A look back: FUTURE needs DIVERSITY Award 2024 - what do the winners do?

© APS - Academy for Nursing and Social Services GmbH

On June 20, 2024, the ZUKUNFT braucht VIELFALT Award was presented for the first time as part of the Hannover Region Economic Development Agency's summer reception. The award recognizes companies that make a positive contribution to promoting diversity in the Hannover Region with innovative measures. Now, almost a year later, we asked the winners what impact the award has had and what has happened since it was presented.

Why did you apply? What was your motivation?

© LPKF Laser & Electronics SE

Robin Spremberg, SKM Gesellschaft für Niederspannungs-Systemtechnik mbH:
We applied because we felt that it appealed to us. When it comes to diversity, we no longer even think about how we might be able to implement it. So it's a matter of course for us. The driver for our application was therefore precisely that, to want to express a sense of diversity as a matter of course and to stand up for it.

Jenny Schröder, LPKF Laser & Electronics SE:
We were very honored and encouraged by the recommendation of the city of Garbsen to apply for the FUTURE NEEDS DIVERSITY award. We are convinced that diversity is not only a question of fairness, but also an important value that we want to represent as a company. Different perspectives and experiences promote innovation and better decisions. By taking part, we also wanted to inspire other companies to also work towards greater diversity.

Katrin Assion, Akademie für Pflege und Soziales GmbH:
It's a key issue that we are working on together with many others. It was important to me, especially in the political times that were already looming at the time of the competition, to set an example against exclusion and for more togetherness. We can see here that it works and that dealing with the topic offers clear added value. It was important to me to show this.

Where does the award stand for you? What effect did winning the award have?

Robin Spremberg, SKM Gesellschaft für Niederspannungs-Systemtechnik mbH:
As you can see in the picture: It stands in our entrance area on the counter of the secretary's office. In our opinion, the award is really worth seeing and, coupled with the thought behind it, we have absolutely no need to hide it. It not only beautifies our interior, but also attracts the attention of customers, applicants and other stakeholders.

Jenny Schröder, LPKF Laser & Electronics SE:
The award has been given a very special place in our company. It is centrally located in our HR office, where we hold our employee appraisals and where the topic of diversity is very important to us in our day-to-day work. Internally, winning the award has made our employees very happy and proud and has reassured us that we are on the right track. Externally, it has given us greater visibility and aroused the interest of potential employees. We are very grateful for this award.

Katrin Assion, Akademie für Pflege und Soziales GmbH:
The award is visible and very central in the middle of the corridor in the school, where we can all see it every day. Even the trainees. It's important to me that it's not in a display case or in a cupboard far away from the action, but right in the middle of it. And it's also a really nice prize. The prize still has an impact today: for example, I received an unsolicited application from a person who made specific reference to the prize in their application: "I've known about the APS since 2024, especially because it won the Hannover Region's FUTURE NEEDS DIVERSITY award." Other associations and initiatives have approached us, we have continued to network on the topic and made contacts.

What is currently your favorite internal company measure for more diversity?

© SKM GmbH

Robin Spremberg, SKM Gesellschaft für Niederspannungs-Systemtechnik mbH:
Favorite diversity measure? To be honest, we don't particularly believe in targeted measures for this kind of thing. For us, diversity is the result of having a wide range of different players in our working environment. Leaving prejudices out of the equation and always allowing ourselves to be judged for the better is what we do here - if you like. For example, we have just taken on a trainee of Russian origin aged 46.

Jenny Schröder, LPKF Laser & Electronics SE:
We pay particular attention to promoting our junior managers. Our international 'JuMP' program enables young talents to gain valuable experience abroad and build a global network. We successfully completed the first round of the JuMP program in 2024. 15 colleagues from different locations and departments spent over a year and a half expanding their expertise with theoretical knowledge and practical exercises in three face-to-face modules at international LPKF locations. This is supplemented by international job rotation. These measures serve to promote a diverse corporate culture and qualify our employees for international challenges.

Katrin Assion, Akademie für Pflege und Soziales GmbH:
Our diversity officer is currently planning excursions together with the courses, for example to explore the House of Religions or a mosque. I think it's valuable to bring different people into contact with each other, because it broadens our perspective and can promote mutual understanding. I am grateful that there are so many people in the APS network who are so committed to supporting us.

Do you already have plans for further diversity-promoting measures that you would like to implement in the near future?

© SKM GmbH

Robin Spremberg, SKM Gesellschaft für Niederspannungs-Systemtechnik mbH:
Our team is getting bigger and bigger, every day we are committed to making discrimination, exclusion and group formation a thing of the past. Be it through training meetings, courses or similar. With increasing size, this becomes an ever greater administrative and communication effort. I think these will be our diversity issues of the future.

Jenny Schröder, LPKF Laser & Electronics SE:
Our company is convinced that diversity is a key factor in our success. By specifically recruiting employees from different countries, we enrich our team with unique perspectives and experiences. In the future, global recruiting should enable us to attract the best talent from all over the world and thus increase our innovative strength. To counter possible language barriers when recruiting international talent, we offer language courses to learn German or English if required. We recently revised and published our management principles for international cooperation. In implementing them, we want to sensitize managers not to think in pigeonholes, but to broaden their perspectives.

Katrin Assion, Akademie für Pflege und Soziales GmbH:
In September, the Day of Diversity will be implemented with all courses, the team and all supporters and the new network partners. We are also currently looking into whether we should apply for the "School of Diversity" award from the regional state authority for schools and education.

What insights and messages would you pass on to other companies on their way to more diversity?

Robin Spremberg, SKM Gesellschaft für Niederspannungs-Systemtechnik mbH:
Diversity is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity. An opportunity for positive adaptation to changing conditions. An opportunity to learn. Nobody should miss out on that.

Jenny Schröder, LPKF Laser & Electronics SE:
We are convinced that diversity is not an end in itself, but a strategic success factor. Companies that embrace diversity are more innovative, more attractive to talent and strengthen their position as a future-orientedemployer. Our advice to other companies: Start promoting diversity now and be brave enough to break new ground. It's worth it! Use the creativity of your employees and shape the diverse future of your company together!

Katrin Assion, Akademie für Pflege und Soziales GmbH:
Have the courage to take unusual paths. Always try to break down your own prejudices and embrace differences. - It not only broadens your own perspective, but actually gives you a competitive edge: People with similar attitudes will approach you as applicants, interested parties and customers. A diverse team ensures better results and makes working together much more fun.

We asked the winners of the ZUKUNFT braucht VIELFALT Award 2024:

• Robin Spremberg from SKM GmbH, manufacturer of switchgear and power distribution systems, Isernhagen
• Jenny Schröder from LPKF Laser & Electronics SE, Laser Material Processing Specialist, Garbsen
• Katrin Assion from the APS - Akademie für Pflege und Soziales GmbH, school for training and further education for healthcare professionals, Hanover

With the initiative ZUKUNFT braucht VIELFALT and the award , the Hannover Region is sending a strong signal for a sustainable, inclusive working world .

The FUTURE needs DIVERSITY Award 2025 will be presented again in 2025. Would you also like to make your commitment to diversity visible? You can find all the information about applying here.