'Talent and motivation are more important to us than just the right degrees'

Talent development indispensable

The TBS-SVA group, a market leader in drainage solutions, values being a good employer. And so everyone gets a chance to develop within the company. By focusing on talent development, the company can move with the needs of its employees and customers, further strengthening its position in the market. 

In a tight labor market, you have to think "out of the box" as an employer, said Janou Kasander, HR advisor at TBS-SVA Group. "With 90 employees, we are a medium-sized organization. The advantage is that people are not a number with us, but rather there is all the attention to put everyone in the right place. The fact that there are many employees within our company who have been with us for a very long time indicates that we are succeeding quite well in this." However, the downside of the many longstanding employees is also that people will start to leave in the coming years to enjoy their well-earned retirement. The market leader in drainage solutions is already anticipating this. "We see it primarily as an opportunity to attract new people with a fresh outlook so that we can continue to develop innovative and sustainable products in the future."

Different approach to performance reviews

The personnel policy is aimed on the one hand at retaining existing people and on the other at recruiting (young) new employees. For example, new vacancies are always examined first to see if they can be filled internally. They also invest in training that contributes to both personal development and organizational development. "We notice that this is appreciated. For example, we also approach performance interviews differently. No one-way traffic, but employees and their supervisors really engage with each other."

Revival

To engage young people, TBS-SVA Group is an apprenticeship company. "Talent and motivation are more important to us than just the right diplomas. During the apprenticeship, people gain experience and knowledge and get to know our company. And if it suits both sides, we are happy to offer them a contract." Also, TBS-SVA Group pays a lot of attention to people with a distance to the labor market. "These employees can also make a valuable contribution and deserve a chance to build a career within our organization. We provide the right support and guidance and in this way we help each other a step further each time!"