Inclusion Award for Business 2026
Joint statement by the BDA, BA and UnternehmensForum
Inclusion Award for Business 2026
Three companies honoured for their exemplary training and employment of people with disabilities
The Inclusion Award for Business 2026 is recognising exemplary practices for inclusion in the labour market for the eleventh time. “This year’s award winners impressively demonstrate that training and employing people with disabilities is far more than putting social responsibility into practice – it benefits everyone,” said Daniel Terzenbach, Member of the Executive Board of the Federal Employment Agency and spokesperson for the initiators. “The three award-winning companies show how diversity fosters innovation, opens up new perspectives, strengthens cohesion and equips companies to meet the challenges of the future, particularly in view of demographic change. This deserves recognition and emulation.”
Berlin, 21 September 2026. The patron of the award is Bärbel Bas, Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. She is convinced: “Recognising the potential of people with disabilities is an opportunity for companies – and important for democracy, the labour market and our economy.”
This year’s winners are:
SMS group GmbH
In the “Large companies and corporate groups” category, the internationally active mechanical and plant engineering group receives the award for its holistic and strategically embedded approach to inclusion. The company combines exemplary inclusive HR management with measures to promote mental health and a consistently accessible working environment. The accessible campus at the Group’s headquarters in Mönchengladbach offers modern working and learning environments for people with different disabilities. Inclusion is also sustainably embedded in the company’s structures through an ESG-based framework, regular awareness-raising measures and close collaboration with experts. With an internally developed, data-driven inclusion operating system, the company has also created a management tool that makes the potential of people with disabilities visible and strengthens it. At the same time, SMS group promotes inclusion through its involvement in research and innovation projects and transfers new scientific findings into operational practice.
Cummins Deutschland GmbH
In the “Medium-sized companies” category, the German subsidiary of the international technology company Cummins is recognised for its practical and sustainable approach to employing people with disabilities. With an inclusive work area in production, the company creates new employment opportunities for people with mental disabilities and enables them to make the transition from sheltered workshops to the open labour market. This is made possible by individually tailored workplaces, task analyses and a bespoke application and onboarding process. The introduction of inclusive workplaces is supported by specially trained managers and teams, as well as individual support during induction. At the same time, the company systematically removes barriers through accessible working conditions, clear and comprehensible communication and the gradual conversion of internal information into plain language. Inclusion is understood as an ongoing development process that has a lasting impact on the corporate culture.
Moderne Floristik Steinbrecher
In the “Small companies” category, the floristry and events business from Waltrop is recognised for its inclusive business model. What began as a traditional floristry business has developed into an inclusive enterprise in which people with different disabilities work in all areas – including direct customer contact. Workplaces and qualification pathways are individually tailored to employees’ abilities and development potential. To embed inclusion in the business on a sustainable basis, workflows, communication channels and team structures have been specifically developed further. The inclusive HR strategy secures the skilled workers and staff the business needs, strengthens motivation and employee retention and, through customer contact, helps to promote inclusion beyond the business and throughout society. The business also provides an exemplary demonstration that the transition from a workshop for people with disabilities to permanent employment subject to social security contributions can succeed.
More information: www.inklusionspreis.de
About the organisations presenting the award
Federal Employment Agency
The Federal Employment Agency is Germany’s largest labour market service provider. It advises both individuals and companies on all matters relating to training, employment and continuing education. It also provides a wide range of services to preserve and create jobs – with the aim of enabling lasting participation in working life.
Confederation of German Employers’ Associations
As the leading social policy organisation representing German business as a whole, the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) aims to focus attention on the potential of people with disabilities, highlight training and employment opportunities and raise awareness of the support available both to people with disabilities and to companies. In this way, it seeks to further increase appreciation of people with disabilities.
UnternehmensForum
As an employers’ initiative, UnternehmensForum is committed to the training, employment and continued employment of people with disabilities in business. The initiative sees itself as a nationwide platform for sharing experience, developing examples of good practice and providing practical suggestions for employers. UnternehmensForum has initiated the award since 2012.
