What if a workplace could be more than just a job? Imagine a place where people with disabilities find not only employment but also a sense of purpose. That place is Elbe-Werkstätten Süd located on Nymphenweg in Hamburg.
Elbe-Werkstätten Süd is part of Elbe-Werkstätten GmbH. It is a company that provides workplaces for people with disabilities. With around 3100 employees with disabilities, Elbe-Werkstätten is the biggest workshop for people with disabilities in Germany.
Elbe-Werkstätten GmbH has a rich history. The idea for the company came about in the 1980s. Ortwin Runde from the Hamburg Social Authority developed the idea. Elbe-Werkstätten GmbH was officially founded on May 29, 1986. It emerged from the Winterhuder Werkstätten GmbH. This company had been in Hamburg since 1958.
Elbe-Werkstätten Süd offers various work areas. These include digitization, work apron production and PC applications. You can also find jobs in house economics, logistics, packaging and at the Biohof Overmeyer. There is also a cooperation with Darboven. The Elbe-Werkstätten also support courses and accompanying offers.
The building itself is impressive. It has three stories and follows the rising terrain. Level one features workshops and warehouses. These are accessible via truck loading ramps. Level two houses the main entrance. Here you’ll find administrative rooms. There are also IT service areas, training rooms and a large kitchen with a dining restaurant. Level three contains woodworking shops. There is also a sewing workshop plus production and packaging departments.
The entire building was renovated and remodeled in eight sections. This happened within 24 months. The roofs were renewed with non-combustible insulation. Some facades were also renovated. The large kitchen was completely modernized. It got a new ventilation system and equipment.
Elbe-Werkstätten’s work extends beyond its walls. About a third of the employees work in external workgroups. They also work at outsourced individual workplaces. These placements are in companies within the general labor market.
Elbe-Werkstätten offer services in various fields. These include packaging, electrical work, assembly and gastronomy. They also work in paper processing, digitization, gardening, and metalworking.
Elbe-Werkstätten also partners with other companies. They work with Books on Demand in the bookbinding sector. Employees also work for Beiersdorf AG, Lufthansa Technik AG and the Museum der Arbeit.
Elbe-Werkstätten Süd on Nymphenweg is more than just a workplace. It is a place of opportunity. It is a place of inclusion. It is a place where everyone can contribute to society. Elbe-Werkstätten actively contributes to a more inclusive Hamburg.