BMW 2007 Annual Report Download - page 29

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to begin their careers. This includes the Fastlane
programme (a programme to help university and
works students that have previously excelled on work
experience with the BMW Group) and the Drive
programme (a starter and development programme
for university graduates with up to three years’ pro-
fessional experience).
Further training tailored to requirements
As a premium provider, the BMW Group attaches
great importance to both the basic and the further
training of its workforce. Further training is always
tailored to suit requirements and carried out with
specific objectives in mind. Further training activities
in 2007 were therefore focused on specific priority
topics and selected target groups. In 2007, the
BMW Group invested a total of euro 181 million on
basic and further training courses for its employees,
1.6 % less than in 2006.
Internationalisation supported by placements
abroad
The international transfer of knowledge and network-
ing at all levels are crucial factors for globally operat-
ing businesses such as the BMW Group. For exam-
ple, key specialists are moved around between the
various production sites as start-ups commence for
new models, thus ensuring the same high quality
each time.
In 2007, more than 750 BMW AG employees
were deployed at foreign locations. The main target
countries were again the Group’s business locations
in markets currently experiencing dynamic growth,
in particular North America, the United Kingdom
and Asia. Furthermore, approximately 175 employees
from non-German locations were working in Ger-
many or at other international locations away from
their home countries. In the case of longer-term
placements, employees remain abroad for an aver-
age period of three years. This is a sufficient length
of time for them to pass on process and technical
know-how, receive further training while abroad
and, at the same time, gain international experience
which will stand them in good stead during the
course of their subsequent careers. Apart from over
900 employees who have worked abroad for longer
periods, more than 500 people were also called up
for short-term international duty.
The BMW Group remains a highly attractive
employer
Numerous studies and ranking lists in 2007 con-
firmed the BMW Group’s reputation as an attractive
company to work for. In the study Germany’s Most
Popular Employers (Trendence), young academics
from both the business and engineering fields chose
the BMW Group as the most popular employer for
the sixth year running. As documented in the study
The Ideal Employer 2007 (Universum), engineers
and business management graduate career begin-
ners judge the BMW Group to be one of the most
attractive employers. The BMW Group’s excellent
reputation as an employer helps greatly towards
BMW Group employees 31.12. 2007 31.12. 2006 Change
in %
*Figure for end of previous year including acquired entities
Automobiles 98,548 98,505 –
Motorcycles 2,989 2,782 7.4
Financial Services 4,097 3,478 17.8
Other 1,905 1,810 5.2
thereof consultancy/software 1,793 1,743 2.9
BMW Group 107,539 106,575 0.9
adjusted* 107,539 107,345 0.2
Employee fluctuation ratio BMW AG*
as a percentage of workforce
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
03
1.43
04
1.91
05
2.45
06
2.68
07
2.66
*Number of employees on unlimited employment contracts leaving the company