However, it soon became evident that the 8.2 AG was not suitable as umbrella organization. The obligation of the 8.2 AG to generate yield often contradicted the activities of the 8.2 Group as the “administration” of the separate engineering offices took more and more time.

Therefore, in November 2014 the 8.2 offices decided to found the 8.2 Group as registered association (e.V.) with the 8.2 Consulting AG as one of its members. The association in its function as new umbrella organization consists of the individual 8.2 business units and currently has more than 40 members ranging in size from one-person offices up fifty-person offices.

According to the opinion of the 8.2 group, the contradiction of having enough leeway for the independent minds of the experts on the one side and the necessity for a comprehensive structure which unavoidably restricts the liberties on the other side can only be solved by the structure of an association.  

Jürgen Holzmüller is President of the 8.2 Group e.V. His main task is to recognize unavoidable contradictions within the network of independent companies and to moderate any resulting conflicts to create a balance of interests.

The General Members' Meeting is the highest and ultimately decisive body of 8.2 Group e.V. It makes the 8.2 network visible to the industry and the interested public as a whole.

The Association itself is not economically active. It owns the trademark rights, represents the 8.2 members in several expert committees, offers workshops within the framework of the 8.2 Academy and organizes the New Year’s Reception with its accompanying conference.  

_{(Author: Detlef Koenemann)}