What Vokans does

Vokans vzw is a Belgian non-profit training and coaching organization founded in 1991, operating under the ACV (Algemene Christelijke Vakbond) umbrella with its administrative headquarters at Haachtsesteenweg 579, 1030 Schaarbeek (Brussels) and regional secretariaten in Gent and Mechelen. The organization explicitly positions itself as 'the bridge' between three constituencies — employers, employees and job seekers — delivering services across Flanders and Brussels through a multi-channel model spanning freephone 0800 84017, regional intake, SEO-optimized per-city landing pages and referral partnerships with VDAB, RIZIV and sector funds (Alimento, Horeca Forma, Fonds 323, Verso, Febi, Vivo, Commerce Training, Divercity, Educam).

Its service portfolio is built around three core B2B2C lines: (1) employer-facing services (jobcoaching, taalcoaching on the work floor, leiderschapstrajecten, onboarding, individueel maatwerk, re-integratie, outplacement, recruitment & selection, digicoaching); (2) employee-facing services (VDAB-loopbaanbegeleiding at €90 for 4 hours, terug-naar-werk trajectories via RIZIV); and (3) jobseeker-facing services (bemiddelingsvouchers, bewakingsagent assessment track, opleiding schoonmaak, Jobs voor Brusselaars). The technology stack is primarily services-delivery (digital/face-to-face/blended), augmented by a proprietary 'Loopbaanlemniscaat' methodology (commercialized as a €27.65 e-book plus €30 USB-stick and recognized as ESF-ambassadeur in 2012), instructional videos ('De Goudzoeker', 'Mams Portfolio'), and — since 2026 — Match.career's AI-driven 'silhouet' profiling technology embedded inside the ESF+/Flemish Government-funded Toekomstkompas consortium project (budget ~€1.2M) for 2,000 East-Flanders youth.

Vokans earns revenue through four streams: (i) B2B coaching and training engagements priced per offerte with 30-day payment terms and annual indexation; (ii) one-off e-book / USB-stick product sales; (iii) voucher- and project-funded individual services paid through VDAB, RIZIV and sector funds; and (iv) structural public subsidies from the Vlaamse Overheid (>25-year validated partner) and ESF+/EU. With 51-100 staff and a named customer roster spanning hospitals (AZ Jan Palfijn, AZ Delta, AZ Sint-Blasius, ZAS), postal/logistics (PostNL), retail (Albert Heijn, Krefel), manufacturing (Agristo, Poppies Bakeries, Organon, Fagron, ViskoTeepak), transport (Keolis), energy (Hydrogenics), and multiple municipalities (Herselt, Ronse, Grimbergen, Dendermonde), the organization is a mid-sized, publicly subsidized, horizontally diversified training and coaching platform anchored in a regulatory moat (VDAB / Vlaamse Overheid recognition) rather than a venture-scale commercial operation.

Name

Vokans

Legal name

Vokans vzw

Website

https://vokans.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Vokans is a Belgian non-profit (vzw) under the ACV umbrella, founded in 1991, that delivers coaching, training and career-guidance services to employers, employees and job seekers across Flanders and Brussels via VDAB, RIZIV and ESF+ funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Coaching and Training Services

NAICS

Employment Services (5613), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Employment Cost Management & Workforce Analytics (BPACAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Strategy, Decision-Making & Business Acumen Coaching (EDABANAH), Supported Employment & Job Coaching (EDAKANAE)

