Family-oriented businesses in County Herford: A spotlight on local commercial ventures that prioritize a wholesome environment
In a ceremony held at the Kreishaus Herford, 48 companies were honoured for their commitment to balancing family, care, and work. The award, given since 2017, recognizes companies that actively support their employees through family-friendly HR policies.
Landrat Jürgen Müller, who attended the ceremony, stated that the increase in applications shows that family-friendliness is increasingly important to companies in Kreis Herford. This year, 51 companies submitted their applications, with 41 doing so repeatedly.
Among the award recipients were BUDICH Gruppe, Volksbank in Ostwestfalen, Sparkasse Herford, Mail Druck + Medien GmbH, Westfalen Weser Energie GmbH & Co. KG, Kreiskliniken Herford-Bünde AoR, and Kortemeier Brokmann Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH, to name a few. Notably, DTS Systeme GmbH was a first-time applicant for the family-friendly award.
The identity of the company that participated for the first time in the "Family-Friendly Company 2025" competition but did not win is not publicly available.
The award process consists of three stages: written applications are reviewed, companies present their family-friendly offerings online, and there are company visits before a nine-member jury decides on the award. The jury was particularly impressed by care guides this year.
Companies introduced or continued individual measures and offerings this year to support families and ease their daily lives. These included home office, flexible working hours, subsidies for childcare, family summer festivals, company vehicles or cargo bikes for private use, and free tickets for concerts or sports events.
The award is presented by OstWestfalenLippe GmbH within the framework of the state program "Kompetenzzentrum Frau und Beruf OWL", in cooperation with Kreis Herford, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Ostwestfalen to Bielefeld, the Chamber of Crafts Ostwestfalen-Lippe to Bielefeld, and the Intercommunal Economic Development in Kreis Herford.
Björn Böker, Managing Director of OstWestfalenLippe GmbH, emphasized that companies that take the compatibility of work, family, and care seriously gain motivated employees and strengthen their competitiveness.
Some of the awarded companies are based in Gemeinde Kirchlengern, while others, like Kreis Herford, are among the organizations that are part of the award process.
The ceremony was also attended by Björn Böker, Managing Director of OstWestfalenLippe GmbH, and other dignitaries. It was a celebration of companies that prioritize their employees' well-being and strive to create a balance between work and family life.
