The development and advancement of our personnel in terms of their professional and personal growth and their health is closely linked to our business success. Through continuous and appropriate (further) training of our staff we safeguard the high quality standard of our services. Furthermore, well-trained and motivated employees ensure that our company is perceived in a positive light. Potential applicants consider it important, for example, that executive development and employee advancement are included among the company's strategic goals. Not only are professional skills fostered, we also set great store by supporting and maintaining the well-being of our employees and the compatibility of family and career, since healthy and motivated staff are productive and contribute over the long term to our company's success.

In our Sustainability Strategy approved by the Executive Board we have therefore set ourselves concrete goals and we are constantly working to accomplish them.

Our range of (further) training activities in the year under review again included opportunities for employees and executives alike. We are pressing ahead with our specialist training programmes and individual supporting activities on a worldwide basis. Access to our range of further training options has been simplified thanks to a learning management system, which is available online to all employees and executives of the Group. Our employees and executives can use the system to view and book available in-house seminars.

In order to assure the individual advancement of our employees we offer them annual performance reviews with their direct supervisor, which highlight not only their strengths but also potential areas for development and support measures. In addition, with a view to consistently improving the quality of leadership shown by our executives, we conduct a management appraisal on a regular basis and organise suitable advanced training measures.

A standardised process for succession planning prevents the emergence of gaps when senior executives leave the company. Every two years we hold discussions with the two highest levels of management so as to identify potential successors for all positions.

In order to keep our staff healthy, we have sustained our commitment to health management with a focus on prevention. Given that most of our staff work at a desk, good ergonomic working conditions as well as relief from eye and back strain are particularly important, although in more general terms we also address the ability to cope with stressful situations.