Hannoversche Werkstätten gem. GmbH

Hannoversche Werkstätten gem. GmbH is a non-profit limited liability company (gemeinnützige GmbH) based in Hannover, Germany, that operates as a recognised workshop for people with disabilities. Its mission is to support people with disabilities in achieving their personal and professional goals through a broad range of individually tailored services in the areas of work, education, housing and leisure. The organisation describes itself as an innovative and reliable education, social and business enterprise that builds bridges to the general labour market and to society, aiming for more inclusion and participation. The company traces its roots to the Entwicklungsgesellschaft Behindertenzentrum Hannover, founded in 1969, and was established in its current legal form in 1997. In 1995 it moved into the Werkstätte Hainholz on the site of the former machinery manufacturer Knoevenagel, with 160 workshop places. Today the Hannoversche Werkstätten operates facilities in Hannover and the surrounding region, with locations in Döhren, Langenhagen, Kirchrode, Kleefeld and Laatzen-Rethen, as well as activities in Rethen (Leine) and Lüdersen. The focus areas are qualification, work, housing and gastronomy. According to its own information, around 1,000 people with disabilities work in the Hannoversche Werkstätten, supported by roughly 230 specialist staff for care and assistance. The organisation runs a vocational training area that is accredited under the German Accreditation and Licensing Regulation for Employment Promotion (AZAV), and its quality management system is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015. Its services include inclusive work opportunities, vocational education and training, residential and living support, and leisure activities, as well as products and services offered to companies. The Hannoversche Werkstätten also engages in public-facing projects that create inclusion through encounter. One example is the neighbourhood kiosk "Kiosk Linie 6" in Kronsberg-Süd, operated by the Hannoversche Werkstätten with a postal service, where workshop employees are trained and employed. The organisation has received recognition for its work, including certification as a "Gut Drauf" youth facility by the Federal Centre for Health Education in July 2007 and the CSR seal in 2009, awarded on 27 January 2010 in the Leibnizhaus in Hannover. It communicates through its website and press office, and regularly holds information events for prospective workshop employees and their caregivers.

The Hannoversche Werkstätten gem. GmbH is a workshop for people with disabilities with the legal status of a non-profit limited liability company (gemeinnützige GmbH). Its origins lie in the Entwicklungsgesellschaft Behindertenzentrum Hannover, which was founded in 1969. In 1995, the organisation moved into the Werkstätte Hainholz on the site of the former machinery manufacturer Knoevenagel, with 160 workshop places. The current legal entity, the gem. GmbH, was founded in 1997. Over the following decades the organisation expanded its facilities and services in Hannover, Rethen (Leine) and Lüdersen, with a focus on qualification, work, housing and gastronomy. It operates several locations in the Hannover region, including Döhren, Langenhagen, Kirchrode, Kleefeld and Laatzen-Rethen. According to its own information, around 1,000 people with disabilities work in the Hannoversche Werkstätten, supported by roughly 230 specialist staff. The organisation has pursued quality and recognition: in July 2007 it was certified as a "Gut Drauf" youth facility by the Federal Centre for Health Education, and on 27 January 2010 it received the CSR seal for 2009 at the Leibnizhaus in Hannover. Its vocational training area is accredited under AZAV, and its quality management system is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015. In recent years the Hannoversche Werkstätten has continued to develop inclusion projects, such as the neighbourhood kiosk "Kiosk Linie 6" in Kronsberg-Süd, which opened on 3 April and combines a postal service with training and employment for workshop employees. The organisation also runs a corporate inclusion service (Fachdienst betriebliche Inklusion) that held its first business breakfast in September 2026, and regularly organises information events for prospective workshop employees and their caregivers.

• 2026

  First Businessfrühstück of the Fachdienst betriebliche Inklusion held on 3 September.

• 2010

  Awarded the CSR seal for 2009 at the Leibnizhaus in Hannover.

• 2007

  Certified as a "Gut Drauf" youth facility by the Federal Centre for Health Education.

• 1997

  Hannoversche Werkstätten gem. GmbH founded in its current legal form.

• 1995

  Moved into the Werkstätte Hainholz on the site of the former machinery manufacturer Knoevenagel, with 160 workshop places.

• 1969

  Entwicklungsgesellschaft Behindertenzentrum Hannover founded, the predecessor organisation.

• Kiosk Linie 6, a neighbourhood kiosk with postal service, opened in Kronsberg-Süd on 3 April.

A non-profit, inclusion-oriented workshop and social enterprise that combines vocational rehabilitation with real business operations and community projects.

• Workshop places

  Employment and support for around 1,000 people with disabilities.

• Vocational training area

  AZAV-accredited entry procedure and vocational training area.

• Residential and living services

  Housing and living support for people with disabilities.

• Gastronomy

  Gastronomy services as part of the organisation's focus areas.

• Kiosk Linie 6

  Neighbourhood kiosk with postal services in Kronsberg-Süd, operated by the Hannoversche Werkstätten.

1. 1Startseite: Hannoversche Werkstättenhw-hannover.de
2. 2Über uns: Hannoversche Werkstättenhw-hannover.de
3. 3Presse: Hannoversche Werkstättenhw-hannover.de
4. 4Termine: Hannoversche Werkstättenhw-hannover.de
5. 5Hannoversche Werkstätten gem. GmbH – Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Hannoversche Werkstätten – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org