The IT group has welcomed its 4,000th employee and is on course for a new record year in terms of workforce growth: so far in 2023, the workforce has already grown by over 500 employees, with a further 200 or so expected by the end of the year. Last year alone, the IT service provider increased its workforce by a record total of 500 new employees. According to a recent survey by the media brand Capital and Statista, Materna ranks among the most attractive employers in Germany and is an outstanding local employer in Dortmund.
“I am very proud that, despite the increasing competition for labour, we are able to attract so many talented and skilled people to our company,” says Materna CEO Martin Wibbe. “We are investing heavily in the development and training of our staff, and with our new building at the Phoenix West technology and services hub in Dortmund, we are creating a state-of-the-art working environment for a total of 1,800 employees. Our highly successful expansion of our workforce shows that these measures are paying off,” says Wibbe.
Strong staff growth underpins the IT service provider’s ambitious turnover targets
For the IT service provider, rapid and continuous staff growth is a key prerequisite for achieving its ambitious turnover targets. The company’s “Mission 2025” strategy envisages a turnover of 700 million euros by 2025, with 5,000 employees. “With an expected 4,200 employees by the end of the year, we are right on track,” says Wibbe.
August was the month with the highest number of new hires so far this year, with around 100 new recruits. The new hires are spread roughly one-third each across the head office in Dortmund, locations such as Heidelberg, Munich and Berlin, and overseas. “We can respond very flexibly to employees’ preferences regarding their place of work. This gives us a valuable competitive advantage,” says Head of Human Resources Martin Brochhaus.
A varied working environment for experienced professionals and graduates
In his view, another important aspect for applicants is a varied working environment. “We score highly here too,” says Brochhaus. “Experienced professionals choose us because they can work on challenging projects for well-known clients. Materna places great emphasis on high-quality, technologically advanced results – and that is precisely what matters most to many IT professionals,” says Brochhaus.
Graduates, in turn, find it easy to gain a foothold in their careers at Materna. Trainee programmes ease the transition into practical work, teach communication and teamwork skills, and quickly introduce new colleagues to taking on responsibility. Furthermore, Materna enables potential new employees to enter the IT sector at an early stage. This allows students to gain insights into working life whilst still studying. “This is a great way to earn good money whilst studying and to get a solid start to your career,” says Brochhaus.
Employees vote Materna as an outstanding local employer
Various employer rankings attest to Materna’s high appeal to job seekers. Most recently, in September, the IT service provider was recognised by the media brand Capital as one of the most attractive employers in Germany and as an outstanding local employer in Dortmund. Which employer offers the best career prospects? To find out, Statista and Capital surveyed 7,500 employees, who were able to rate not only their own employer but also other companies in their sector or city. The selection included around 2,500 employers with sites in one of Germany’s 20 major metropolitan regions and with a workforce of between 250 and 5,000 employees. The result was a list of the best, with a total of 200 awards for outstanding local employers in 20 cities.