Keywords

• Career coaching services
• Workplace language coaching
• Leadership training programs
• Reintegration coaching services
• Employee development coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. B2B training & coaching engagements with employers: Custom coaching, training and trajecten delivered to employers (jobcoaching, taalcoaching, leiderschap, onboarding, individueel maatwerk, re-integratie, outplacement), priced per offerte with monthly invoicing and 30-day payment terms. Tarieven worden jaarlijks geïndexeerd in januari. Vokans probes subsidierende overheden en fondsen voor financiële voordelen voor de klant.
2. Sale of e-book and USB-stick materials: One-off sales of the 'Loopbaancoaching volgens de loopbaanlemniscaat' e-book (€27.65 excl. BTW) and accompanying USB-stick (€30 excl. BTW) to organizations and individual coaches.
3. Government- and sector-funded individual services: Loopbaanbegeleiding voor individuen via VDAB-loopbaancheques (€90 for 4 uur / €22.50 per uur), bemiddelingsvouchers and RIZIV 'Terug naar werk fonds' vouchers; also ESF+/Vlaamse Overheid-subsidized projects such as Toekomstkompas (€1.2M budget) and individuele maatwerk with loonpremie/begeleidingspremie for the employer.
4. Public subsidies (ACV umbrella + Vlaamse Overheid / EU): As a vzw under the ACV umbrella, Vokans ontvangt structurele publieke subsidies (meer dan 25 jaar gevalideerd partner van de Vlaamse Overheid), making the organization 'gedeeltelijk gesubsidieerd' and financially interesting for clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Vokans delivers face-to-face, digital and blended coaching, training and career-guidance services to three constituencies in Flanders and Brussels: employers (jobcoaching, taalcoaching, leiderschapstrainingen, onboarding, individueel maatwerk, re-integratie, outplacement), employees (loopbaanbegeleiding, terug naar werk coaching) and jobseekers (bemiddelingsvouchers, Jobs voor Brusselaars, bewakingsagent and schoonmaak opleidingen). Pricing is a mix of B2B quotes, publicly subsidised VDAB/RIZIV vouchers (e.g., €90 for 4 hours of career guidance) and small e-commerce sales of a proprietary e-book and USB-stick coaching toolkit.

Product overview

Vokans (Vormings- en OpleidingsKANSen) is a Belgian non-profit training and coaching organization founded in 1991 under the ACV umbrella, delivering a portfolio of services rather than a single unified software product. The portfolio is organized around three target groups ('the 3 W's'): employers, employees and jobseekers, with services available face-to-face, digitally or blended across Flanders and Brussels. Core service lines include Loopbaanbegeleiding (career guidance for individuals, with local variants in Aalst, Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Leuven, Mechelen, Sint-Niklaas and Turnhout), Jobcoaching and Taalcoaching (language coaching on the work floor) for employers, plus Werving en selectie, Onboarding, Individueel maatwerk (officially recognized for the Flemish individueel maatwerk measure), Leiderschap, Mentorschap, Re-integratie en heroriëntatie, Outplacement, Bemiddelingsvouchers and Digicoaching on the work floor. On top of this services base, Vokans runs specialized programs such as Toekomstkompas (an ESF+/Flemish-Government-funded career-orientation track for 2,000 young adults in East Flanders, using AI technology from partner Match.career) and the Lerend netwerk peer-learning events, and publishes digital products including the e-book Loopbaancoaching volgens de loopbaanlemniscaat and the educational videos 'De Goudzoeker' and 'Mams Portfolio'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• De Goudzoeker: Video product developed by Vokans to support people who do not speak Dutch well, helping them gain insight into their identity and adaptability during their career.
• Mams Portfolio
• E-book Loopbaancoaching
• Toekomstkompas

