DS card + drive GmbH, part of the Europe-wide tankpool24 network, supplies the forwarding and logistics industry with fuel around the clock at automated gas stations throughout Europe. One and a half years ago, our subsidiary started a cooperation with workshops for people with disabilities (WfbM) to maintain the green areas at the gas stations.
Recently, the automated gas station in Delmenhorst has also been maintained in cooperation with proTeam Himmelsthür gGmbH (PTH). This WfbM offers employment opportunities and qualification measures in various professional fields. The goal is to enable people with assistance needs to enter the primary labor market and thus actively integrate them into society.
As a medium-sized family business, responsible entrepreneurship is very important to us. We want to give people a chance and actively promote inclusion. Collaborating with workshops for people with disabilities is a step for us to contribute to reintegration.
Mario Hohensee, Head of Operations DS card + drive
A Project with Exemplary Character
Melanie Jacob, workshop manager of proTeam Himmelsthür, and Julian von Seggern, team leader in the technology department and responsible for the gardening and landscaping area, were personally on site for the first appointment at the gas station in Delmenhorst.
“We offer our employees diverse deployment opportunities in various areas, such as carpentry, assembly, or packaging. Now we have also created a new opportunity in the gardening sector with DS card + drive,” explains Melanie Jacob. “The more external workplaces we provide, the more opportunities we offer our employees to develop further and possibly one day gain a foothold in the primary labor market.”
Mr. von Seggern emphasizes the importance of practical experience: “Our employees with assistance needs are carefully prepared and trained for each piece of equipment used so that they can work safely. Assignments like this one are ideal because our employees learn to work outdoors and in the free market economy. This is important for building self-confidence and gaining the necessary preliminary education for the general labor market.”
The positive response from the employees confirms the success of the project. Melanie Jacob adds: “Our employees are very motivated and look forward to this assignment. The varied tasks and the new environment offer them valuable experiences. This positive attitude and anticipation show how important such projects are for personal and professional development.”
I wish for more openness towards people and that companies would dare to invite people with disabilities into their operations. Just try it out and be positively surprised.
Julian von Seggern, Team Leader Education and Technology, proTeam Himmelsthür
Outlook and further Projects
Due to the positive experiences, DS card + drive plans to expand the cooperation with the workshops to additional locations. “We are currently examining which other gas stations are suitable,” says Hohensee.
This successful cooperation shows how important it is to be open to new approaches and to actively promote the diversity of our society. For the DS Group, which has always been socially committed, this is another example of how social inclusion and corporate responsibility can be combined under the motto #bettertogether.
