AAE embraces Lifelong Learning to promote the growth of both the company and its employees

Lifelong learning - the principle that upskilling and retraining become standard for everyone throughout their career - is one of the solutions to the major talent shortage for the high-tech sector. Mikrocentrum supports these pathways together with companies. AAE, a high-tech family business from Helmond, is a successful example of such a cooperation.

Through the AAE Academy and collaborations with educational institutions, the company offers its 550 employees in all departments the opportunity to improve their skills continuously. Leaders at AAE emphasize that this attitude is a crucial factor in driving innovation and supporting the organization's rapid growth.

A key pillar of AAE's mission is “improving the world through technology.” Wessel van Moorsel: “Our mission is to make the world a little better every day with technology. We do that through three different lines of business, each of which makes different types of products, including advanced healthcare machines. These products have a tangible impact on people's lives.”

One example is the advanced assembly machines AAE builds to produce medical syringes. “The precision required to print size markings on syringes, such as those used for insulin or COVID-19 vaccines, is challenging,” says Van Moorsel. “The markings must be accurate and durable so they don't fade or rub off. This is where our specialized printing and assembly machines make a difference.”

AAE Academy

The company's growth goes hand in hand with that of its employees, as evidenced by the AAE Academy, which serves as a focal point for various learning and development opportunities. AAE sees itself as a “learning organization” that faces lightning-fast developments simply because of the nature of its work. To keep up, constant development is required for every position in the company. The Academy provides access to both technical and soft skills training, from leadership development to communication skills and even language training.

Wessel van Moorsel, AAE

AAE wants employees to get to know themselves better because the idea is that anyone who recognizes their motives will also understand their behavior better for themselves as well as related to others. This includes a diverse training package, both technical and competency-oriented, such as leadership development. Through the AAE Academy, employees can take a range of e-learnings, external training, and internal courses, often also offered by colleagues. It is an environment where all employees can find the resources that fit their personal or team development goals. The goal is to encourage employees to challenge themselves and grow continually.

The Academy's offerings are tailored to a broad audience within the company. Team leader Annemieke Schakel says, “We monitor engagement across the organization and encourage everyone to participate, from entry-level to senior managers. The Academy is structured to support employees from all departments and roles.”

Young Leadership Program

A special initiative within AAE is the Young Leadership Program, designed specifically for emerging leaders. Van Moorsel, himself a participant in the program, describes it as more of a journey than a traditional course. “The program lasts 18 months, during which we learn to understand ourselves and others better. We also work on practical skills, such as presenting and conducting assessment interviews. Our project was about what AAE will look like in 2051, with the integration of AI,” he says. “The goal was to inspire others to embrace AI as an important component of our future.”

The program encourages participants to look beyond immediate problem-solving and pursue broader, strategic goals. Van Moorsel says, “It's about inspiring ourselves and others to look further into the future, especially with rapidly evolving technologies like AI.”

Talent and innovation

AAE's commitment to lifelong learning extends beyond the company, with strategic collaborations with educational institutions. The Technique Center Brainport (TCB), modeled after the famous Philips business school, offers specialized technical training in machining, welding, and sheet metal working. Van Moorsel, a former TCB student: “This collaboration allows us to train students with state-of-the-art machines that regular schools cannot afford, so they are prepared for real challenges.”

The company also collaborates with several college and university institutions, offering internships and apprenticeships. “We often have as many as 30 to 40 interns, apprentices and graduate students working here,” Schakel said. “It's a great way to get hands-on experience in a high-tech environment, and many of these students continue to work at AAE after their education. The fact that young people have the opportunity to continue developing with us makes me completely happy. It's also super important, because the vision they have, we need that to come to better insights, decisions and ultimately better business results.”

Annemieke Schakel, AAE

Culture of continuous improvement

With AAE's rapid growth from 200 to 550 employees in recent years, maintaining a unified approach to leadership and organizational culture has become increasingly important. “As a fast-growing company, we have had to rethink our processes and systems to ensure scalability,” notes Schakel. “We constantly focus on improvement and innovation to meet the changing needs of our customers.”

The learning culture at AAE has enriched collaboration within the company, Schakel and Van Moorsel note. The learning programs help connect with other departments, thus promoting teamwork and strengthening mutual understanding.

AAE also sees a broader impact of lifelong learning on job satisfaction and organizational success. “Encouraging our employees to continue learning contributes to a happier and more engaged work environment,” says Schakel. “Our goal is to create an environment where everyone, from junior employees to senior leaders, has the opportunity to continue to develop and contribute to the company's goals.”

As AAE continues to grow, its commitment to lifelong learning remains central. The AAE Academy and collaborations with educational institutions not only help the company remain competitive, but also provide a growth-oriented work environment for employees. And that goes for young and old alike. “Well, Lifelong Learning also really means lifelong learning. So that's completely age-independent because it's lifelong, both for those who have been around here a bit longer and those who started here yesterday.”