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Recognised as an elite sport-friendly training company by Swiss Olympic

27 January 2026

Swiss Olympic has recognised our Bern and Zurich Altstetten branches as ‘elite sport-friendly training companies’. In other words, young elite athletes are in the best of hands at Planzer. There are in fact parallels between top-level sports and what we do here with our vocational trainees: maximum performance is only possible when you are able to develop your talents and grow as an individual. And above all, when you enjoy what you do.

::‘Basic occupational training and elite sport’ brochure»

Swiss Olympic has launched the ‘elite sport-friendly training company’ label

Basic occupational training and elite sport

Swiss Olympic is the umbrella organisation for Swiss sport and is actively committed to ensuring that young elite athletes can combine their sporting careers with vocational education. This makes it all the more important for talented individuals to be able to build a solid professional foundation early on without having to give up their sporting goals. Swiss Olympic awards the ‘elite sport-friendly training company’ label to organisations that are aware of this challenge and provide young elite athletes with exactly the support they need. The label is not just a show of commitment, but a seal of quality that sets clear requirements for the training company.

Top performance across the board

Very few athletes in Switzerland are able to make a living from their sport in the long term. What’s more, the demands of professional and sporting careers are often vastly different in the early years, and balancing the two is a challenge. Early morning training sessions and competitions at the weekend, as well as academic and work commitments put a lot of pressure on young athletes. This makes it all the more important to have a vocational training environment that shows understanding, is flexible and offers the exact support they need. This is precisely what we offer with our sports apprenticeship, which follows a principle that we have sought to instil in young people for many years as part of their vocational education: those who perfect their talents and abilities can achieve peak performance. Giving it your all is not only important in sport, but also in life.

Lofty ambitions

Seventeen-year-old Max Hammer is a prime example. Max is completing a basic commercial training programme with us in Zurich Altstetten, which will see him receive a Federal VET Diploma. He also plays volleyball for TSV Jona at national level, as well as for the national team. Unlike with the traditional commercial apprenticeship, Max will complete his qualification in four years rather than three. In return, he gets time for training as an elite athlete, for adequate recovery and to prepare for important matches. In our interview, Max talks about his everyday sporting life and his experience with a sports apprenticeship at Planzer.

‘I consider it a great privilege and am very grateful to be able to do a sports apprenticeship at Planzer.’

Max Hammer, commercial apprentice and volleyball player for TSV Jona
// Planzer: Max, why is it important for you to learn a profession alongside your elite sport?
Max: You never know what’s around the corner. I could end up injured tomorrow and never be able to compete in top-level sports again. It’s important to me to have a backup plan, and that’s learning an occupation that gives me a solid foundation in the professional world.
// What does it mean to you to have the opportunity to combine elite sport and an apprenticeship?
I consider it a huge privilege and I’m very grateful for it, especially for my circumstances. I know that it’s not a given to be able to combine elite sport in this way with vocational training. At the same time, I am aware that without hard work, I would not be where I am today.
// What does a typical day at work or day in your life look like for you?
I get up at around 6:20 am and make my way to Rapperswil-Jona. I have training from 7:45 am to 9:15 am, then I take a shower, get dressed and head to the office. I’m there until shortly after 2 pm, and then I have strength training, which goes until 4:25 pm. My normal training starts 10 minutes after that and finishes at 7 pm. Then I head home. If I’m not too tired by then, I hang out with friends or my girlfriend. On Friday mornings, I work, and then in the afternoons I attend three lessons at vocational school. I also train with the national team in Schönenwerd every second week.
// What support do you receive from Planzer to help you juggle all this?
Planzer allows me to attend every training session and also the training camps. My managers are aware of my situation and very understanding of the challenges I face, but they still make sure that my academic performance remains up to scratch. Even though I only have a few exams left, I can study at Planzer while I work – at least when there isn’t too much to do. Since I often don’t have the energy to do it at home, I really appreciate this opportunity.
// As a team athlete, what do you think makes a good team at work?
Communication is absolutely crucial. You can’t read other people’s minds, and you never know how much stress they may be under or how they’re feeling. That’s why you have to ask. That way, you can discuss together who will take on which tasks. This applies to both sport and work.
// What do you take away from volleyball that helps you in your day-to-day work?
Patience. You can’t and shouldn’t expect everything to work out the first time around. That’s why you should persevere and ask questions if you don’t understand something. Avoiding stress is also important, because you can easily make mistakes when under pressure.

Taking responsibility for today and tomorrow

Being labelled an elite sport-friendly training company is both confirmation and motivation for us. But we truly believe that taking young people seriously, placing trust in them and giving them the opportunity to develop their talents is a sustainable investment – in sport, in vocational education and in the future. At our branches in Bern and Zurich Altstetten, we are helping to ensure that up-and-coming talent can follow their path – with commitment, ambition and prospects. Let’s take the podium together.

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