Cooperation as key to success
“How can we attract, engage, and retain young talent in Almelo and the surrounding area?” This question led a group of seven entrepreneurs to launch the Innovatiehub Almelo in 2021. By collaborating, they provide high-quality internship and graduation projects, create an attractive work environment, share knowledge, and offer a unique development programme for both young talent and employees. Following a successful start, the hub has now received financial support from the Twente Board to share their approach with other entrepreneurs in the region, aiming to attract, engage, and retain even more talent in Twente.
The Innovatiehub Almelo consists of seven companies and is led by Beaudine Leushuis. One of its founders, Engberink Technische Installaties, has its director, Arno Broekhuis, enthusiastically discussing its success: “We have achieved what we envisioned when we started in 2021. Now, we want to share our experiences and continue growing. The foundation was built by ourselves over the past few years, but the support from the Twente Board allows us to move forward more rapidly.”
Knowledge Sharing: Going Further Together
The core idea of the Innovatiehub Almelo is sharing knowledge and expertise through a knowledge-sharing model. Beaudine explains, “By sharing our expertise through a subscription model, we can assist other companies in Almelo in setting up internship and graduation projects, recruiting and supervising interns, improving their internship supervision, and strengthening their employees’ development through our development programme.” This approach allows companies to train talent more efficiently and effectively, and to foster growth in their own employees without needing to have all the expertise in-house. Thanks to the Twente Board's financial support, subscription fees remain affordable, making this assistance accessible to smaller companies as well. Companies in Almelo and surrounding areas can therefore benefit from a well-organised network and knowledge-sharing model that supports both young talent and current employees in their development.
Innovative Development Programme
One of the key pillars of the Innovatiehub Almelo is its development programme for young talent and employees, in which not only interns and newcomers are supported, but permanent employees also get the chance to advance their skills. This programme focuses on personal and professional growth with an emphasis on innovation and practical skills. “We aim to give students and employees the opportunity to learn on the job while continuously expanding their skills and knowledge,” says Beaudine. The programme includes workshops, training sessions, and masterclasses tailored to the needs of students and employees.
Proud of Twente Board’s Contribution
Arno Broekhuis proudly shares his thoughts on Twente Board’s contribution: “This gives us an additional boost to realise our ambitions. It enables us to grow faster and help more companies with our services. This support acts as a flywheel, accelerating the hub’s development and enhancing quality and visibility in the region. We are proud of this and energised to continue.”
Want to know more about Innovatiehub Almelo?
Contact Beaudine Leushuis: hubmanager@innovatiehubalmelo.nl
Read more about Innovationhub Almelo