FUTURE needs DIVERSITY award goes to three role model companies
03.07.2025 - A real highlight was celebrated at the business development agency's summer reception: The awards for outstanding companies sent out a strong signal for diversity, innovation and success. An evening full of recognition that will resonate for a long time.
Hot, hotter - the Economic Development Agency's summer party! In temperatures above 35 degrees, the ZUKUNFT braucht Vielfalt Award was presented as part of the Hannover Region Economic Development Agency's summer party, which traditionally takes place at Erlebnis Zoo. In front of over 600 guests, small and medium-sized companies from the Hannover Region were honored for the second time for taking a special and concrete approach to diversity in their company.
"The aim of the ZUKUNFT braucht VIELFALT initiative is to highlight good examples of diversity in companies and motivate others to join in. Our workforces will become more diverse and structures must take this into account. We are deliberately focusing on this in business development."
Ulf-Birger Franz, Head of Economic Affairs and jury member
"It's great to see companies focusing on humanity and social responsibility as well as profitability. Different cultural backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and skills can help to promote innovative ideas and draw the attention of committed specialists to companies, which also creates a competitive advantage. My thanks go to the winners and, of course, to all the companies that have also embraced diversity."
Steffen Krach, Regional President and patron of the award
The winners
This year, the awards, endowed with 5000 euros, werepresented in three categories.
FUTURE needs DIVERSITY Award 2025 - role model wins: aserto GmbH & Co KG (20.5 employees)
The company comprehensively integrates diversity into its corporate culture and structure. It takes all dimensions of diversity into account and implements them in its collaboration with employees, customers and service providers. Particularly noteworthy is the cultural development process carried out together with all employees, from which specific working groups have emerged. In addition, aserto is creating sustainable structures for equality, anti-discrimination and inclusion with measures such as anonymized selection procedures, diverse working time models, an internal liaison officer, a language manual and a knowledge portal.
FUTURE needs DIVERSITY Award 2025 - Intersectional wins: Internationale Schule Hannover Region GmbH (95 employees)
The school has been embedding diversity comprehensively and intersectionally in its everyday school life for many years. With a community of 65 nations, it lives cultural openness, revised guidelines and an adapted organizational structure. The promotion of diversity is reflected in multilingual communication, inclusive festivals, targeted further training, a Student Diversity Council and inclusive contact persons. Racism, discrimination and right-wing extremist rhetoric are actively countered - through concrete measures, exchange formats and a practiced attitude of openness and responsibility.
The company specifically anchors diversity and participation in its structures and decision-making processes. A diversity-sensitive recruitment process ensures a diverse workforce and management level. Employees are actively involved, e.g. in decisions regarding digital tools or working models such as remote working from abroad. The new company headquarters was deliberately designed to be barrier-free and inclusive - with retreat rooms, gender-neutral toilets and space for individual needs. The commitment is complemented by language courses, a mentoring program and community celebrations that value cultural and religious diversity.
Companies and organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of diversity in their teams and work environments. Different cultural backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and skills can help to promote ideas, attract the attention of specialists to companies and increase the performance of companies. The aim of the ZUKUNFT braucht VIELFALT (FUTURE NEEDS DIVERSITY) initiative of the Hannover Region's Economic and Employment Promotion Agency is to draw companies' attention to existing support services, identify missing services and initiate them.
© Christian Wyrwa
© Christian Wyrwa
© Christian Wyrwa
© Christian Wyrwa
© Christian Wyrwa
© Christian Wyrwa
© Christian Wyrwa
© Christian Wyrwa