A GROUP of students from Gwynedd who headed to Germany for work experience impressed factory bosses so much that they have all been offered jobs.

As part of the Erasmus+ programme, eight welding students from Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor’s Dolgellau campus flew out to Germany this month to gain work experience at the Weigand-Glas GmbH glass factory in Steinbach am Wald, Bavaria.

The students, who are currently studying Welding and Fabrication at the CamDA site in Dolgellau, travelled to Steinbach am Wald to train and work in one of the top three glass container manufacturers in Germany, Wiegand-Glas GmbH – which make glass bottles for wine and Jagermeister alcoholic drinks amongst other glass items.

Over two weeks, they worked in every department within the factory, gaining invaluable work experience and seeing for themselves how the management of such a successful plant works.

When it came to the end of the fortnight, the students had so impressed their German counterparts with the level of their skills and knowledge that all eight were offered contracts of employment on the spot.

As well as excellent work prospects and a competitive starting salary, the students who accept will also receive 170 hours of German lessons.

Wiegand-Glas manufactures at four plants in Steinbach am Wald (Bavaria), Ernstthal, Großbreitenbach and Schleusingen (ThuringStudia), producing more than eight million glass containers for the beverage and food industry.

The Wiegand familiy has been connected with the material glass for almost 450 years, and the successful company is now run by fourth generation family members Nikolaus and Oliver Wiegand, who rely on tradition and modern technology in equal measures to stay at the top of their game.

The students were delighted with their job offers, and several have decided to accept, but will only move out to Germany once they have completed their qualifications at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor.

Dafydd Hughes, of Pwllheli, said: “I went out to Germany expecting work experience not a job! I am over the moon that I have been given this opportunity to work in a top German glass factory and to learn German. I never thought that coming to college to learn welding and fabrication would lead to this to be honest.

“I have decided to accept the job offer because I think it’s a brilliant way to kick start my career, and it should be an incredible life experience. I would like to thank the college, the tutors, Erasmus Plus and Weisand-Glas GmbH for giving me this chance.”

Fellow student Sam Buffery from Tywyn has also decided to accept the job offer: “I am finishing my course this summer and I had nothing lined up, so this job offer is brilliant.

“I am still in shock and can’t wait to get out to Germany, learn German and start working! I love welding and enjoyed my time on the course, and it’s great that I have secured a good job offer after all the hard work that I and my tutors put in. My parents are really proud and that makes me happy.”

Thomas Allday from Barmouth, who was also offered a job, said: “Whilst I have decided to stay here and come back to do Level 3 Machining in September, I think that being offered a job on the spot by a top German factory shows that what we are learning here at Coleg Meiron-Dwyfor could take you anywhere in the world.”