SUCCESS GROWS IN THE WE.

Work + Language = Integration

For SYNERGIE, taking entrepreneurial responsibility is a matter of course – whether in special projects or initiatives, or in the day-to-day collaboration with applicants, employees, client companies, and partners.

With the „Work + Language = Integration“ project, SYNERGIE, together with strong partners and committed companies, enables migrants to enter the job market and thus drives integration forward.

In February 2017, SYNERGIE won the iGZ Award for the project „Work + Language = Integration“ (see photo) out of over 100 submissions. Not only was the high-calibre jury, including Ulf D. Posé, President of the German Business Ethics Association (ret.) and Johannes Vogel, Secretary-General of the FDP in North Rhine-Westphalia, impressed, but SYNERGIE Managing Director Nicole Munk was also delighted: „For us, the award is great confirmation of our commitment to the integration of migrants.“.

Previous development

In the project that started in Pforzheim in spring 2016, the participants worked for six months – alongside ten hours of German lessons per week – at well-known companies in the region. Initially, the employment involved simpler training-related tasks, including in production.   

At the end of the six months, SYNERGIE labour market expert Ines Wolf-Vetter summarised: „Overall, the project was a success for us: the participants improved their language skills and took important steps towards the job market. We are especially pleased that four of the six participants are still employed by us on permanent contracts.“ The project's unqualified success is also demonstrated by its immediate repetition with new project participants in Pforzheim, as well as the planned expansion of the concept to other locations. In the future, participants will receive even closer support, and an assessment test will be introduced before the start of language instruction.