Social engagement and responsibility
Responsibility for our society and the environment is of paramount importance to us – in all regions and areas where VNG Gasspeicher is active. We place great value on sustainable, better developmental opportunities for children, youth and young adults. To ensure this, we target and support local initiatives.
Our Contribution to the SDGs
With targeted commitment to specific activities, we are working to help achieve sustainable development goals 3, 4, 5 & 8.
Work-Life-Balance
With our programs promoting healthy lifestyle choices, we support both the physical and mental well-being of our employees. Our company physician regularly offers a range of healthcare and preventive measures. Alongside physical fitness plans, we also work with guided courses teaching relaxation and mindful mental balance. Our employees can also take part in regular blood donation drives.
We also work with PME Familienservice to provide consultation, counselling and advisory services for employees with children or other dependents in need of care. We gladly support sport clubs in the regions where we are active. It’s one way of giving back to our communities while promoting active, healthy living outside our company as well.
Education with Meaning and Future – for All
We are committed to our employees - and those who may one day work with us. That’s why we offer internships for students and have set up cooperative agreements with colleges and universities to provide the framework for parallel professional degree programs.
With the help of our occupational training programs, such as those for system operators or mechanics, we also train motivated newcomers on site in our facilities. All of our employees benefit from regular training courses for both professional and personal development.
Equality – Through and Through
We are committed to our employees - and those who may one day work with us. That’s why we offer internships for students and have set up cooperative agreements with colleges and universities to provide the framework for parallel professional degree programs.
With the help of our occupational training programs, such as those for system operators or mechanics, we also train motivated newcomers on site in our facilities. All of our employees benefit from regular training courses for both professional and personal development.
It’s How We Operate: Family Friendly, Social, Safe
We offer our employees flexible working times, to help balance our professional and family lives. We are proud that we have been certified, since 2009, by the Hertie Foundation, a not-for-profit group which “audits” work-life balance. These days, humane working conditions also include the chance to work remotely, financially supporting employee care and scaled, fair payment.
>To ensure sustainable economic growth in the region, we stay close to our partners. Whenever possible we work with local vendors and suppliers.
Sponsoring Partners
Sportclub Bernburg e.V.
The largest of our underground storage facilities is located in the greater Bernburg area – precisely in Peißen. We support the TV Askania Bernburg: a sports organization with around 500 members which has been in existence for over 125 years and offers sporting activities in the fields of soccer, self-defence, billiards and popular sports.
Water Rescue Group Bernburg
14 volunteers train 105 children and young adults - with the aim of preparing them for the Lifeguard Badges. This includes learning different swimming styles, training endurance and fitness as well as practicing swimming with clothes. We are impressed by the young people's commitment to society.
Spielmannszug Bernburg 1902 e.V.
The Spielmannszug Bernburg 1902 e.V. is a regional association with around 90 members. The focus of the association's work is to teach children, young people and adults to play an instrument and to make music together. The band performs at public events in the region and takes part in the annual state championships. Extra-musical activities include holiday camps, sports and craft afternoons, Halloween parties and the band's annual music festival.
SV Großgräfendorf e.V.
SV Großgräfendorf e.V. is the largest sports club in the Goethe town of Bad Lauchstädt and has set itself the goal of promoting and developing sports for children and young people. That suits us well - we also want to support the youngest members of society. In the football, bowling, aerobics, children's gymnastics and dance departments, they can enjoy exercise and learn teamwork.
SV 1885 Teutschenthal e.V.
We operate our Bad Lauchstädt underground gas storage facility in the town of Teutschenthal. We support the local sports club, SV 1885 Teutschenthal, which offers its members athletics, bowling, karate, throwing and running, gymnastics and football.
SV Lipsia 93 e.V.
SV Lipsia 93 Leipzig-Eutritzsch e.V. provides a platform for football enthusiasts of all ages. SV Lipsia Leipzig-Eutritzsch is not only about competition, but also about camaraderie, personal development and community involvement. This is in line with our values.
Kinderheim Machern gGmbH
Kinderheim machern GEMEINNÜTZIGE GmbH operates a curative education facility in Leipzig and the surrounding area, as well as children's and family homes to provide support, trust and perspective for children and young people. This fits exactly to the principle of VGS: to support young people in a targeted way and to give them self-confidence for their own future.
Theater Fingerhut
The Gartentheater Abtnaundorf is an open-air festival that takes place in July/August. With our sponsorship, we would like to make this cultural event possible, especially for families, children and young people in the north-east of the city and in Leipzig.
The way in which we, as a company, would like to develop can be described as a process of lifelong learning and continual improvement. We cooperate with universities and colleges. This can be seen in projects working on hydrogen storage research platforms but not only there. There are many more instances showing the meaningfulness of cooperation between industry and science. We are fully aware that many of our most important employees come from these institutions. This, too, is an effort to ensure a better future.
TU Bergakademie
Long-term research partnerships, exciting projects - We are currently working together on various aspects of hydrogen storage. Additionally, scientific and mathematical topics have, and will be, advanced as part of bachelor and doctorate thesis paper development.
HTWK Leipzig
We have a cooperative agreement with the HTWK, the University of Applied Science, in Leipzig. This includes a series of lectures as well as support and supervision for students developing their graduate thesis papers.
Supporting Local Providers
In line with Goethe’s famous question, "Why look so far afield when there is so much good so close at hand?”, we support regional trade and development. Even though our clientele is based all across Europe, we see ourselves as a company deeply rooted in the centre of Germany. These are, after all, the people who have made VGS into what it is today. By supporting local businesses, we hope to give something back.
Internal Commitment
Initially, sustainability is an attitude. And when actions arise out of this internal outlook, that is when sustainable changes begin to take root. Such as those of our employees.
Mobility
We were supporting remote working even before the Corona pandemic. A large part of our workforce enjoys flexible, remote working opportunities. We are also considering whether or not it makes sense to travel so often for our work. Could many of these trips not be replaced by video conferencing? This will help to further reduce our CO2 emissions while also improving our employees’ work-life balance.
Sparing Use of Resources
The sustainable use of energy is a major factor in reducing CO2 emissions. We also make efficient use of working and operating materials. This is supported by our energy management system. Whenever possible, we try to minimize the use of hazardous materials or completely replace them with alternatives. We are also careful to use as little paper as possible. Systematically working to reduce consumption even further, we work with digital signatures whenever we can and are also currently digitalising maintenance documentation.
Satisfied workers are the cornerstone of our company. A proper balance between their working and private lives has always been of importance to us – something that we traditionally support and continuously work to improve. From flexible working times and advancement opportunities to health initiatives, we are always working to ensure the wellness of our people.
You can find more information about the work-life balance and employment opportunities at VGS in our Careers area.