Products and services

• Loopbaanbegeleiding (Career guidance) Individual career-guidance coaching program for employees and self-employed professionals with at least 7 years of work experience, delivered via 4-hour VDAB-loopbaancheques (€90 total, €22.50/hour) and accessible without vouchers. Available with local variants across Flanders (Aalst, Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Leuven, Mechelen, Sint-Niklaas, Turnhout).
• Jobcoaching On-the-floor, company-external coaching for employees covering soft-skills development, onboarding of new staff, Dutch-language support and communication/teamwork tips. Includes intake, needs analysis, action planning, on-floor coaching, manager collaboration and evaluation, with local variants for Flanders, Antwerp and Ghent.
• Taalcoaching (Language coaching on the work floor) Practical functional Dutch (and French/English) coaching for non-Dutch-speaking employees on company premises, delivered by Vokans language coaches and aligned to the jargon needed on the work floor.
• Werving en selectie (Recruitment and selection) Recruitment and selection support for employers as part of Vokans's 'bridging' role between employers, employees and jobseekers.
• Onboarding van nieuwe medewerkers Structured onboarding programs for new employees, integrated with jobcoaching and language coaching to accelerate ramp-up.
• Individueel maatwerk Flemish support measure for workers with a recognised occupational limitation or long-term health issue (e.g., NAH). Combines an employer wage premium with on-the-floor guidance by Vokans, covering structure, communication, priorities and team-level expectations.
• Leren en ontwikkelen van werknemers Learning and development programs for employees, ranging from soft-skill training to technical and language coaching, delivered on company premises.
• Mentorschap (Mentorship) Mentorship offerings, including an 'ervaringsbewijs mentorschap' (experience certificate) pathway for jobseekers and structured in-company mentorship pairing for talent attraction and retention.
• Leiderschap (Leadership) Customised leadership development tracks for team leaders and middle managers, focusing on communication, conflict handling, delegating responsibility and self-reflection; offered as on-the-floor programs and blended learning.
• Re-integratie en heroriëntatie Re-integration and re-orientation support for employees needing to find a new professional direction, including the 'Terug naar werk fonds' (Return-to-work fund) pathway via RIZIV vouchers.
• Outplacement Outplacement support for employees leaving an organisation, helping them transition to new employment.
• Toekomstkompas (Loopbaanoriëntatie 18-30 jaar) Free career-orientation program in East Flanders for 2,000 young adults (18-30), run by Vokans with Match.career (AI 'silhouet' technology), KOPA vzw, TOPunt Gent / Leerwinkel De Stap and Samen Leven Oost-Vlaanderen; fully funded by ESF+ and the Flemish Government (~€1.2M budget).
• Lerend netwerk Peer-learning network for HR professionals and managers, using a data-driven Quick Scan as a starting point to identify team and organisational priorities and exchange practical cases (e.g., 'Slim leiderschap' on 8 October 2026 in Antwerp).
• E-book Loopbaancoaching volgens de loopbaanlemniscaat Digital handbook for career coaches based on Vokans's 'loopbaanlemniscaat' method, originally published in 2011 (with Vokans named ESF-ambassador in 2012) and re-released as a searchable e-book with an optional USB stick (€27.65 e-book / €30 USB, excl. VAT).
• Video De Goudzoeker Instructional video supporting career guidance for clients who do not yet speak Dutch well, helping them surface their own identity and adaptability during their career journey.
• Video Mams Portfolio Instructional video helping career-guidance clients articulate skills acquired elsewhere (e.g., planning, organisation, flexibility, stress resistance) for use on the labour market.
• Digicoaching On-the-floor digital coaching helping employees adopt and confidently use digital workplace tools (quality handbooks, leave and time-registration apps), delivered by Vokans digicoaches such as Sander Janssens.
• Bemiddelingsvouchers VDAB-funded guidance-to-work program delivered by Vokans using bemiddelingsvouchers, targeted at jobseekers looking for sustainable employment.
• Bewakingsagent (Security guard assessment/training track) Assessment and application training track for candidates pursuing the security-guard profession, including observation training and elevator-pitch coaching for employer speed-dates.
• Opleiding schoonmaak (Cleaning training) Training program for jobseekers aimed at employment in the cleaning sector.
• Jobs voor Brusselaars Brussels-focused program to help Brussels residents find employment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000 Oost-Vlaamse jongvolwassenen (18-30 jaar) begeleid richting studie/werk via het Toekomstkompas-project.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers41 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ACV (Algemene Christelijke Vakbond)flagshipOthersVokans huist onder de ACV-paraplu maar streeft ondernemerschap en een autonome werking na. De DPO wordt gedeeld ([email protected]) en ACV-magazine publiceerde over Vokans-cases.
• VDAB (Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDAB erkent Vokans als loopbaancentrum (sinds 2005, één van de eerste) en als aanbieder van individueel maatwerk en bemiddelingsvouchers. VDAB-loopbaancheques (€90/4u) en VDAB-visum op facturen zijn kern van de individuele dienstverlening. VDAB-logo prominent op alle regionale pagina's.
• RIZIV / Terug naar werk fondscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVokans biedt coaching via RIZIV-vouchers van het 'Terug naar werk fonds' voor werknemers die hervallen na ziekte; terug-naar-werk-trajecten en posters/pagina's gewijd aan dit fonds.
• Match.careercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer binnen Toekomstkompas: levert AI-gedreven 'silhouet'-technologie die jongvolwassenen helpt hun professionele identiteit scherp te krijgen. CEO Izzy Claerhout spreekt namens de partner.
• KOPA vzwcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Toekomstkompas; brengt ervaring in coaching en tewerkstelling in voor de begeleiding van 2.000 jongvolwassenen in Oost-Vlaanderen.
• TOPunt Gent via Leerwinkel De StapcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Toekomstkompas; versterkt vanuit opleidingsgerichte werking en expertise in levenslang leren.
• Samen Leven Oost-VlaanderencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Toekomstkompas; zorgt voor bereik naar diverse doelgroepen binnen Oost-Vlaanderen.
• AlimentocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSectorfonds voedingsindustrie dat Vokans inzet/erkent als opleidingsverstrekker voor taalcoaching en opleidingen op de werkvloer.
• Horeca FormacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSectoraal vormingsfonds horeca dat samenwerkt met Vokans rond 'Nederlands op de werkvloer'.
• Fonds 323minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSectoraal opleidingsfonds; partnerlogo op vokans.be/wie-zijn-we.
• VersominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFederatie van sociale ondernemingen; partnerlogo op de 'wie-zijn-we'-pagina.
• FebiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSectorfonds banden- en aanverwante industrie; partnerlogo op vokans.be/wie-zijn-we.
• Vivo Social ProfitminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner voor gratis taalondersteuning aan anderstalige collega's in de social-profitsector.
• Commerce TrainingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSectorale opleidingspartner voor de handelssector; verwijst naar taalcoaching 'de basics voor anderstaligen'.
• Divercity (aanbodvormingsfonds)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAanbodvormingsfonds; partnerlogo op de Vokans 'wie-zijn-we'-pagina.
• EducamminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorErkende opleidingsverstrekker voor de autosector; partnerlogo op vokans.be/wie-zijn-we.
• WewisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWewis-logo wordt getoond naast VDAB/Vlaanderen/EU op de individuele maatwerk-pagina rond Lisa (Sulo); vermoedelijk een werkgevers- of HR-organisatie die het project mee ondersteunt.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• BetterUp: BetterUp is a global digital coaching and leadership-development platform that increasingly targets enterprise L&D buyers — an emerging digital-first competitor for Vokans' leadership, leiderschap and employee coaching mandates as Flemish employers adopt online coaching tools.

