Employees today are looking for challenging work with good colleagues and a clear goal in mind, according to Irina Windsheimer, Specialist Global Employer Branding & Human Resources. “They long for meaningful tasks and want to play their part in creating a better future. At ebm-papst, we offer them this opportunity.” That is why we have used our purpose, “Engineering a better life,” to come up with three core messages: “Better working,” “Better teams,” and “Better future.”
With these promises, we want to inspire the right up-and-coming talent and specialists and convince them to work for us. This is why, when it comes to developing our positioning as an employer, we place a lot of value on the experiences and needs of our existing employees. We even let them speak for themselves as part of our recruitment measures, telling job candidates about their work at ebm-papst. As Irina Windsheimer knows, “Nothing is more authentic and meaningful than real employees talking about their employer.”
Enabling and developing, right from the word “go”
To ensure a first-class future, it is important to support and challenge young talent from the outset. During the “Energy Scouts” initiative founded by Markus Mettler and Hauke Hannig, trainees are taught to identify energy-saving potential in the company and initiate sustainable measures to utilize it. “Since 2010, more than 1,000 companies in Germany have trained scouts using our model,” he reports.
The idea is even gaining a foothold internationally, with more and more chambers of commerce in both Europe and the USA now offering the Energy Scouts program. In another of our initiatives, “Future Heroes,” ebm-papst trainees and students are tasked with implementing selected everyday work projects. Examples of this include our appearances at the HANNOVER MESSE 2023 and the Climate Protection Day 2024. The Future Heroes planned and organized the measures for these events all by themselves.
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teenagers and young adults start their training at ebm-papst every year
“It’s important for junior staff to take on responsibility at an early stage and prove themselves,” says Timo Pflüger, Director People Development, Learning & Apprenticeship. We also regularly put students in Heilbronn to the test: At the Campus Founders’ “Corporate Campus Challenge,” the teams address some of the practical issues facing companies and work together to develop solutions. Participation in this event has proven a valuable experience for everyone involved and provides an opportunity for us to discover the specialists of tomorrow.
Realizing ideas together
Of course, we also support further training for inquisitive colleagues who have long since completed their basic training. ebm-papst offers a wide range of courses and programs for individual training and development. “Whether employees are interested in work-related topics or something completely different, like foreign language courses, we facilitate learning both for professional development purposes and for personal interest,” explains Irina Windsheimer.
One workshop in this portfolio is specifically dedicated to the topic of sustainability. “We want to foster a deep understanding of sustainability issues within our team and motivate employees to take responsibility for such matters,” explains Sustainability Manager Annemarie Hillenbrand, who led the practical program for the first time in 2023, focusing on everyday issues.
“Sustainability also means supporting and challenging employees. An important part of this is maintaining physical and emotional health. I am particularly keen to support women in the many roles they play at our company.”
Chloë McCracken, Shareholder ebm-papst
She relies on interdisciplinary discussions and creative methods, like using Lego Serious Play to visualize ideas. The ESG team is delighted with the positive feedback they have received with regard to this approach. After all, the path to greater sustainability requires not only technological innovation, but also education, commitment and the active engagement of our employees.
Anyone looking for proof that the sustainable commitment of our colleagues goes beyond the theoretical can find it in the USA, among other places. Community campaigns such as the waste action days at the Farmington site are evidence of our employees’ team spirit and drive when it comes to sustainability, says Sarah Worden, Senior Director Human Resources Americas: “It makes us proud to see how our employees are actively helping to keep our environment clean and make those around them aware of the importance of environmental protection.”
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