Ijmond Works

What Ijmond Works does

IJmond Werkt is a Dutch social employment organization (sociaal ontwikkelbedrijf) established around 1971 and headquartered in Beverwijk, Netherlands. It operates under a Gemeenschappelijke Regeling (joint municipal arrangement) on behalf of three municipalities — Beverwijk, Heemskerk, and Velsen — to implement the Dutch Participatiewet, delivering reintegration services, sheltered work, job coaching, and youth employment programs to welfare recipients, people with disabilities, and vulnerable youth. The organization employs approximately 500 staff across multiple locations in the IJmond region and operates two principal service arms: a publicly funded reintegration division and a commercial social-enterprise arm called Ontwikkelhuis, which supplies outsourced assembly, packaging, labeling, and sorting services to enterprise customers such as PostNL, Etos, MSD, and Tata Steel.

Its core product portfolio spans the Ontwikkelhuis social enterprise, the Young Heroes youth program (launched 2020), the Telstar@Work football-stadium work-experience program, the AI-powered Groen Werkt! computer-vision app for green maintenance workers, the Academy digital training platform with the 'Sterk naar Werk' curriculum, and the VR-based Kamer van Mogelijkheden for immersive employer tours and AI-avatar interview practice. Proprietary technology was developed in partnership with TNO and the Kennisalliantie Inclusieve Technologie (KIT) consortium. Additional lines of business include municipal green maintenance, postal delivery services for PostNL, and employer-facing services through the WerkgeversServicepunt (WSP), now integrated into the Werkcentrum Zuid-Kennemerland en IJmond from January 2026.

The business model is a hybrid of public-sector commissioning and commercial contract revenue. The vast majority of funding flows from the three participating municipalities under multi-year Participatiewet contracts, supplemented by UWV-funded Beschut Werk (sheltered work) and Banenafspraak (job agreement) subsidies for individual placements. Commercial revenue is generated through Ontwikkelhuis fee-for-service contracts and outsourced postal operations. Go-to-market combines community-led outreach (municipal intake, school partnerships with VSO/PRO schools, Nova College, Heliomare) with sales-led employer acquisition through the WSP network and direct Ontwikkelhuis business development. The organization is governed by a board of municipal portfolio holders, currently chaired by Gaatze de Vries (alderman, Heemskerk), and has operated under interim director Udo Possel since April 2025 following the departure of long-serving director Erwin van Hardeveld.

Name

Ijmond Works

Legal name

IJmond Werkt!

Website

https://ijmondwerkt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

IJmond Werkt is a Dutch social employment organization commissioned by the municipalities of Beverwijk, Heemskerk, and Velsen to deliver Participatiewet reintegration, sheltered work, job coaching, and youth employment services across the IJmond region, supplemented by a commercial outsourcing arm (Ontwikkelhuis) serving enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Employment and Workforce Reintegration Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Employment Services (5613)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAJ

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGALAB

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Enterprises & Impact Organizations

SECONDARYEDAAAFAM

Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

Keywords

• Social reintegration services
• Sheltered employment programs
• Workforce development coaching
• Outsourced packaging assembly
• Youth employment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Beverwijk

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal Government Contracts (Participatiewet): IJmond Werkt is commissioned by the three IJmond municipalities (Beverwijk, Heemskerk, Velsen) to implement the Participatiewet (Participation Act), which funds reintegration services for welfare recipients and people with disabilities.
2. Social Enterprise Services (Ontwikkelhuis): The Ontwikkelhuis provides contract work services including assembly, packaging, labeling, sorting, and package assembly for businesses. Revenue is generated through service fees for these outsourcing activities.
3. Social Workplace Services: Provides sheltered work places for people with disabilities who cannot yet work at regular companies, funded through social work provisions and UWV indicators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IJmond Werkt! provides social reintegration and supported employment services to residents of the Beverwijk, Heemskerk, and Velsen municipalities under the Dutch Participatiewet (Participation Act). The organization runs the Ontwikkelhuis social enterprise, which outsources assembly, packaging, labeling, and sorting work to regional businesses, alongside job coaching, training programs (including the Academy App), sheltered work (Beschut Werk), and the Young Heroes youth program for under-27s. Services are delivered directly through municipal intake and via partnerships with schools, employers, and social chain partners.

