Annual Report 2010 311 - Verbundnetz Gas AG

the project in cooperation with the eight Olympic
Centres in eastern Germany and the respective
local authorities.
The VNG Foundation successfully began its work
in 2010 and supports projects in the fields of
science and education, religion, art and culture
as well as non-profit commitments.
“Verbundnetz für Demokratie und Toleranz” is a
network joining forces with municipal partners to
strengthen civil society. The “Mauerfälle” exhibition
and future workshop which went on tour to
mark the 20th anniversary of German unification
engaged in a democratic dialogue in the German
cities of Leipzig, Munich, Essen, Neubrandenburg,
Dresden, Frankfurt, Nordhausen and Stuttgart
as well as the European cities of Stavanger and
Brussels.
Research for strong municipal authorities. VNG
supports the dialogue and research into issues
pertaining to municipal action. The main platform
is a non-partisan discussion platform called “Verbundnetz
für kommunale Energie”.
VNG also supports the interdisciplinary research
unit called “Forschungsstelle Kommunale Energiewirtschaft”
at the business science faculty of
Leipzig University and “Wissenszentrum Kommunalwirtschaft”
at the Institute for Sustainable
Regional Development of Eberswalde University
of Applied Sciences.
Human resources
As at December 31, 2010, the VNG Group headcount
at the parent company and in the fullyconsolidated
companies during the 2010 financial
year totalled 1,455 employees. As a result, VNG
continues to rank among the key employers in
eastern Germany, but an increasing number of
employees are also located in western and southern
Germany. Preserving and creating secure
jobs at VNG in Germany and abroad and retaining
employees in the company will remain one of the
main tasks of HR work at VNG.
Demographic trends are intensifying competition
for the best experts and managers. To remain
at the head of the field in this competition for
knowledge and skills, VNG supervises interns,
graduates and doctoral candidates and maintains
contact with numerous universities. As part of
VNG’s graduate marketing program, long-standing
cooperation arrangements exist with institutions
such as Leipzig University, Hochschule
für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig, and
Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg. As
internationalisation progresses, VNG is intensifying
cooperation with its partner universities in St.
Petersburg, Trondheim, Prague und Krakow. The
VNG-Campus initiative coordinates this cooperation.
The initiative fosters international scientific
exchange among students and scientists. VNG
scholarships have already been awarded to 255
students to spend time studying at a partner university
or complete an internship at VNG.
The internal commercial vocational training program
which has been running since 1997 and the
technical vocational training scheme in cooperation
with Stadtwerke Leipzig GmbH are illustrative
of sustainable HR work at VNG. In 2010, 41 apprentices
received professional vocational training
at VNG oriented to the needs of the market.
Well trained and motivated employees safeguard
corporate success and the continued competitiveness
of VNG. Recruiting and retaining the best
employees for the company, and motivating and
encouraging them is therefore a core task.
VNG underpins its position as an attractive employer
with a pronounced awareness of the needs
of families through the attention the company
devotes to combining a career and a family. Apart
from flexible working hours and comprehensive
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