Jobs for the future

Axpo aims to gradually increase the number of our apprenticeships in Switzerland to more than 600 by 2030, making us one of the leading training organisations in the Swiss energy sector. In addition to this initiative, internships and trainee programmes also support Axpo’s efforts to foster the skills so critical to the energy transition. We sat down with Valerian Held, one of our bright young apprentices, to find out how the training campaign is working in practice. 

Valerian, why have you chosen Axpo for your apprenticeship?  

I’m pursuing an apprenticeship in digital business development. I had to choose a business where I would work for the next four years, so I considered a number of different companies.  

People who knew Axpo told me many positive things about the company’s culture. I heard about its ethos of teamwork and the role it plays in enabling a more sustainable future. While my first year focused on theoretical knowledge, in the past four months I’ve gained a lot of insight into the company. Looking back, my expectations were definitely met! 

What do you do at Axpo?  

Since August 2024, I’ve been working four days a week in Axpo’s hydro & biomass division, focusing on the digitalisation of hydro power plants. I’m part of the workforce implementing the transition from paper to digital while optimising processes at the same time.  

It’s very hands-on work. I visited Axpo hydro plants such as Eglisau and Linth-Limmern – which are impressive locations with amazing views – to understand the needs of the various users and roll out software, apps and wikis that make their daily jobs easier. Colleagues no longer need to carry paper plans from building to building. Now they can see an overview of maintenance work at the click of a button, and these improvements are very rewarding. Our products will be rolled out to additional power plants over the next few years, so it feels great to be part of such a strategic project. 

How do you feel you’ve developed during your first year with Axpo?  

Given my close collaboration with various teams, my communication skills have improved a lot. I’ve also enhanced my technical skills, working with domain-specific language used to manage data, such as SQL.  

How would you describe the culture and benefits at Axpo? 

It's a very open and friendly culture. The fact that we’re all on first-name terms, including with the CEO, was quite striking to me. While I’m the youngest in my experienced team, I feel really welcome and my vocational trainer has been enormously helpful in teaching me the ins and outs of the business. 

There are many team events and social occasions, which help encourage collaboration and a true community feeling.  

In terms of benefits, I have six weeks’ vacation and receive a financial bonus for good grades. 

What are your plans for the future?  

When my apprenticeship finishes in 2027, I might be staying with Axpo if the opportunity arises.

Looking ahead, I plan to continue to develop my skills by learning more about cyber security, which is an additional two-year training programme.