connect people & company GmbH is an HR consultancy based in Osnabrück, Germany, founded by Ilka Bergrath and Christina Relius. The firm focuses exclusively on two services: recruiting and employer development (Arbeitgeberentwicklung), with small and medium-sized enterprises as its primary clients.
On the recruiting side, the company works to identify suitable candidates for client organisations using modern tools and hands-on experience. Its employer development offering goes further, helping SMEs position themselves as attractive employers both internally and externally. This work is structured around a proprietary conceptual model - the „Haus der Arbeitgeberattraktivität" (House of Employer Attractiveness) - which guides companies through four areas: building a strong organisational foundation, developing compelling employee offerings, defining appropriate recruiting strategies, and establishing an authentic external presence.
The firm's work addresses a challenge common among SMEs: competing for qualified employees without the resources or brand recognition of larger organisations. Strategies are developed on a tailored basis rather than through standardised packages, with an emphasis on long-term retention as well as initial attraction.