What Compaan does

Compaan is a Belgian social enterprise (non-profit, vzw – vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) headquartered in Sint-Amandsberg, East Flanders, operating since 1987. The organization is structured under two legal entities — Job & Co vzw (HR services) and Con Brio vzw (sheltered workshop / maatwerkbedrijf) — unified under the Compaan brand since 2014. Its HR services division (Job & Co Compaan) provides job coaching, language coaching, career guidance, outplacement, training, and inclusive job design to employers, employees, and job seekers. The maatwerkbedrijf division operates cleaning services (offices, public facilities, heritage buildings, mobile car wash) and a traiteur/biobakkerij (organic sourdough breads, vegan pastries, catering, eco lunch bags), employing approximately 65+ workers who face barriers to the regular labor market. Compaan employs 140+ staff in total and operates from multiple locations across East Flanders (Sint-Amandsberg, Oostakker, Eeklo, Lokeren, Aalst).

The organization's revenue model is hybrid, combining commercial service revenue with substantial public-sector funding. Several HR services can be delivered free of charge through VDAB intervention, and training/advice qualifies for up to 30% kmo-portefeuille subsidies. Commercial cleaning contracts, bakery product sales, catering, and HR consulting fees contribute the transaction-based component, while VDAB mandates, European Social Fund (ESF) financing, Koning Boudewijnstichting grants, and Flemish government programs provide subsidy-based revenue. Compaan holds multiple sector certifications — WSE Kwaliteitslabel, Qfor, Certo (outplacement), FAVV (food safety), and EU-biolabel (organic) — that anchor its eligibility for public mandates and reinforce credibility with commercial clients.

Compaan serves a diverse mix of customers in East Flanders, including employers seeking inclusive hiring support, local governments (OCMWs/Stad Gent), job seekers with intensive support needs, and commercial buyers of cleaning and food services. Named clients include Randstad, UGent, Vlerick Business School, AZ Sint-Lucas (healthcare), Çavaria (NGO), Het Lepelblad (restaurant), and Zebrastraat (events). Distribution is channel-driven through direct sales, VDAB referrals, and local partnership networks (Jobteam, B-OOST), with acquisition events such as Dag van Inclusie supporting employer engagement.

Name

Compaan

Legal name

Compaan – Job & Co vzw and Con Brio vzw

Website

https://compaan.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Compaan is a Belgian social enterprise (vzw) operating since 1987 in East Flanders, providing HR coaching, training, and outplacement services through Job & Co vzw alongside sheltered workshop operations (cleaning and organic bakery) via Con Brio vzw.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sint-Amandsberg (Gent)

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Maatwerkbedrijf services: Revenue from cleaning services and food/catering operations (traiteur and biobakkerij) provided to businesses and governments through the sheltered workshop division.
2. HR consulting and coaching services: Revenue from job coaching, outplacement, language coaching, and training services provided to employers and employees. Services may be subsidized through VDAB mandates or kmo-portefeuille.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Compaan is a Belgian social enterprise (vzw) operating two divisions in East Flanders. Job & Co Compaan delivers HR services including job coaching, language coaching, career guidance, outplacement, and inclusive job design for employers, employees, and job seekers with barriers. Compaan Maatwerkbedrijf (Con Brio vzw) operates as a sheltered workshop providing professional cleaning services (offices, public facilities, heritage buildings, mobile car wash) and organic bakery/catering products (sourdough breads, vegan pastries, lunch bags, event catering), employing around 65+ people who face challenges in the regular labor market.

Product overview

Compaan is a social enterprise operating in East Flanders, Belgium, offering two main divisions: Job & Co Compaan (HR services) and Compaan Maatwerkbedrijf/Con Brio vzw (social enterprise). Job & Co Compaan provides specialized coaching, training, and advisory services including job coaching, language coaching, career guidance, outplacement, and inclusive job design for job seekers, employees, and employers. Compaan Maatwerkbedrijf operates as a sheltered workshop offering cleaning services (offices, public facilities, heritage buildings, mobile car wash) and a social traiteur/biobakkerij (organic bakery, catering, lunch bags) to approximately 65+ employees who face challenges in the regular labor market. The organization integrates people with underutilized talents into the labor market through inclusive work and entrepreneurship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Job & Co Compaan (HR Services Division) HR services division providing specialized coaching, training, and advisory services for job seekers, employees, employers, and local governments. Services include job coaching, language coaching, career guidance, outplacement, inclusive job design, individual customization, training programs, back-to-work support, and internship/employment matching.
• Schoonmaak (Cleaning Services) Professional cleaning services for offices, apartment buildings, public facilities (sports halls, libraries, sanitary units, bus shelters), valuable heritage buildings (churches, chapels, archives), and mobile car wash for company vehicle fleets, delivered through the Compaan Maatwerkbedrijf division in East Flanders.
• Food: Traiteur en Biobakkerij (Social Catering & Organic Bakery) Social catering and organic bakery division producing bio sourdough breads, vegan pastries, customized lunch bags (meat, veggie, vegan, gluten-free), event catering for corporate and private functions, and wholesale bakery products for resale to restaurants, universities, and catering companies.
• Inhouse-coaching voor OCMW's (Local Governments) In-house coaching and advisory support service for local governments (OCMWs/public social welfare centers) to assist with employment activation, social integration, and HR challenges related to vulnerable job seekers in their municipalities.

