Human Ressources

The STIHL Group does not see personnel development as simply achieving qualifications for current tasks, but as a long-term investment in the future viability of the organization. From the training of promising talent, to the promotion of experienced specialists and managers, to the further development of corporate culture and diversity – STIHL utilizes a holistic approach that strengthens professional, personal, and social skills.

Learning to be future-fit

STIHL has a long tradition of prioritizing training. For 85 years, we have had our own training workshop at the Waiblingen facility, and it has been promoting young employees both professionally and personally. The aim is to empower our people to act independently and give them the skills they need for their professional future.

This objective was further strengthened in the reporting year with the “Growth Space,” a modern environment in which trainees and specialist departments work together on practical projects. A modern machine park, flexible workbenches, and open workspaces enable creative and solution-oriented work and actively involve our people in development processes.

The “Social Project” module is now also an integral part of the training. This enables placements in social institutions – for example, supporting older people or working with children and young people – for the purpose of strengthening participants’ social and interpersonal skills.

In addition to training, STIHL specifically promotes employee development by means of partnerships and innovative training offerings. One example of this is STIHL Tirol’s cooperation with the Center for Production, Robotics & Automation at the MCI University of Applied Sciences in Innsbruck.

The five-year cooperation combines practical experience from maintenance, production, logistics, production planning, plant equipment construction, and HR with scientific research. The first prototypes were successfully implemented in assembly during the start-up phase.

Employees also have the opportunity to experience using collaborative robots in the context of introductory courses. Further applications are being developed together with the university, including automated error management based on AI and language processing.

With the German Founders’ Award, Hans Peter Stihl’s outstanding life’s work was honored in the year under review. The award is one of Germany’s most prestigious business awards and since 1997 has honored individuals who have been exemplary in terms of entrepreneurial boldness, innovative strength, and sustainable action.

In addition to his influential role in the company, Hans Peter has been involved in numerous economic, social and political committees, including as honorary president of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and the Stuttgart Regional Chamber of Commerce. He has received numerous awards for his many decades of impact, including the Grand Cross of Merit with Star.

Developing the corporate culture

STIHL’s values form the foundation of our entrepreneurial activity. They connect all employees worldwide across the Group and provide guidance in phases of profound transformation. To further strengthen these values and actively develop the corporate culture, several initiatives were implemented in the year under review.

Founded in 2023, the Women Network @STIHL is now well established at the German founding company. More than 500 female employees use the platform, which supports professional exchange, mentoring, and visibility of women within the company. Through keynote lectures, networking events, and the “MentHer” mentoring program, the network contributes to diversity, equal opportunities, and cooperation.

As a family-owned business, it is important for STIHL to have a clear picture of employee satisfaction. To this end, in 2025 the Global Pulse Check was carried out for the first time – a Group-wide survey on topics including strategic clarity, leadership, recognition, development opportunities, and working environment. Around 13,600 employees took part. The results illustrate that employees have a high interest in actively participating. They provide important indications of existing strengths, uncover potential for improvement, and form the basis for targeted measures that will be implemented in the future.