Dear readers,
In the last newsletter of 2025, it's fitting to review the past months. The general situation could still be better: Germany has been in recession for three years now. Important questions for the country regarding infrastructure, energy supply, and security remain unanswered. And: Ukraine has been fighting for its country for four years now. This leaves its mark – on our customers and, consequently, on some of our subsidiaries.
However, other parts of the RWTÜV Group were able to generate growth, such as some areas of our subsidiary Van Ameyde, which is active in insurance services. CONSULECTRA and Enoplan also prospered with their business focused on energy issues. We were extremely pleased with these, at times very positive, performances. Our diverse portfolio proves helpful and balancing, especially in times of crisis.
This is fully in line with our motto "move AS ONE," which we announced at the beginning of the year. This strategy has given us direction during these challenging times. It served as a unifying element for many initiatives implemented in the past months, which we have mostly covered in detail in previous newsletter editions. Nevertheless, we would like to highlight a few of them again, such as the three Young Professional Summits (YPS) with around 50 participants; a successful Profile Dynamics certification of the HR managers in our companies; and various informative AI workshops in the companies in Germany, including the derivation of concrete implementation measures. Last but not least, today you can also read about the training of 18 innovation managers, which concluded in December. It was implemented together with TÜV Thüringen and isn – innovation service network.
We would also like to make special mention of our 4th internal innovation competition, the kick-off event for which was a resounding success with over 100 participants. Read below to find out which winners were chosen from 21 exciting submissions. All ideas will be thoroughly examined for feasibility and market potential, so that none of our employees' creativity is lost.
We sincerely thank you and all of you for your excellent cooperation. Let us, together, confidently and motivatedly transform future challenges into successes!
Merry Christmas and a relaxing holiday season with family and friends, we wish you
Your Thomas Biedermann and Dr. Fabian Fechner
Challenge
In September, the RWTÜV Group once again challenged its employees. Under the motto „Smart Innovation for a Safer Tomorrow“ The fourth internal innovation competition started, with the theme „Infrastructure and Security.” Management had set the goal of finding ways through which the corporate group could directly or indirectly benefit from government funding – such as special funds in Germany. Innovative solutions for the future that bring about sustainable progress were sought.
To convey a common understanding of the task, and to pave the way for joint solutions early on, two very successful kick-off events with around 100 participants were held. You can find the summary, combined with the most important information about special funds in Germany, on the intranet.
21 thoroughly researched and well-thought-out ideas were submitted by December, some developed individually, some in groups, vying for the awarded prizes of €2,000, €1,000, and €500.
In the first evaluation phase, the entire RWTÜV community decided in an open vote for the submission by colleagues Ralf Weiermann and Marcel Helligrath from the corporate headquarters. They had submitted a proposal for offering sustainability consulting under the name „Fit for sustain.“ They were rewarded with a €200 Amazon voucher.
Subsequently, in mid-December, the jury, consisting of the managing directors of the RWTÜV Group, made their decision. The idea deemed best by this committee was Maximilian Driessen from IB Nordhorn, with a proposal to expand the TGA consulting portfolio to include energy-related topics. Rik Amberger from Enoplan secured second place with his submission on climate-resilient infrastructure. Jan-Ole Zülsdorf and Carsten Saldenholz from CONSULECTRA jointly developed a concept for a specialist forum on grid planning and expansion consulting, thereby securing third place.
„We congratulate our successful colleagues who are advancing our group with their ideas, innovative spirit, and commitment! Thank you for participating!“ summarized Thomas Biedermann. „We will now support the teams in further development and implementation – e.g., through workshops, business plan coaching, or pilot projects. A total implementation budget of up to €100,000 is available.“
Pilot project
How to foster the creation of a creative environment, how to cultivate a climate where small ideas can grow into successful concepts, and how to prevent potential from being wasted were the topics covered in the Innovation Manager training course, which 18 participants from various companies within the RWTÜV Group and TÜV Thüringen successfully completed after three intensive months. The instructors also came from the RWTÜV Group: innovation expert Reinhard Willfort and his colleague Victoria Wallner from isn – innovation service network.
Together, the group learned about central methods and tools of strategic innovation management, worked through the content, and applied it in a practical way. Time and again, the focus was also on AI in the innovation process and how it can support and optimize preparation, development, and evaluation.
Colleague Anika Corte from RWTÜV's corporate headquarters also participated. She personally received her certificate in early December during the otherwise remote closing session with the proud graduates. Thomas Biedermann, CEO of RWTÜV, and Volker Höhnisch, Chairman of the Board of TÜV Thüringen, congratulated them and were pleased about the expanded network and the results achieved, which were presented online in four pitches. Volker Höhnisch evaluated this pilot project: „The joint event with employees from both corporate groups was a complete success and encourages us to start further joint projects. Many thanks for the organization, implementation, and active participation of everyone involved!“
Generosity
This year, the large Christmas tree in the lobby of the corporate headquarters served as a quiet mailbox with an added benefit. Wishes collected by Caritas from young people at an Essen youth home were hung on the tree on prepared cards. Afterwards, every resident in the building on Kronprinzenstraße could choose one of these wishes and fulfill it. Shortly before Christmas, the RWTÜV team handed over all the gifts together.
Because giving gifts brings so much joy, colleagues also participated in the „Christmas Miracle“ campaign by WDR 2: From December 13th to 17th, the „WDR 2 Glashaus“ stood next to the Essen Cathedral on Burgplatz. Well-known hosts Sabine Heinrich, Steffi Neu, Jan Malte Andresen, and Thomas Bug presented well-known musical acts and many celebrity guests for a large Christmas fundraising drive, with the help of which miracles could come true for those in need. Last year in Paderborn, over 12 million euros in donations were collected. This year, the RWTÜV team presented its own donation check for 1,872 euros – the founding year of Rheinisch Westfälischen TÜVs.
If you still wish to donate but don't know to whom, we highly recommend the organization Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. (Engineers Without Borders). Our colleague Anja-Kathrin Kampert from the RWTÜV subsidiary MN Mörbitz|Nordhorn Ingenieure is volunteering her time here. This recognized non-profit, non-governmental development cooperation organization supports people where technical cooperation is needed and possible, particularly through the construction of infrastructure – in the areas of water, electricity, and sanitation – at schools and in rural communities. Domestically, Ingenieure ohne Grenzen conducts technical language courses and STEM workshops for refugees and migrants to help them enter the job market.
This year's holiday campaign's theme is „Together for Our Climate,“ making it ideal for everyone who cares about the environment and sustainability.
Celebrations
The colleagues from cetecom advanced met for the year-end celebration at the Schmachtenbergshof restaurant in Essen. cetecom advanced Managing Director Andreas Ehre thanked his staff for their commitment, innovative spirit, and collegial cohesion and wished everyone a relaxing holiday season and a Merry Christmas.
The teams from Enoplan and Enometrik celebrated a merry and atmospheric Christmas party on December 5th at the CasaMia dance and event location to successfully conclude the year. Around 120 employees were wonderfully entertained and treated to culinary delights in Bruchsal.
In contrast, at the corporate headquarters, everyone looks forward to the Christmas dinner at Schloss Landsberg all year round; it's a tradition that has become a cherished one. In a festive setting and with a few culinary highlights, everyone took a look back at the past year together with their colleagues.
We thank you all for your interest in the activities of the RWTÜV Group and all initiatives under the motto move AS ONE!