Product overview

IJmond Werkt! is a social development company (sociaal ontwikkelbedrijf) operating under the Participatiewet (Participation Act) for the municipalities of Beverwijk, Heemskerk and Velsen. The organization provides a comprehensive employment support ecosystem consisting of core services (Ontwikkelhuis for outsourced work, Young Heroes youth program, Telstar@Work football club partnership), training offerings (Academy App with digital modules, classroom training programs), and specialized tools (Groen Werkt! AI app for green maintenance). The organization connects job seekers with employment opportunities while providing businesses with reliable, socially responsible outsourcing solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Young Heroes: A program launched in 2020 to help vulnerable youth up to 27 years prepare for the labor market or education, helping them find work with pleasure and motivation.
• Ontwikkelhuis
• Groen Werkt! app
• IJmond Werkt! Academy
• Telstar@Work

Products and services

• Ontwikkelhuis (Outsourced Work Services) Social enterprise offering outsourced assembly, packaging, labeling, sorting, and package assembly services to regional businesses while providing work placements for people with distance to the labor market.
• Young Heroes (Youth Reintegration Program) Youth employment preparation program supporting vulnerable young people up to age 27 without qualifications or out of education/work, through work experience, skills development, and job placement support.
• Telstar@Work (Football Stadium Employment Program) Partnership program with professional football club Telstar providing practical work experience in hospitality, cleaning, and green maintenance within the Velsen-Zuid football stadium environment.
• De Passage (Employment Diagnosis Trajectory) Employment diagnosis program helping employees gain insight into their talents, possibilities, and development points through practical observations, personal interviews, and the Melba methodology.
• Groen Werkt! App (AI Green-Maintenance Application) AI-powered mobile application using computer vision to help green maintenance workers assess required maintenance levels of public green spaces based on photo analysis, aligned with municipal client specifications.
• IJmond Werkt! Academy App (Digital Training Platform) Digital training platform offering video tutorials, training content, and homework assignments for job seekers, including the 'Sterk naar Werk' (Strong to Work) job-application skills module delivered via blended learning.
• Jobcoaching (Employment Coaching Services) Job coaching services providing support to job seekers in finding and maintaining employment, including help with CV preparation, interview preparation, and on-the-job guidance at the workplace.
• Training Programs (Group-Based Skills Training) Group-based training programs for job seekers including Voel je Sterk (confidence building), Maak je Plan, Blik op Jezelf (basic skills), and Sterk naar Werk (job application skills) modules.
• School Cooperation Program (VSO/PRO School Partnerships) Collaboration program with secondary special education (VSO) and practical education (PRO) schools supporting the transition of students with special needs or practical education backgrounds from school to work via job coach support.
• Beschut Werk (Sheltered Work Services) Protected workplace services for people who cannot yet work at a regular company, providing extra guidance and adapted workplace conditions under the Dutch Participation Act.
• Kamer van Mogelijkheden (VR Workplace Experience Room) Virtual reality experience room using 360-degree immersive video to allow job seekers to virtually visit different employers in the IJmond region and explore job functions from home.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth employment program Young Heroes supports young people up to age 27
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Gemeente BeverwijkcoreOthersOne of three IJmond municipalities that commission IJmond Werkt to implement the Participatiewet for reintegration of welfare recipients and people with disabilities.
• Gemeente HeemskerkcoreOthersOne of three IJmond municipalities that commission IJmond Werkt to implement the Participatiewet for reintegration of welfare recipients and people with disabilities.
• Gemeente VelsencoreOthersOne of three IJmond municipalities that commission IJmond Werkt to implement the Participatiewet for reintegration of welfare recipients and people with disabilities.
• TelstarflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelstar@Work is a unique sub-project of IJmond Werkt located in the football stadium of Velsen-Zuid. It offers work experience and employment rhythm in hospitality, cleaning, and green work within the inspiring environment of professional football. The collaboration was extended for the 2026 season.
• Nova CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution collaborating with IJmond Werkt on youth programs and bridging between education and the labor market, particularly for REA College programs.
• HeliomarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare and education organization collaborating on vocational training (REA College), youth projects (MDT-project Empowerment), vitality programs, and workplace assessments using the Melba methodology.
• Forta SchoolcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational partner for Voortgezet Speciaal Onderwijs (VSO) supporting transition of students with special needs from school to work.
• Tender CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational partner providing Praktijkonderwijs (PRO) supporting youth transition from practical education to employment.
• UWVcoreOthersEmployee insurance agency providing Beschut Werk (sheltered work) and Banenafspraak (job agreement) indicators that determine eligibility for IJmond Werkt services.
• Spaarne WerktminorOthersRegional chain partner organization in the social employment chain network.
• WoonopmaatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing corporation partner collaborating on TEA Helpt! (Team Energie Aanpak) project providing energy-saving assistance to low-income tenants in Heemskerk.
• EcoHeemskerkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable energy association partnered with IJmond Werkt on TEA Helpt! project for energy-saving advice and implementation.
• PostNLminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPostal service partner where IJmond Werkt employees deliver mail daily in the region, celebrated on International Day of Post.
• CedrisminorOthersBranch organization for social employment and labor integration. Director Esmé Rijs visited IJmond Werkt in March 2026 for discussions about the organization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Cedris: Dutch branch organization for social employment and labor integration. Named partner in IJmond Werkt's data; operates as the industry association representing social enterprises across the Netherlands, comparable at the ecosystem level.
• Detailresult Groep: Dutch distribution and logistics employer named as IJmond Werkt's customer partner for distribution centers of Dirk and DekaMarkt. Represents the employer side of the IJmond ecosystem — comparable as a demand-side employer engaging social employment partners.
• PostNL: Dutch postal operator partner of IJmond Werkt for daily mail delivery services in the region. Functions as both customer and ecosystem partner, with social employment delivery arrangements comparable to those IJmond Werkt offers via Ontwikkelhuis.

