to seeing it all from a different perspective once again and accompanying a great and diverse trainee team. With this project, we not only have an important platform for exchange between trainees from different training paths, but also give them room to develop their individual strengths and bring exciting projects to life. Our goal is to strengthen the trainees so that they can implement their projects with confidence and creativity — to the benefit of themselves and the entire company.
We are excited to see the challenges and successes ahead.”
Which projects has the trainee project team carried out?
Here you can read a few examples of projects that our trainees have completed. The trainees also always take care of the Christmas gifts for the employees. Based on a budget and with a lot of creativity, they create the popular presents for their colleagues every year.
Nature care with #greenkayak
Our apprentice project team collected waste on and along the Alster in Hamburg to do our part for environmental protection. Equipped with kayaks from #greenkayak, grabbers, and gloves, we went after the trash both on the water and on land: plastic bags, lighters, bottles, and even car tires ended up in the boat. In our small teams, everyone was motivated and having fun — the aim was to win the challenge of collecting the biggest pile of waste. And so sackfuls of rubbish piled up. It is truly alarming how much waste ends up in the Alster: in the shallow shoreline area, there are e-scooters, and glass bottles lie one after another, often already overgrown and only distinguishable from the stones by their shape. For the sake of our green conscience, we will now more often leave our beloved home a little better and cleaner than we found it!
Evaluation of internal sustainability
Continuously improving ourselves and regularly taking a detached look at our previous way of doing things is part of Bode Naturkost’s identity. In doing so, we also regularly rethink our internal sustainable practices.
For this reason, the trainee project team was given the responsible task of taking a closer look at our sustainability in terms of electricity, water, gas, and waste separation, and of looking for improvements.
As part of this project, the team developed measures to save electricity and water, such as a checklist of what to pay attention to when leaving the office and tips on how to use water sparingly in the kitchen. The trainees also designed a precise concept for better waste separation. This project is designed for the long term, as we want to continue improving in these areas.
Creation of an insect bed
As part of our trainee project, we planted an insect bed on our company grounds. As is well known, hard-working insects such as bees, bumblebees, and many others make an important contribution to nature, as their work keeps our ecosystem stable.
Our insect bed is in a sunny spot so that the plants can continue to shine with their beautiful blossoms in the years to come. We chose a seed mix that produces flowers for the especially endangered wild bees and bumblebees. In addition, we sowed plants that provide shelter for native butterflies.
Because sustainability is very important to us, this project is especially close to our hearts! To make the difference clear to you, we put together a small photo collage. Stay tuned to see how our blooming wonder develops, and feel free to check back in with us in the future to see what other projects we bring to life!
Product development “organic broken nut mix”
From the initial idea to market readiness, the trainee project team handled the entire product development of our Bode item Organic broken kernel mix contributed here. The task was to develop a product from ingredients that are usually not used because of their size. The blend contains nut pieces that fall outside the calibration for whole kernels while still offering the taste of the highest quality.
To do this, the trainees, for example, selected the ingredients and determined the right mixing ratio - for the perfect taste, a harmonious appearance, and to ensure the best value for money.
The trainees did an excellent job of this, and the result was a great product!
