A future built together: Inside the apprentice experience that powers Hydro’s next generation
Apprenticeship plays a key role in building Hydro’s future workforce. Across Norway, apprentices describe an experience shaped by hands-on learning, trust and the opportunity to grow in a workplace where people and competence matter.
Though their journeys are unique, Eline Seglem, Jørgen Seglem, Alette Eide Strømberg, Sondre Saghaug Kjerpeseth and Lina Bostad Thanem speak with one unified voice about what it means to be an apprentice at Hydro.
These five apprentices highlight why Hydro remains one of Norway’s most trusted workplaces to build and sustain a long-term career, and what life is like working for Hydro.
A career path that feels right
Many apprentices at Hydro describe a moment when they realize that a vocational route, more hands-on and practice oriented, suits them better than academically and classroom based studies. They have a desire to do something active, where learning happens through real tasks and collaboration.
“Sitting at a school desk wasn’t for me. I wanted something active, hands on, and Hydro felt like the right place to start,” says Lina Bostad Thanem, who is working as an apprentice at Hydro Sunndal, Europe’s largest aluminium smelter.
For many, the opportunities within vocational training at Hydro have opened the door to a career that is both meaningful and full of possibilities.
“In middle school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Vocational studies offered so many possibilities, and with my dad being a process technician, I knew it could lead somewhere meaningful,” says Alette Eide Strømberg, who has been with Hydro’s Husnes aluminium smelter since 2022.
A workplace built on safety, trust and clear expectations
Hydro’s apprentices consistently point to one theme that defines their early experience, a culture built on safety, trust and accountability. For those entering the workplace for the first time, this structure establishes confidence and clarity from day one.
“You learn from people who’ve been here a long time and they’re strict from the start. If you don’t follow the rules from day one, it won’t work later,” explains Eline Seglem, who works at Hydro’s smelter in Årdal.
Safety at Hydro is more than a set of procedures, it is a shared mindset. Through shift meetings, open dialogue, and performance conversations, apprentices learn not only how to carry out their tasks, but how to do them safely, consistently, and with pride. Clear expectations give apprentices the foundation they need to develop quickly, both professionally and personally.
“You dare to speak up if something is wrong. You can tell your manager if they aren’t wearing the right personal protective equipment (PPE). Everyone looks out for each other,” says Lina, highlighting the openness that shapes daily work
Creating a culture where everyone belongs
Beyond the technical skills they develop, apprentices describe something deeper at the workplace, a connection that feels both genuine and lasting. For many, long shifts and shared routines create an environment where relationships form quickly.
“You get a really strong sense of community with the people you work with, it becomes like a little family,” says Sondre Saghaug Kjerpeset, who works Hydro in Husnes.
The sense of belonging is often strengthened by the mix of ages and experiences on every shift.
“You can work with someone who’s 20 and someone who’s 60. You learn from different experiences and the environment is open. You can joke, relax and then switch to serious mode when it’s time to work safely,” says Jørgen Seglem, who works for Hydro Energy in Sogn.
Together, their reflections show how Hydro’s workplace culture creates more than teams, it creates communities where people support one another, learn from each other and build relationships that last.
A company interwoven with its community
In Årdal, the relationship between Hydro and the local community runs generations deep. For siblings Eline Seglem and Jørgen Seglem, that connection is personal. Both grew up in Årdal, a town where Hydro has shaped daily life for decades, and where their own father worked for more than 30 years. His commitment left a strong impression on them and played a meaningful role in their decision to follow the same path.
But for the Seglem siblings, Hydro is not just a family legacy, it’s a community one. Årdal is a place where almost everyone has a connection to the plant, whether through a parent, a neighbor or a friend.
“There’s no Hydro without Årdal, and no Årdal without Hydro,” explain Eline and Jørgen.
It’s a balance that has shaped the town for decades. They’ve felt that sense of belonging themselves. Choosing an apprenticeship then, was not simply about securing a job, it was about stepping into a tradition that had shaped their childhood.
“Our dad had good principles and a good attitude toward the job. That influenced us. It felt natural to follow that path,” Jørgen says.
For today’s apprentices, that connection continues. Hydro remains a place where people learn from each other, look out for one another and build careers that last. And for siblings like Eline and Jørgen, it’s also a way of carrying forward the values their father lived by, pride, safety, and a deep commitment to the community they call home.
Why become an apprentice at Hydro?
Across different locations, departments and personal backgrounds, Hydro’s apprentices speak with one unified voice.
Hydro is a place where you can grow. Where safety comes first and where you are supported, challenged, and welcomed, and the work you do genuinely matters. An apprenticeship at Hydro is not just an opportunity, but a foundation for a strong future.
Hydro’s apprenticeship program offers not only solid technical training, but long-term potential. For many, Hydro becomes more than a workplace, it becomes part of their identity, their community and their future.
An apprenticeship at Hydro opens doors, builds confidence and creates opportunities that last a lifetime.