AGO AG is among the 100 best employers of small and medium-sized companies

Wolfgang Clement awards the excellent personnel work of the Kulmbach based engineering company with the seal of approval “Top Job“

Kulmbach, 2 February 2009: AGO AG is one of the 100 top employers of Germany’s small and medium-sized companies, which was the result of the current analysis of the nationwide cross-sectoral comparison of companies “Top Job“. In the seventh round of this renowned Economic Initiative, the medium-sized company convinced with its personalized and successful approach to human resources management. Mr. Wolfgang Clement -the retired Federal Minister of Economics and Technology presented the coveted “Top Job“ award this Friday night during a special ceremony in Duisburg-Nord’s Landschaftspark .

Mr. Clement as mentor of this medium-sized Economic Initiative appreciates the achievements of AGO AG in the areas “Leadership and Vision“, “Motivation and Dynamics“, “Culture and Communication“, “Personnel Development and Perspectives“, “Family and Social Orientation“ as well as “Internal Entrepreneurship“.

As provider of industrial energy supply systems with a sales volume of EUR 41.3 million in 2007, the Bavarian company is maintained by the know-how of its 127 employees. The proportion of technical staff amounts to 65 %. The AGO employees strongly identify themselves with their employer and get their motivation of the company philosophy: „A healthy world should not be a coincidence – it depends on all of us.” Furthermore, they are encouraged by the fact that they exclusively work in small independent project teams.
Also, the AGO cafeteria was specifically designed as meeting-point during work hours for the exchange of ideas and knowledge. Specific support is provided by the employer for extra-occupational training. AGO employees are allowed the necessary time off for all sorts of volunteer work or commitments for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) or participating in fire or rescue operations. The flow of information between top management and employees on strategic and operative business works extremely well. Apart that, two years ago, the principle of Kaizen was introduced -fostering the continuous improvement in small steps. For this purpose, workshops on certain subjects are held where the employees can contribute with their experience to improve workflow.

For the Top Job award, the engineering company had to undergo a strict two-step procedure of the Institute for Leadership and Human Resource Management of the University of St. Gallen. Prof. Dr. Heike Bruch -Director of the Institute and the team of experts around her assess the management tools of the human resource departments of the participating companies and carry out extensive employee surveys. “The findings of our study reveal that a strategic orientation of human resource management has clear impact on the company result,” comments Prof. Dr. Bruch on her analysis. “To put it in plain language: Good employers have economical success. In the future, this trend is set to continue. Companies who foster the topic of employer attractiveness gain essentially in competitiveness.” Hans-Ulrich Gruber, C.F.O. of AGO AG Energie + Anlagen is especially pleased about the success: “Only those companies participate in Top Job that attach high priority to human resource management. Being awarded one of the 100 best medium-sized employers among such great competitors motivates our employees and makes us even more attractive for highly qualified employees in the future.“ 212 companies altogether took part in this year’s “Top Job“.

All 100 “Top Job“ companies are presented in the book “TOP JOB – The 100 best medium-sized employers“ published by Bruch and Clement and on the website www.topjob.de. The initiative is organized by compamedia GmbH in Überlingen. Interested companies can apply under www.topjob.de from now on. Deadline for entries is 30 April 2009.

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Hans Ulrich Gruber, C.F.O. of AGO AG accepts the “Top Job” award from Wolfgang Clement -the retired Federal Minister for Economics and Technology

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Signet of the “Top Job 2009” award

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Mentor, Cooperation Partner and Scientific Direction

Mentor of the project is Wolfgang Clement -retired Federal Minister of Economics and Technology. Cooperation partners are: Gesamtmetall – the employers’ federation of the metalworking and electric engineering industries e. V., Akademie für Führungskräfte der Wirtschaft GmbH, HRblue AG, Gallup Deutschland GmbH, Kienbaum Consultants International GmbH, Schindlerhof Klaus Kobjoll GmbH, SchmidtColleg GmbH & Co. KG as well as Süddeutsche Zeitung. The scientific leader is Prof. Dr. Heike Bruch, Professor and Director at the Institute for Leadership and Human Resource Management of the University of St. Gallen. She especially earned a prominent reputation in change management as well as leadership.

Organiser: compamedia GmbH

compamedia is specialized in the organization of benchmarking projects for medium-sized companies and in the establishment of medium-sized networks. The company based in Überlingen at Lake Constance realizes the project employer benchmarking „Top Job – the 100 best medium-sized employers“, the innovation project „Top 100 – the 100 most innovative medium-sized companies“ as well as „Ethics in business – initiator of ethical actions“.

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About AGO AG Energie + Anlagen

AGO AG Energie + Anlagen, with its registered office in Kulmbach, was founded in 1980 and is specialized in the area of innovative and efficient energy supply facilities for industrial customers and municipalities. Main focus of AGO AG Energie + Anlagen is laid on the following business divisions: plant development and implementation, as well as service and consulting. The core competence of the company mainly commits to thermal power stations, to heating, cooling and ventilation technology plant construction, biomass cogeneration plants and trigeneration. Site studies and development, consulting in energy efficiency, resource and fossil fuel management as well as emission trade management – these factors complete the business model. AGO symbolizes efficiency, security and technological competence of your energy supply facilities.