Dorthe Elisabeth Werner has worked at Thyborøn Skibs og Motor for 22 years, and part of her job is to be responsible for the company's apprentices. She sees enormous development and joy in the profession in a male-dominated world.

- I have probably followed between 60 and 70 apprentices through the training here, says Dorthe Elisabeth Werner, who is an accountant and is responsible for the apprentices at Thyborøn Skibs og Motor. It is mainly the ship fitter training that the company trains apprentices in.

Most of the people who come through the door are very young men.

- Occasionally we have also had adult apprentices, and right now we have one adult apprentice out of 13 apprentices. We have also had a girl. But most of them are very young, explains Dorthe Elisabeth Werner and points out one thing:

- Most of them come here themselves and apply without their parents. It is great for such young people.

It can be a culture shock

The majority of the apprentices come from Thyborøn, where just over 1,800 people live. Even though most are local, the experience of starting as an apprentice can be a big mouthful.  

- It's probably a bit of a culture shock to start, because there's a certain tone in a male-dominated and tough world. We live off the maritime world, and it's no use trying to be nice to little Poul, she explains.  

But it's also a world that creates enormous development on several levels.  

- Most apprentices are very shy at the beginning, but then they open up during their apprenticeship and become more courageous. This probably also has something to do with age. At the same time, they also become more confident in their work. And they are diligent and dutiful, says Dorthe Elisabeth Werner, who also sees how the apprentices' professionalism grows:  

- They also have a great interest in their work - for some it directly becomes a calling.  

The camaraderie among the apprentices is also something special, and she sees that they also spend their free time together.  

- They are together a lot outside of the hours they spend together at work, she explains.