News

The focus is on people

24.4.2025
Frank Fenske, Managing Director of the BID Group, on a tree-planting campaign to mark the company’s 40th anniversary and a personnel strategy that puts people at the heart of all business activities.

„Nothing works without people. Successful entrepreneurs know that.“

Frank Fenske, BID Unternehmensgruppe

Equipped with planting spades, gloves and saplings, 24 employees of the BID Group were called upon on 1 April 2025 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the debt collection services provider in a very special way: they planted 350 beech saplings, symbolic of each of the 350 employees, in the ground of the Lahm Forest near Oberfüllbach. Now, the BID forest is growing there. 

Instead of a champagne reception, it was time to sweat and get to work. Did employees embrace this idea, Frank? 
Those who took part in the planting campaign definitely had fun. The atmosphere was hilarious and the exercise in the fresh air relaxed everyone. We hiked back to the office, six kilometers across country over hill and dale. When we presented the idea of planting a forest to our staff for the first time, many of them found it actually hard to grasp. Some of them, however, were immediately enthusiastic and wanted to get involved.

What role is this forest supposed to play for the BID Group?
It will be a special venue, for example for staff meetings or brainstorming sessions. On such occasions, we now also want to go outside. Moreover, our employees can simply go there for a walk in their free time and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. We would like to plant even more trees. Many of our employees come from southern Thuringia, where another BID forest will be planted.

What does the forest symbolize for you?
For me, the forest, the tree and nature in general symbolize permanence, age and growth. Forests and trees are important, they are part of a microcosm that provides us with the oxygen we need to live. Just as the trees of a forest provide oxygen, we guarantee the flow of money in the economy on which the survival of companies depends. At the BID Group, we take a holistic view of people, which we also want to demonstrate and manifest by planting trees.

Could you please elaborate on this? 
Our focus is on people – this has always been my management approach. Nothing works without people. Successful entrepreneurs know that. This is all the more true in times of artificial intelligence. AI can relieve humans of certain tasks, but cannot replace them. It cannot do anything on its own and is made by people.

The linchpin of this people-oriented management approach is the BID Academy. What is it all about?
The BID Academy stands for a currently still unique development concept for our employees, developed by our authorized signatory Lukas Ehrlich. The starting point is our holistic view of people within the organization. The Academy does not only focus on professional training, but also on personal development. The two go hand in hand.

How can this be achieved? 
Together with our staff, we have defined ten core elements for human development, five each for the professional and for the personal level. To promote their personal development, employees can attend in-house yoga classes or meditate. We talk a lot to each other, also about non-work related topics. We hired a philosopher who coaches our employees if necessary. We offer English courses which are quite popular among our staff. Interestingly, the courses were actually intended as a non-work related offer until the employees expressly requested business English classes.

These are commendable offers, however, the truth is as well that the economy is facing difficult times. Do you also have to ask yourself how much focus on people a company can afford?
First of all, the impact of these investments is difficult to express in figures. What we can say, for example, is that our staff have proven to be extremely loyal and faithful. Moreover, we have no problem finding skilled workers. This helps us save recruiting costs as we do not need headhunters or to place advertisements. We have just recently successfully hired five employees for our IT department – who specifically joined us because of our BID Academy.  Without us having to place any advertisement, only by word of mouth. The people working at the BID Group are extremely motivated. They get involved and take on responsibility. This boosts performance and leads to a noticeable reduction in sick days. Our productivity has recently increased massively. Our people-oriented management approach inadvertently even serves as marketing strategy strengthening customer loyalty. Many of our customers really like our concept and some of them even want to adopt it.

What does the 40th anniversary of the BID Group mean to you personally?
The anniversary, but above all the people at BID, really mean a lot to me. I have been able to actively shape the company for almost half of that time; and today, together with my management colleagues Andreas Wöhner and Lukas Ehrlich. That makes me proud, but also humble. We want to carry on this legacy together and continue to write this success story.

Personal details: 
Frank Fenske joined the BID Group in 2007. Prior to that, he already worked for the company in a law firm.

Contact person:
Frank Fenske
E frank.fenske@bid-coburg.de