At the Work Training Centre in Maassluis, wiring harnesses are assembled for the Ministry of Defence. In Vlaardingen, individuals with a distance to the labour market help package Easter treats. Every day, Stroomopwaarts demonstrates that work is about more than a payslip. It’s about participation in society. Recognition. Growth. René van Noort, Unit Manager for Employment, sees it happen every day.
From Benefits to Meaningful Work
“Broad prosperity is not just a vague policy term to me,” says René. “It’s about enabling people to truly participate – in a way that suits them.” Stroomopwaarts supports residents of Maassluis, Vlaardingen, and Schiedam who (temporarily) cannot support themselves. Not from a belief that everyone should be working full-time, but from trust in people’s capacity to grow. “We focus on what is possible,” René explains. “And more often than not, that’s more than people expect.” He speaks from experience. For years, he ran his own business in The Hague. “Back then, I had no idea what role I could play in this area. Now I do. Every day I see that so much more is possible than the outdated image of the ‘ideal candidate’.”
Stroomopwaarts acts, among other things, as a matchmaker between people distanced from the labour market and businesses looking to engage in socially responsible entrepreneurship. And that often means thinking beyond a job description. “A company once asked if we had a ready-made warehouse worker. We didn’t. But we did have people who could fulfil parts of the role – and that was enough. The key is being open to thinking differently.”
Tailored Work – For Employers Too
Thinking differently about vacancies starts with an honest conversation. Many businesses only then realise how many essential tasks are being left undone or placing unnecessary pressure on existing staff. Think of collecting wheelchairs in a hospital or weekly tap checks to prevent legionella. For people at Stroomopwaarts, such tasks can be the building blocks of a meaningful working day.
“Our account managers have in-depth knowledge of their sectors,” René explains. “We actively help companies rethink the organisation of their work. Sometimes, we help solve problems they didn’t even know they had.” To prepare people for employment, Stroomopwaarts offers sector-specific learning tracks in fields like food, technology, and hospitality. New participants aren’t expected to immediately work twenty hours a week. “We build up work routines gradually. For someone who’s been out of the workforce for a while, that gentle reintroduction is key to rebuilding confidence.”
From Spark to Movement
It’s crucial that the entire organisation is on board. “A CEO may be enthusiastic, but the real work happens on the floor,” says René. “That’s why we also invest in internal support – through guidance, explanation, and, sometimes, simply through honest dialogue.”
What also helps is that Stroomopwaarts minimises risks. Businesses can count on subsidies and a safety net in case placements don’t work out. But in the end, it’s about something deeper. “The most powerful change happens when a spark is ignited – when people feel: this is the right thing to do.”
“At Stroomopwaarts, close to 1,500 people are at work – most are active in our Work Training Centres, while others are employed by external companies.” This makes Stroomopwaarts one of the largest employers in the region. But the real ambition lies elsewhere: building a society in which everyone matters, and everyone gets to take part. For those willing to look differently, new opportunities arise.
As Unit Manager of Work Training Companies at Stroomopwaarts MVS, René connects individuals distanced from the labour market with employers committed to socially responsible entrepreneurship. With many years of experience as an independent entrepreneur and director in the staffing industry, he knows how to create space for development, job satisfaction, and sustainable participation.
