This article is written by communications manager Søren Knudsen from Business Lolland-Falster.
It’s not uncommon to hear cheers at Enelco in Nykøbing. It’s not unusual to celebrate employee anniversaries there. Soon the flags will be brought out again, as Enelco’s bookkeeper and office administrator, Birthe, will be celebrating 40 years with the company—shortly after another employee’s 40th anniversary was marked. Not to mention the many employees who have celebrated their 25-year anniversaries.
– We don’t even celebrate 10-year anniversaries, because if we did, we’d barely have time for anything else, jokes Lars Sørensen, one of Enelco’s two owners, while emphasizing that they do, of course, appreciate when employees reach the 10-year milestone.
More Fun with a Social Foundation
Enelco’s nomination for the Lolland-Falster Business Award is partly due to the company’s focus on maintaining a sustainable workforce. The number of employees has been steadily increasing since the 1990s, and they work hard to retain their staff.
On the last Friday of every month, there’s a communal meal, and in addition to that, there are company outings, winter revues, and group trips to NFH handball matches. “We usually say that since we’re together for 37 hours a week anyway, it’s a lot more fun if we have something social to build on,” explains Lars Sørensen.
Willing to Take Social Responsibility
But retaining existing employees isn’t enough. To have a sustainable workforce, new hires are also necessary. Enelco currently has 10 apprentices, and at a time when it can be hard for students to find apprenticeship placements, it’s important for Enelco to take social responsibility, Lars Sørensen explains:
– We live in a society that has its tasks, and as a company, we’re obligated to help address them.
That’s why Enelco also hosts interns from CELF, local schools, and after-school programs, and sometimes the Language and Integration Center sends individuals with foreign backgrounds to gain both language skills in a different setting and work experience.
Deep Roots in the Local Community
Enelco is deeply rooted in the local community. This is partly due to the company’s long history, which dates back more than 100 years, and partly because of its significant involvement in local associations and activities. As the company has grown, however, it has expanded from primarily offering electrical services on Lolland-Falster to also handling larger projects in Zealand.
Now, the company’s roughly 50 employees do a bit of everything, and their customer base and assignments range from private individuals to public institutions such as hospitals and schools, from installing sockets in homes to electrical work on multi-million-euro construction projects.
Supporting Local Initiatives
However, Enelco’s foundation remains Lolland-Falster. That’s why the company supports several local associations and initiatives, including NFC, Horbelev IF, Team Rynkeby, and Lolland F. Cycling Club. Then there’s the Enelco Run, which began 10 years ago when the company was approached by the association Families of Children with Cancer and Superinvestor. They encouraged Enelco to organize a race to raise money for the association.
Naively, Enelco said yes, recalls Lars Sørensen, remembering how they managed to put the event together in just a few days, securing permits from the municipality, police, and emergency services. “We even got a police permit to start the race with a black powder shooter,” he says with a big smile.
The Enelco Run was a huge success, raising around 250,000 DKK for the good cause. And it’s just continued from there, explains Lars Sørensen. While it was a major regional event in 2014, it has now become a more local race, with the funds going to a local association. “We try to find local associations where we know the money will make a difference. At the same time, we want to show our support for those who go the extra mile for our area,” he concludes.
