Eight innovative companies are affiliated with Innovation Hub Almelo: Brusche Procestechnology & Electrotechniek, Acutus Adviseurs in vastgoed, Almelose Borstelindustrie ABI, Witzand Bouwmaterialen, Engberink Technische Installaties, Kienhuis Bouwmanagement and Bolk Transport. The goal is to stimulate innovation. How? By collaborating and offering exciting internships, graduation assignments, and projects to talented individuals. But there’s more...
“What’s so innovative about the hub? That companies here are working together on the talent issue,” says Maaike Olde Nordkamp, hub manager of Innovation Hub Almelo. “Sometimes companies struggle to find interns. Maintaining contact with educational institutions for this is also important. I now act as a contact person for all companies in the hub.” The joint hub was established in Almelo in 2021 by initiator Martin Wagemans of Acutus.
Maaike is now coordinating internships and graduation assignments, primarily in higher education. “Internship assignments for secondary vocational education (MBO) are currently internal to each company, but the hub’s ambition is to collaborate in this area, too. For example, we are currently exploring how to offer machining and welding – something that one company cannot do but is a required experience for the student’s study course – at another company in the hub. If that works, there may soon be opportunities for MBO-level traineeships.”
Further development
The benefits are two-fold: both entrepreneurs and students benefit from the collaboration. The hub offers connected talent the opportunity to experience not just one but multiple companies simultaneously, including their work culture. Additionally, Innovation Hub Almelo provides interns and trainees with a development program. “This includes masterclasses for soft skills like personal or effective leadership and time management. These are given by experts from the companies themselves, and employees of the companies have recently started participating, too. Furthermore, a few times a year, interns from companies in Innovation Hub Almelo come together to exchange experiences.”
For students, the guidance from the hub manager is also valuable. Maaike says, “I frequently help students formulate research questions, discuss their frustrations, and provide process-related content. Sometimes, an internship supervisor may not have sufficient time for guidance in practice. But I am always there for the students and help them progress. This also helps the company improve.”
On the business side, there is also a desire for further development. Maaike says, “There are frequent requests from other companies wanting to join the hub, but that is challenging. The more companies in the hub, the more interests there are to consider. However, we do want to explore whether others can also utilize some services we offer as a hub. Such as providing access to the development program.”
That binding, captivating, and retaining talent are top priorities for this hub is evident. Talent is shared willingly among the companies, according to the hub manager. “For example, a graduate student is researching the onboarding process of all eight companies. This company-transcendent graduation assignment is beneficial for the graduate student, but also for the affiliated companies. The analysis leads to process improvement, or innovation, for all participants in the hub.”
Other Innovation Hubs in Twente
In Oldenzaal and Tubbergen, there are also active innovation hubs. In Oldenzaal, the companies Aemics, Contict, Denko, Rosen, and Grünbeck are joining forces. In Tubbergen, these are: Bouwmetaal, Loogisch, Kamphuis, and Loohuis Installatietechnieken.
Date: 16 November 2023 |