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VDABcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary government partner providing recognition, mandates, and client referrals. VDAB mandates include GOB (Gespecialiseerd centrum voor Opleiding Begeleiding en Bemiddeling), free job matching, career center, outplacement, and progression coaching.
• JobteamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partnership in Gent region for outreach to NEET individuals and people with barriers across life domains. Part of Lokale Partnerschappen network.
• B-OOSTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partnership (Begeleiding – Ondersteuning – Ontwikkeling – Succes – Toekomst) active in Leie & Schelde, Meetjesland, and Waasland regions for vulnerable job seekers.
• UNIZOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRefers employers to Compaan for inclusief jobdesign services. UNIZO advisors can recommend inclusion scans to member companies.
• GTBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner in Actief Inclusief project for inclusive workplace transitions.
• DBSE (Dienstenbedrijf Sociale Economie Stad Gent)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for GKM (Grootkeukenmedewerker) training - DBSE provided professional kitchen facilities while Job & Co provided training and administration.
• De WerkplekarchitectencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSector federation representing work integration organizations in Flanders. Compaan (Job & Co) is a member, participating in quality initiatives and the Inclusieve Onderneming award.
• TaborgroepminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 40 autonomous organizations in education, care, welfare, and social economy. Compaan participates in this broader ecosystem.
• Groep MaatwerkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella organization for Flemish sheltered workshops (maatwerkbedrijven).
• GOCA (Gents OpleidingsCentrum voor Ambachten)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Gent-Zeehaven location. Expanded activities to include wood, metal, and natural stone working (Atelier Compaan - now closed).
• MLWB (Meetjeslandse LeerWerkBedrijven)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Eeklo location establishing Compaan's presence in Meetjesland region.
• Stad GentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotor of Sociaal-Circulaire Hub Gent project. Multiple collaborations including Lekker(s) Op School project.
• Vlaanderen CirculairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Sociaal-Circulaire Hub Gent project for circular economy initiatives.
• EnerGentminorOthersInstalled 187 solar panels on Compaan facilities in Sint-Amandsberg, producing 50,000 kWh per year.
• SectorfondsenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSector funds collaborating with Compaan on Actief Inclusief project for inclusive employment.
• VIERNULVIERminorOthersStage location for GKM (Grootkeukenmedewerker) training program, providing practical work experience opportunities.
• PakhuisminorOthersStage location for GKM training program providing work experience for job seekers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Sectorfederatie Arbeidsmarktintegratie (De Werkplekarchitecten): Recognized Flemish sector federation for work integration organizations, of which Job & Co Compaan is a member. Comparable as a peer institution shaping sector policy and quality standards for labor market integration.
• Federgon: Belgian federation of HR service providers, joint certification body with VDAB for the Certo outplacement standard that Compaan holds. Operates as both a sector federation and a quality gatekeeper in the same HR services market Compaan serves.

Direct peers

• Randstad Belgium: Largest Belgian staffing firm and also a documented customer of Compaan for catering. Functions simultaneously as a competitor (HR/staffing/outplacement) and buyer of Compaan's social catering services, making it a uniquely dual-role peer.
• Tempo-Team Belgium: Major Belgian staffing firm (part of Randstad Group) with broad coverage of Flemish employers. Comparable to Compaan as a provider of staffing, outplacement, and HR advisory services competing for the same East Flanders client base.
• De Kringwinkel: Flemish social enterprise network of second-hand shops providing sheltered employment across Flanders. Comparable to Compaan as a fellow maatwerkbedrijf-style social enterprise combining commercial activity with labor market integration in the same regulatory and funding framework.
• Accent: Belgian staffing and HR services firm operating across Flanders and Wallonia, including East Flanders. Directly comparable as a competitor for Compaan's employer-side HR engagements, outplacement, and coaching services in the same geographic market.
• Groep Maatwerk: Flemish umbrella organization for sheltered workshops (maatwerkbedrijven) of which Compaan's Con Brio vzw is a member. Operates the same regulatory framework of sheltered employment and VDAB-mandated services across Flanders, making it the most direct sectoral peer.
• Taborgroep: Network of 40 autonomous organizations in education, care, welfare, and social economy in which Compaan participates. Highly comparable as a Flemish social economy network with overlapping mission of labor market activation and sheltered work.
• Vebego: Dutch-Belgian facility services and cleaning group with a strong social employment focus. Highly comparable to Compaan's Maatwerkbedrijf cleaning division in combining commercial cleaning with employment of people with distance to the labor market.

Broad incumbents

• VDAB: Flemish public employment service that grants Compaan its GOB recognition, mandates, and client referrals, and which co-runs the Certo outplacement certification. Comparable as the broad incumbent in the Flemish labor market activation space within which Compaan operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CompaanMaatwerkbedrijf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compaan.be
• Instagraminstagram.com/compaan_maatwerkbedrijf

Compliance27 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Compaan