Matthias Pohl is nominated for the NRW Founders' Award. The scaffolding builder founded his company in 2017. (Photo: © NRW.Bank)
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19 October 2020
Fingers crossed: A scaffolding company from Bocholt has been nominated for the 2020 NRW Founders' Award. Matthias Pohl's business demonstrates how innovative and sustainable the skilled trades are. And that you can still get started even if you're over 50.
Ten founders have reached the finals for the NRW Founders' Award 2020. They can now hope to win a total of €60.000 in prize money at the finals at the end of November. Among the candidates is a craft business: Pohl & Söhne Gerüstbau GmbH from Bocholt.
According to the jury, the company demonstrates how innovative the skilled trades can be. Pohl & Söhne Gerüstbau GmbH relies on state-of-the-art technology and focuses on qualified personnel. Founder and managing director Matthias Pohl completely avoids using subcontractors.
The company impressed the jury for another reason as well: Matthias Pohl, over 50 years old, started his own business in 2017 after a period of unemployment. Today, he employs over 30 people and his company is growing steadily. "With a focus on continuous development and a careful and responsible approach to the resources of people and nature," the jury stated in its reasoning.
Minister for Economic Affairs and Digitalization, Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart: "We want to make North Rhine-Westphalia the top location for founders and offer young companies the best possible support." Each of the ten nominees encourages people, especially in difficult times, to follow their own ideas and take the path to self-employment . "This award gives us the opportunity to celebrate this entrepreneurial spirit."
Operations management
Operations management
Operations management
"A certain amount of risk-taking is always part of starting a business," says Eckhard Forst, CEO of NRW.Bank . "But some risks, like the current pandemic, cannot be predicted or calculated." Especially in these challenging times, the bank wants to demonstrate, using the ten nominated companies as examples, that NRW.Bank stands by the side of entrepreneurs in the state.
Ten nominees have made it to the final round out of 120 applicants. The companies that will win first (€30.000), second (€20.000), and third (€10.000) place in the NRW Founders' Award 2020 will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 30, 2020.
Source: Founders' Prize NRW; NRW.BANK
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