Essen’t it great here?

Essen student Hanna Dick has spent a month at Liebherr and Sunderland Software Centre-based companies International Management Answers and Bloom have hosted students Sara Ana Kalweit and Swaantje Schneider.

A group of young people from Southwick Neighbourhood Youth Project is currently planning its next visit to Essen in July when they will take part in the German city’s International Youth Camp.

This year’s Krupp Foundation Apprenticeship students have spent four weeks working full-time in the city, and taking part in cultural and social activities with Liebherr, International Management Answers, Bloom staff and a host family.

The apprentices also took the time to visit the University of Sunderland and their stay was rounded off with a reception hosted by Mayor of Sunderland, Coun Alan Emerson.

Sunderland City Council Chief Executive Irene Lucas said: “The Krupp Foundation has supported the apprenticeship programme for many years and the City Council has been happy to work with Sunderland partners to find suitable placements in Sunderland for Essen students.

“Liebherr independently organises its own student placement each year, and this year the City Council invited Bloom and International Management Answers to take part too.

Sara Ann Kalweit said: “Sunderland is a fantastic city with so much to see and do. It was very easy to find our way around and the people are so friendly.”

Swaantje Schneider added: “The four weeks have flown by, and we love it so much that we all wish that we could stay longer. It was great being part of a company in the city centre, and we really enjoyed being apprentices.”

Liebherr Sunderland managing director, Ralph Saelzer, said: “We have organised our own exchange for some time and it’s great to see other companies in the city benefitting from being involved.

“We’ll be sad to see Hanna go and hope she has valued her time with us as much as we’ve valued having her.”