“These kids are the future”: Benecar and EPRM prepare the new generation

Benecar and the Escola Profissional de Rio Maior (EPRM) joined forces once again to bring vocational education closer to the reality of the job market. Over the course of three practical sessions, 12th-grade students from the Industrial Maintenance / Electromechanics program had the opportunity to experience firsthand the atmosphere of Benecar’s workshops in Benedita.

During the sessions, the students explored the areas of Painting, Panel Beating, and Lubrication, complemented by a theoretical component led by a technician from BASF, a world-leading company in the field of chemistry, renowned for its innovative solutions for the automotive industry.

At the end of the three sessions, the students received a certificate marking the completion of this practical stage, in a symbolic ceremony that highlighted the commitment of everyone involved and reinforced the message that Benecar’s doors are always open to welcome them back.

“There will be great demand in the future.”

Marco Silva, Manager of the Benecar Workshop, emphasized the importance of these experiences in the students’ educational journey:

“These three sessions allowed them to get a first sense of what it’s like to work in areas such as bodywork and painting, in a facility with the best possible conditions. We encouraged them to come back in May for their final course internship, and even to consider a nine-month paid professional internship with us.”

For Marco Silva, this partnership is more than just a school experience — it’s an investment in the future:

“It’s extremely important to maintain this connection between EPRM and Benecar because this is a field facing a shortage of professionals. We must motivate these young people — who are the future — to grow and fill these positions, because there will be great demand in the years to come.”

“Companies are no longer what their grandparents and parents told them about.”

Cláudia Gomes, Director of the Industrial Maintenance course at EPRM, also highlighted the impact of this collaboration on student development:

“Considering that today’s young people are surrounded by technology, it’s important that they see that companies are no longer what their grandparents and parents told them about, and that continuous learning throughout life is absolutely essential — both technically and practically. Being able to visit and participate in internships at companies like Benecar is of tremendous value for our students.”

The students’ enthusiasm was clear. According to “Professor Solange” (Cláudia Solange), as she’s affectionately known, the feedback couldn’t have been more positive:

“The feedback they give me about this experience is very easy to summarize: if I allowed it, they would come every week until July, because it’s been phenomenal. They love coming here and do everything they can not to miss Wednesdays — their ‘Benecar day’.”

With this initiative, Benecar reaffirms its commitment to training new professionals and developing the skills most needed in the automotive sector. The partnership with EPRM demonstrates how well-structured collaborations between companies and schools can transform education into something relevant and truly impactful in young people’s lives.