Salling Autogenbrug, a Danish auto recycling business, has hired Gitte Tymm-Andersen as a “well-being colleague” in a newly created position that will promote well-being and social responsibility among employees and business partners. With a background in working with challenged young people, especially those with autism diagnoses and ADHD, Gitte brings unique expertise to the company. She will focus on ensuring a good working environment and supporting the company’s social initiatives, especially to help young people with a safe start in the labor market.
Gitte Tymm-Andersen
New role in a smaller company
With only 21 permanent employees, it is unusual for a company of Salling Autogenbrug’s size to have a dedicated corporate social responsibility (CSR) employee. This move shows a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, and according to the owners, it is a good investment:
Siblings at Salling Autogenbrug – L-R, Lasse Haubo, Lise Korsgaard and Mads Haubo
“We hope for continued close cooperation with the municipality, as we know that helping and supporting young people to acquire skills and courage for education and work is an important matter for them, both socially and financially,” says Lise Korsgaard, who, together with his two brothers runs Salling Autogenbrug. “We believe that investment in social responsibility will benefit us both as a company and as a society.”
Internship and cooperation programs must increase well-being and reduce unemployment among young people on the edge
In addition to the permanent employees, Salling Autogenbrug works closely with local schools and educational institutions, including STU Skivefjord, where the young students come to get a taste of the labor market two days a week. They are allowed to be physically active, use tools and machines, and generally develop. The company also offers weekly internships for primary school pupils, who come out to the company one day a week as a necessary break in the teaching.
“In the past school year, we received inquiries from five different primary schools, all of which had a student who would like to do an internship one fixed day each week, and we only expect the demand to increase,” explains Lise Korsgaard, as one of the reasons why they have hired one more the task.
Likewise, Salling Autogenbrug collaborates well with the Jobcentret, among other things, to help citizens in the clarification process.
Employees are the company’s strongest asset
With the employment of Gitte Tymm-Andersen, the management at Salling Autogenbrug hopes to strengthen its CSR profile – both internally and externally.
“We want to develop our employees as a strong team working to grow Salling Autogenbrug on all three bottom lines: the financial, the social and the sustainable. To achieve this, we need a key employee who is dedicated to these values every day,” says Lise Korsgaard about the employment of Gitte and concludes: “Our employees are our strongest asset.”
Gitte Tymm-Andersen said:
“The basic values, which are based on propriety and the desire to make a positive difference to each other, make Salling Autogenbrug a fantastic place to be. Here, each individual is recognized for their resources and efforts.
The above is the most important basis for precisely the tasks I will basically be dealing with: HR and mentoring tasks. A job I have many years of experience with and which I am still passionate about. The opportunity to support and help people to find out about the labor market. Give young people a belief in themselves and a springboard to find goals in future education or employment and similar tasks. Such important aid work naturally includes many aspects in the person’s life and requires security and spaciousness in and from the surroundings. As a mentor, I can facilitate and try to manage the process, but it is the company and its employees as a whole that make the project succeed.
Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to me that Salling Autogenbrug is a wholehearted partner in the CSR work in Skive Municipality, and I look forward to being a part of that both on a personal level, but also based on societal needs.
Development and new ideas are always at the fore in the company and I am very much looking forward to the fact that together we will find the work areas, tasks and frameworks that will more concretely constitute my position.”
About Salling Autogenbrug:
Salling Autogenbrug is a traditional auto recycling company that is a leader in recovering and reducing residual materials.
This initiative marks an exciting development for Salling Autogenbrug and business in general and strengthens the company’s position as a responsible and inclusive workplace.
