My name is Ole Thomas; I’m 21 years old and was born in Germany near Hanover, where I currently live. Since August 1, 2024, I’ve been completing my four-year apprenticeship as an agricultural and construction machinery mechatronics technician at the Kiesel Group. Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve been fascinated by large machines and complex technology that keep our world moving.

After earning the highest possible general high school diploma - the Abitur - at age 19, the world was my oyster. It quickly became clear to me that my interest in large machines isn’t just an interest, it’s a passion. That’s how my passion led me to Kiesel. And that marked the beginning of a dream career in the construction industry. Every day since I started at Kiesel, I’ve been working with equipment from Hitachi, Fuchs, Bell, and Giant, as well as attachments from manufacturers like Demarec, HGT, Reschke, and many others.

We repair, maintain, and inspect the machines, support customers, and ensure rental equipment meets quality standards. As much fun as the workshop and daily interactions with enthusiastic customers may be, I also wanted to take the plunge onto the stage to represent the construction industry and my passion for training as an agricultural and construction machinery mechatronics technician.

This gave me the opportunity to showcase my talent for the first time at Bauma 2025 in Munich, after which I received a lot of support. Invited by the VDMA, I had the opportunity to inspire students to pursue apprenticeships in the construction industry under the theme “Think Big!” My enthusiasm for open discussions, sharing my own experiences, and informative exchanges quickly became apparent.

So, in November 2025, I attended Agritechnica in Hanover, where I once again had the opportunity to participate in a project called “Werkstatt-LIVE.” Through this project, we show young people what a typical workday in the industry can look like. There, too, we encountered a great deal of support and were fortunate to spark interest in some of the attendees.

It is an honor for me to now be able to share my enthusiasm and fascination in London as well—to expand my knowledge, represent the German apprenticeship system, and explain its structure and framework.