The business training in the automotive industry in Greece: the example of Opel

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to investigate the views of the employees of GM Hellas (the subsidiary of Opel car manufacturer in Greece), with regards to the training they receive from their employer. More specifically, the research seeks to examine two types of training aspects: those related to the principles of adult education and those related to the business goals of the company, such as the improvement on trainees' qualifications and skills, the need to upgrade trainees' job prospects, the provision of knowledge on recent technological developments. Design/methodology/approach – The research took place in 2012, the 4th consecutive year of recession in Greece (since the beginning of the 2008 debt crisis); it investigates a business sector which has been hit very hard due to falling consumer demand for cars. Therefore, the time and context of this research makes it almost unique in its field. The research followed a quantitative approach (questionnaires administered to a sample of 114 employees/trainees). Findings – The researchers concluded that the training provided by GM Hellas is viewed in a very positive light by its employees. Several training aspects considered important in adult education, as well as some business goals achieved through training, were all very favorably evaluated. Originality/value – In‐company training is a key factor for business growth and competitiveness. This is the first research of business education in the automotive sector in Greece, which is very important in the Greek economy.