Consolidated management report

8. Personnel

During the course of 2007/2008, Wien Energie employed an average of 5,441 personnel (excluding those on paternal leave, national service and trainees), a figure which represents a year-on-year decline of 0.2%.

In order to best equip personnel to meet the challenges they face on a daily basis, Wien Energie has implemented a development concept which takes into account not only individual needs and the various target groups but also development phases. The core of this career-based personnel development concept is the active nurturing of the next generation of specialists and managers. By highlighting internal development and career opportunities, this concept acts to give motivated personnel career prospects and the support they need as well as binding them more closely to the Group. Our firm belief in internal promotion rather than external appointments is supported by our efforts in the area of employee training.

In addition to its integrated personnel development concept, Wien Energie also supports the company-internal training and further education programmes. In 2007/2008, an average of nearly every employee attended one day of training at the central training and further education centre in addition to their respective specialist training courses organised by their division. The range of further education courses on offer includes training (e.g. IT courses) and seminars in the areas of personal development, team building and working methods. Employees are also actively encouraged to exchange their experience and network with colleagues within the Group.

The education of trainees and apprentices is a top priority at Wien Energie. The aim of this training is to provide not only in-depth specialist knowledge, but is increasingly focused on the acquisition of soft skills. Trainees and apprentices should also learn how to adapt to new technologies and a changing environment. As one of the largest training organisations in the Vienna metropolitan area, Wien Energie and its subsidiaries play a pro-active role in improving the range of traineeships and apprenticeships on offer. At 30 September 2008, a total of 194 apprentices and trainees were in the course of working towards no fewer than 14 recognised professional qualifications (two commercial and 12 manual professions). Another clear signal of the development of the next generation was Wien Energie’s decision to again take part in the annual Take Your Daughters to Work Day event.