Direct peers

• Caparis: Social enterprise operating across Friesland and Groningen providing sheltered work, reintegration, and business services under Participatiewet contracts. Compares on regional social employment model and government-funded revenue base.
• Presikhaaf Groep (Sociale Werkvoorziening Presikhaaf): Arnhem-region social enterprise offering sheltered employment, job coaching, and reintegration services under the Participatiewet. Closely comparable operating model and municipal contract structure to IJmond Werkt.
• Werkzaak Rivierenland: Regional social employment collaborative in the Rivierenland area executing Participatiewet reintegration and employer services for multiple municipalities. Highly analogous governance structure (samenwerkingsverband) and service mix to IJmond Werkt.
• Pantar Amsterdam: Pantar is a large Amsterdam-based social employment organization providing sheltered work, reintegration, and outsourcing services. It is the most direct Dutch peer in terms of business model — government-funded social enterprise combining work reintegration with commercial outsourcing to employers.

Broad incumbents

• UWV (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen): Dutch government agency that provides the Beschut Werk and Banenafspraak indicators that determine IJmond Werkt's eligible client base. Not a direct competitor, but a key ecosystem participant and funding/indicator gatekeeper for Dutch social employment.

Emerging players

• Heliomare: Dutch healthcare and education organization named as IJmond Werkt's partner for vocational training, REA College programs, and workplace assessments (Melba methodology). Overlaps on vocational rehabilitation and disability employment services.

Regional players

• Spaarne Werkt: Named chain partner of IJmond Werkt operating as a regional social employment organization in the Zuid-Kennemerland area. Direct comparable on service offerings and regional Dutch social employment market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwBd5hH9V9k7gLvIUw7mKpg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ijmondwerkt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ijmondwerkt
• Xx.com/ijmondwerkt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Ijmond Works