KION GROUP AG is launching a pilot project from the Business Council for Democracy for its trainees and apprentices. Over several weeks, external trainers will be running five workshops for 20 vocational and degree apprentices dealing with the topics of online abuse, disinformation, and conspiracy myths on social media. The project is open to vocational apprentices and those taking part in dual work/study programs across the KION Group in Germany.

KION’s reason for participating in the Business Council for Democracy is the growing erosion of democratic core values in social media. “Even within companies, we are witnessing an increasing spread of disinformation, hate speech, and conspiracy theories. So it falls not only to the politicians but also to businesses to provide accurate factual information. The KION Group must also play its part in actively promoting the protection of democratic values,” says Rob Smith, Chief Executive Officer of KION GROUP AG.

The Business Council for Democracy is a joint initiative of the Hertie Foundation, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, and the Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, which was launched in autumn 2020.

KION Group promotes the protection of democratic values

This year’s pilot project is the second time that KION Group has participated in the Business Council for Democracy. The intralogistics group already ran two series of workshops in 2021. On those occasions, the workshops were only open to permanent employees. Due to the positive feedback, the project has now been expanded to also include vocational and degree apprentices.

Through this project, the KION Group wants to provide its employees with an important work-based training opportunity. The workshops are intended as a cost-effective and straightforward way to equip participants with digital skills that will enhance their understanding of democracy.

The project is scheduled to finish at the end of March 2022.