Economy

Decent work and economic growth

Goal 8 of the global goals defined by the United Nations for sustainable development is to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. As a family company with a 100-year tradition and more than 26,600 employees, we contribute to achieving this goal. We also undertake in our Code of Conduct to ensure fair working conditions. This is also illustrated by awards we have received, for example as "Top National Employer".

The Piepenbrock Group has been an owner-managed, family-run business since it was established in 1913 – now in the hands of the fourth generation. In our entrepreneurial activities, we have at all times been guided by firm values and the notion of sustainability.

In the meantime, with our many years of experience, we are among the leading building service providers Germany-wide. The basis of our company success has always been our employees as well as the trust of our customers in the quality of our services. We repay this trust with our high service quality, our reliability and customer orientation. It is our aim to establish long-term partnerships with our customers. A prerequisite for this is their satisfaction.

Our Code of Conduct

Our entire entrepreneurial activities are based on the principles of our Code of Conduct. It confirms our intention to carry out our economic tasks in line with ethical and legal guidelines. Our Code of Conduct comprises nine principles and rules with regard to responsible entrepreneurial activity. The content meets the requirements of national and international standards which the entire group of companies and each individual employee must comply with during all business activity.

Applicable legislation

  • We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on both a national and international level.
  • In dealing with governments and authorities, we act sincerely and transparently at all times, as well as in compliance with applicable law.

Trust and respect

  • We comply with laws and rules for the protection of human rights, for fair working conditions, statutory minimum wages and other labour law regulations.
  • We reject any form of forced and child labour.
  • We respect the personal dignity, privacy and rights of personality of our business partners and colleagues.
  • We encourage a working environment that features respect and tolerance, in which the value and dignity of each individual are recognised. We also encounter all business partners and employee with politeness, honesty and dignity.
  • We prohibit all forms of discrimination in our hiring and employment process.

Financial integrity

  • We record all business transactions, assets and liabilities in line with the rules of financial reporting and document these. Fraud, theft, embezzlement, money laundering or the financing of terrorism are not permitted.

Corruption

  • We do not tolerate any form of bribery or corruption. Our business decisions and our behaviour are not influenced by gifts, invitations or other benefits.
  • We select suppliers and service providers carefully according to objective criteria and make business decisions in the best interest of Piepenbrock.

Safety

  • We take account of all legal and technical specifications as well as standards for product safety.
  • We regard ourselves as partners of our customers. It is therefore our aspiration to offer safe and faultless products and services of high quality.
  • We comply with laws and rules regarding health and safety at the workplace and actively check and improve safety standards.
  • We provide regular instruction to make our employees aware of the dangers at the workplace.

Data protection and intellectual property

  • When gathering, storing, processing or transferring personal data, we ensure the greatest care is taken and strict confidentiality is maintained, and that we comply with applicable laws and rules.
  • We are aware of the value of the company's own expertise and protect it diligently. Confidential information is only intended for the named recipients, not for internal distribution or external publication.
  • We respect the intellectual property of business partners and competitors.

Donations and sponsoring

  • As a general principle, we do not donate to political parties, individuals or organisations with aims that contradict the fundamental principles of democratic rule of law or the essence of our business management.
  • As a responsible member of society, we make monetary and material donations to promote education and science, sport, art and culture, as well as for social and humanitarian projects.
  • All donations are transparent and comprehensible, i.e. the identity of the recipient and planned use of the donation are known; the reason for and intended purpose of the donation are legally acceptable.

Sustainability

  • In our entrepreneurial activity, we take account of ecological, economic and social objectives in equal measure.
  • We address the needs of our business partners to support them on a collaborative basis in the long term.
  • We ensure responsible handling of natural resources.

Competition

  • We act in line with the respective applicable competition regulations. Fair competition is a prerequisite for free market development to the benefit of the common good.
  • We do not make arrangements with and do not agree on conduct in relation to competitors regarding prices, price increases, terms and conditions or capacities with the aim or consequence of obstructing, restricting or distorting competition.

Awards for success

As confirmation of our sustainable and stakeholder-oriented commitment and activity, we have received various awards in the last few years. We regard these successes as an obligation for the continued future positive development of our company.

Gold in the EcoVadis CSR rating

In August 2022, EcoVadis, one of the leading providers of sustainability ratings, awarded us the Gold Medal for our commitment to sustainability for the first time. We were assessed in four categories: Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. Only five percent of all rated companies worldwide receive gold status.

Most Popular Family Company – Award Winner 2023

In the year 2023, Piepenbrock receives the seal of approval "Most Popular Family Company – Award Winner 2023". As shown in a Germany-wide survey by the business magazine FOCUS-MONEY together with DEUTSCHLAND TEST and the consulting and analysis firm ServiceValue, Piepenbrock is one of the most popular family companies in Germany. In Lower Saxony, the building service provider gained a spot among the top 10. The basis of the survey was a list of the largest family companies of the business medium "The German Economy" and the TOFAM rankings of Matchbird GmbH. Added to this were other criteria such as revenues of at least 35 million euros and direct contact to final customers. In a Germany-wide online survey, a total of 124,197 consumer assessments of the companies were obtained and evaluated. On the basis of their experience, the participants assigned grades from "excellent" to "poor".

Top National Employer

For the nineth time, we received the award "Top National Employer" in the year 2023. This is awarded by the news magazine Focus, jointly with the career portal Xing and ratings platform kununu. The award is based on an independent online survey of companies, a survey among Xing members, as well as current customer data used to determine the top employer.

Axia Best Managed Companies Award

Once again, we received the Axia Best Managed Companies Award in 2020. The annual competition is run by Deloitte, WirtschaftsWoche (business magazine) and the Confederation of German Industry. It honours companies for strategic far-sightedness, innovative power, a sustainable management culture and exemplary business management.

Trusted sustainability

The German Private Institute for Sustainability and Economy honoured us once again in the year 2024 with the "Ensured Sustainability" seal of approval, thus confirming our competence in the area of sustainability.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Top Training Organisation

The Osnabrück – Emsland – Bentheim county Chamber of Commerce and Industry honoured us in the year 2021 with the "Top Training Organisation" award again, which is valid for three years. In advance of receiving this seal of approval, we went through a four-stage process. This began with completing a questionnaire. We then completed a catalogue of criteria, and had a consultation session with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry training consultant. To conclude, there was an audit with two external training experts and a Chamber of Commerce and Industry employee.

Open Company and Top Company

The ratings platform kununu honoured us as an "Open Company". In doing so, the company acknowledges our willingness to enter into dialogue with users and the active call to employees and applicants to rate our company on kununu. We also received the "Top Company" award, certifying our positive company rating.