DB Esports Scholarship: Germany’s Rail Recruitment Strategy

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Introduction

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is leveraging gaming and esports to attract young professionals, aiming to recruit approximately 20,000 new employees in 2025, including over 5,000 young trainees. This initiative includes the DB Esports Scholarship, run in cooperation with the esports player foundation (epf), and participation in events such as Gamescom in Cologne.

DB Esports Scholarship

Launched in 2022, the DB Esports Scholarship supports apprentices and dual-study students at DB InfraGO AG who are also gamers. The scholarship provides professional coaching to enhance gaming performance, sports psychology, and nutrition. To date, 42 scholarship holders have been supported, with around 1,500 applications received through DB’s gaming channels.

Skills Developed Through Esports

DB emphasizes the relevance of esports-developed skills to its technical and operational roles. The company believes that disciplines such as rail traffic management, track construction, electrical engineering, and mechatronics benefit from skills such as strategy, teamwork, technical understanding, and stress management. Heinz Siegmund, Chief HR Officer at DB InfraGO AG, stated that skills like technical understanding, stress resistance, multitasking, and precise communication, honed in esports, are crucial for their professions.

Partnership and Expansion

The esports player foundation views the program as internationally pioneering. Julius Althoff, Managing Director of the foundation, noted the diverse career opportunities opened by gaming and esports. The expansion of this commitment demonstrates support for young people, with some talents already advancing to the highest national leagues while training at DB.

Recruitment Strategies

DB is using major gaming events, such as Gamescom in Cologne, to showcase its employer brand. Furthermore, the company has established communication channels to reach younger audiences, including collaborations with influencers on social media platforms and its Discord community, which has more than 1,000 members and hosts tournaments, events, and discussions. Esports has also been integrated into DB’s official company sports program.

Conclusion

DB’s initiatives in gaming and esports are part of a broader effort to recruit skilled employees, particularly in operational roles, to support its S3 renewal program aimed at improving punctuality, reliability, and profitability.

Company Summary

Deutsche Bahn (DB): A major railway company that aims to recruit around 20,000 new employees in 2025, including more than 5,000 young trainees, and is using gaming and esports to attract young professionals.

DB InfraGO AG: A company that is supporting apprentices and dual-study students with the DB Esports Scholarship.

Esports player foundation (epf): The foundation that runs the DB Esports Scholarship in cooperation with DB.

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