Direct peers

• Co-valent: Co-valent is a Belgian sectoral training fund for the chemical, plastics and life-sciences industries, providing workplace-based language, digital and onboarding training — directly comparable to Vokans' taalcoaching-op-de-werkvloer and leren-en-ontwikkelen services for industrial employers.
• Cevora: Cevora is the joint HR service organization of Belgian employers and employees, delivering training, coaching and career guidance to employer clients — directly comparable to Vokans' B2B loopbaanbegeleiding and jobcoaching portfolio within the same social-partner ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Adecco Belgium: Adecco Belgium provides staffing, outplacement, training and career-coaching services nationally, competing with Vokans on employer coaching, outplacement and re-integratie mandates from a global incumbent base.
• ManpowerGroup Belgium: ManpowerGroup Belgium provides staffing, outplacement (Right Management), training and talent development — overlapping with Vokans' re-integratie, outplacement and leren-en-ontwikkelen offerings but from a global incumbent services base.
• Randstad Belgium: Randstad Belgium is a major staffing and HR services group that also delivers outplacement, re-integration, talent development and training — overlapping directly with Vokans' outplacement, re-integratie and leren-en-ontwikkelen lines but as part of a global staffing platform.
• SD Worx: SD Worx is one of Belgium's largest HR services providers (payroll, HR administration, learning & development) and competes for the same employer L&D and talent-management wallet as Vokans, but from a much broader services portfolio.
• Acerta: Acerta is a large Belgian HR and social-security services provider that offers employer-focused learning, talent and well-being solutions — a broader incumbent competing for similar employer L&D and people-development budgets as Vokans.

Others

• Verso: Verso is the Belgian federation of social enterprises and a Vokans partner displayed on its 'wie-zijn-we' page; it channels member organizations into Vokans' coaching, training and individueel maatwerk offerings within the social-profit ecosystem.

Regional players

• Syntra Vlaanderen: Syntra Vlaanderen is the Flemish agency for entrepreneurial and SME training, providing recognized training, coaching and learning pathways across Flanders — overlapping with Vokans' L&D, mentorship and SME coaching offerings in the same Flemish market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevokans.be/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/youtube-2.jpg
• Facebookfacebook.com/vokans.be
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vokans-vzw
• Instagraminstagram.com/vokansvzw

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vokans