We are working (together with Hiemstra & De Vries) on behalf of the municipality of Rotterdam on the Environmental Vision for the port city. As part of the outsourcing, we were asked to provide content for Social Return: can we translate a portion of the assignment value into the creation of sustainable employment for target groups that generally have difficulty finding work on their own? In our opinion, this is a great way to create added value in such a collaboration.

We decided to fulfill the Social Return contribution through a pilot project by the municipality itself. RIKX is a platform where social entrepreneurs can post projects and initiatives through a sort of ‘Kickstarter’-like structure. Contractors for the municipality with a Social Return obligation can then choose to support one of these initiatives. We opted for the Bakkerswerkplaats (Bakers' Workshop). This workshop for bakers, operating on a master-apprentice principle, will ultimately train 10 people who currently have a distance from the labor market. In addition, the Bakkerswerkplaats currently provides meaningful daytime activities for 14 people (see also www.bakkerswerkplaats.nl).

Jeroen Medema, project manager at WesselinkVanZijst, explains his choice of RIKX: “We are particularly impressed by the way the Bakkerswerkplaats helps people who are distanced from the labor market to overcome this disadvantage in a sustainable way. A partnership based on a shared interest, with clear added value for all parties involved. A wonderful example of the kind of sustainable solutions we work on every day.”

Senior consultant

Jeroen Medema