SMS group has attached great importance to vocational education and training for more than 80 years. Both the Mönchengladbach and Hilchenbach sites have apprentice training shops that were set up specifically for this purpose. On April 15, 1936, the training shop in Hilchenbach opened its doors for the first time. Apprentices from various departments in the company were now able to receive training together in their own workshop. There were 20 apprenticeships on offer at the time. In the years that followed, the apprentice training shop was expanded several times. To meet the demands made on modern vocational training, the new apprentice training shop was inaugurated in June 2010. As part of a competition involving the trainees and apprentices, the training shop was given the new name "LernWerk".