Bechtle AG has founded a charitable organisation with the aim of widening the scope of its social commitment activities, in particular relating to education and equality, which have been anchored in the new entity’s Articles of Association. The organisation will focus on projects in two areas—education, life-long learning, vocational training and student support on the one hand, and promoting gender equality in the workplace on the other. Furthermore, Bechtle Stiftung gGmbH also provides the legal groundwork for structured collaboration with the Gerhard and Ilse Schick Foundation. Gerhard Schick is one of Bechtle’s founders and the Schick family have been anchor shareholders since the company’s initial public offering. The Bechtle foundations’ first project aims to promote and develop women in the IT industry.
Dubbed Female Upgreat, or FEAT for short, the initial campaign seeks to increase the percentage of women working in IT by providing support from school age and throughout their careers with specific development measures. “With systematic measures that align with our target groups during each phase of their lives, we can support women from a young age all the way to top management positions,” explains Julia Loza Roger, Managing Director of the newly founded Bechtle Stiftung gGmbH. The 36-year-old organisational psychologist has worked in Bechtle’s People Development department for the last two years and, among other things, oversaw the Bechtle Career Jumpers programme.
The FEAT programme will support participating women for up to 15 years subject to regular review. However, they will become life-long members of the organisation’s alumni network to share their experiences with the next generation and engage with a growing community even after their own support programme has concluded. To ensure continuity, the programme will begin every 12 to 36 months depending on the individual target group.
Dr Thomas Olemotz, CEO, Bechtle AG: “The Bechtle Stiftung gGmbH is a fantastic foundation to promote greater corporate social responsibility. FEAT is the first step towards effectively advancing women with the ultimate aim of creating equality on a management level, which is of great importance in the IT industry.”
Karin Schick, Programme Patron and responsible for the Gerhard and Ilse Schick Foundation: “We are confident in FEAT’s long-term and holistic approach. Our aim is to cultivate positive change that will inspire across the generations. Supporting young female talent throughout their lives on their path to top management positions is a challenging and worthwhile goal we are happy to contribute to.” The daughter of Bechtle’s co-founder, Karin Schick worked many years in the company’s finance department before sitting on Bechtle AG Supervisory Board for 14 years. She has dedicated her time to social projects since 2014 and set up the foundation named after her parents in 2022.
FEAT is scheduled to launch in winter 2024.
