For over a century, we have built up unrivalled human capital and expertise. Today, with the help of all our employees, we are perpetuating a unique corporate culture, centred on people and striving for values of excellence, a passion for quality and a spirit of innovation, as well as developing and passing on skills. As proof of our commitment to the next generation, in 2022 we launched an ambitious plan to double the number of apprentices in our group.
A visionary entrepreneur, Hans Wilsdorf believed that the secret to a company’s success and longevity lay in its leaders’ ability to surround themselves with exceptional talent. Over the years, the founder of Rolex set about persuading the very best watchmakers and engineers to come and work alongside him.
Securing and sharing expertise
Symbolizing excellence throughout the world, Rolex has chosen a business model based on independence. This model inevitably goes hand in hand with an unwavering commitment to the ongoing development of skills and the transmission of expertise. As a result, over the years we have integrated more than 150 professions into the company.
At the same time, we have established an extensive training programme for all our employees, both in Switzerland and abroad.
A unique training facility
Since 2018, the Rolex Training Centre (in Geneva, Bienne and Fribourg) has centralized all initiatives related to employee training in Switzerland. This large-scale, bespoke facility has been designed to cultivate and enrich the skills of all employees, from interns to managers.
Proximity, agility, cross-functionality
In order to best serve the company’s needs, the Rolex Training Centre is located close to the manufacturing teams, who can see their work evolving in real time. It can also adapt quickly to societal and technological changes, so as to offer coherent and effective modules.
Finally, the Rolex Training Centre welcomes people from all of the company’s divisions to encourage discussion and experience sharing.
Every year, over 900 different training courses are dispensed to the company’s 10,000-plus employees.
Training future experts internationally
Alongside our commitment to training in Switzerland, we train a global network of experts to embody our standards of excellence.
A pioneer in vocational training
True to the values inherited from our founder Hans Wilsdorf, for over four decades we have been committed to training and integrating young people into the world of employment. In 1984, Rolex became the first company in the canton of Geneva to train watchmaking apprentices in-house. Today, our ambition is to become a benchmark in vocational training.
Apprentices at the heart of our succession strategy
In order to give back to society, we have made a significant and tangible commitment to guaranteeing the group’s future, but also to meeting the needs of the local economy.
Dual training to support excellence
We offer our apprentices a dual training programme. This type of training, which is very common in Switzerland, gives young people the opportunity to combine theory classes at a state vocational college with practical learning in a company. Depending on the chosen profession, training can take two, three, or sometimes even four years.
Doubling the number of apprentices and becoming a benchmark for young people
For over forty years, we have trained hundreds of young people in the canton of Geneva and in Bienne and have continually improved our range of apprenticeships.
