Since 2013, POOLgroup has acted as general contractor for the annual conference of dbb beamtenbund und tarifunion – the civil and public service union. Every year, representatives from the worlds of politics, government, science, and society meet at the congress center on Cologne’s trade fair grounds. The conference is seen as the annual kick-off event for trade union policy and traditionally draws significant interest from the media and public.

The dbb annual conference is a platform where the latest developments in public services and key social issues are discussed. Speeches by the heads of federal departments and German states as well as the dbb chairman headline the program. The aim is to highlight the role of the civil service as the backbone of the state and society and to set the political agenda for the upcoming year.

The event comes under close scrutiny every year. A politically charged atmosphere, well-known guests, and nationwide reporting demands a smooth running order. And from panel discussions to hybrid and streaming options, the wide variety of formats need to be meticulously coordinated.

The POOLcrew planned and implemented all technical and organizational services. These included audio, lighting, rigging & stage automation as well as media technology, IT, and streaming solutions to enhance digital reach. We were also responsible for constructing sets and the exhibition area including designing and directing the content.

One of the main priorities was directing the event program: from establishing an overall schedule to managing rehearsals and liaising with conference hosts and speakers. In addition, we modeled spatial and furnishing concepts and, together with the in-house dbb printers, adapted the design of questionnaires and results to integrate them into the overall event. This resulted in a brand experience conforming to corporate identity guidelines, which was not only functional but also clearly conveyed dbb’s messaging.

What’s more, POOLgroup handled logistics, location management, and directing the event, assisted dbb’s press department, built an exhibition stand for dbb Vorsorgewerk, and provided technical support for the evening event at the Flora pavilion in Cologne’s botanical gardens. The crew also ensured accreditations, for example in hotels, ran flawlessly.

Delegates experienced a professionally staged conference that focused on discussion and speeches, free from any technical distractions or uncertainty. From the German Chancellor’s address, a panel discussion involving leaders from Germany’s federal states to numerous specialist debates, everything was delivered with the precision expected from a high-profile political occasion.

The decade-long collaboration has shown that POOLgroup is a reliable partner when organizing large-scale, politically sensitive events. The dbb annual conference in Cologne seamlessly combines content, production, and technology at the topmost level. It sets a high benchmark for both trade union meetings and political events as a whole.

The partnership with IGBCE extends far beyond the annual conference. POOLgroup first provided event support for the union as early as 2011. This grew to include the dbb trade union conferences in 2012 and 2017 as well as the dbb women’s conferences in 2020 and 2021 – formats that further underscore mutual trust and sustainable collaboration.