What Groep Maatwerk does

Groep Maatwerk vzw is a Belgian non-profit federation (vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) headquartered in Tienen, Flanders, that represents 63 maatwerkbedrijven — sheltered employment and social enterprises that provide adapted work to people with disabilities, long-term unemployed, ex-detainees, refugees, and other groups with a distance to the regular labor market. The organization's 63 members collectively employ approximately 20,000 maatwerkers, representing roughly 77% of the Flemish sheltered workshop sector's target-group workforce, and generated combined turnover of €471 million. Operating under the Flemish maatwerkdecreet (in force since 1 January 2019), Groep Maatwerk is the recognized sector federation and serves its members through three primary lines: (1) member support via the Ledenzone members-only portal and provincial/congress networking; (2) vocational training delivered by an internal VTO team of five permanent staff plus freelance trainers, with named programs including DIGIT-ABLE, Train the Trainer, Mentorschap voor maatwerkcoaches, and Energiewijzer; and (3) advocacy, image-building, and collective services such as the CASE purchasing scheme operated with COLLECTIEF.coop. The organization is led by Director Francis Devisch, with VTO-team staff including Marijke Stiers. It holds a strategic collaboration with Agoria (the Belgian industry federation) and referral relationships with VDAB, Febrap (Brussels), and Eweta (Wallonia).

The federation's revenue model is membership dues calculated per employee at each member maatwerkbedrijf, billed annually, supplemented by training fees and EU project funding (e.g., DIGIT-ABLE). Its go-to-market is community-led: it acquires and retains members via advocacy (belangenbehartiging), the Ledenzone portal, training offerings, and the demonstrable cost savings of the CASE collective purchasing scheme. Marketing channels span the groepmaatwerk.be website, Facebook/LinkedIn/X, the WerkVormen newsletter, network days and congresses, and public awareness campaigns. There is no proprietary technology platform and no disclosed AI capabilities; the competitive advantage rests on statutory sector representation, ecosystem cohesion among members, and the operational cost benefits delivered through collective purchasing.

Name

Groep Maatwerk

Legal name

Groep Maatwerk vzw

Website

https://groepmaatwerk.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Groep Maatwerk vzw is a Flemish non-profit federation representing 63 maatwerkbedrijven (sheltered employment companies) that collectively employ ~20,000 workers with a distance to the labor market (~77% of the Flemish sector). It provides member support, vocational training, advocacy, and collective purchasing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tienen

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Groep Maatwerk is a membership organization (ledenorganisatie) that generates revenue through membership fees paid by its member maatwerkbedrijven. The price of membership is calculated based on the number of employees at each member company.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Groep Maatwerk is a Flemish sector federation (ledenorganisatie) representing 63 maatwerkbedrijven (sheltered employment companies) in Flanders, Belgium. It provides member support services (Ledenondersteuning), vocational training (VTO/Vormingen), collective purchasing benefits through the CASE scheme, sector advocacy (belangenbehartiging), and knowledge sharing through the Ledenzone member portal, network days, and the WerkVormen publication.

Product overview

Groep Maatwerk is a Flemish federation/member organization representing sheltered employment companies (maatwerkbedrijven). The organization provides a platform of services including member support through the Ledenondersteuning program with the Ledenzone portal, vocational training (Vormingen) via an internal VTO team, and various training programs such as DIGIT-ABLE, Train the trainer, Energiewijzer, and Mentorschap voor maatwerkcoaches. Additional offerings include situation-based tools, training materials, and the WerkVormen publication. The organization focuses on advocacy, knowledge sharing, social dialogue, and image formation for its 63 member companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VTO-team: The vocational training team of Groep Maatwerk, offering training programs and professional development for maatwerkbedrijven staff.

Products and services

• Ledenondersteuning (Member Support) Core member support service for the 63 member maatwerkbedrijven, providing daily-updated information, individual support, and collective support through provincial meetings, study days, and congresses.
• Vormingen (Training/Education) Vocational training services provided by the VTO team (five permanent staff plus freelancers), offering both fixed training programs and customized training solutions for member maatwerkbedrijven.
• Ledenzone (Member Portal) Exclusive members-only portal providing daily-updated information, access to technical resources, and exclusive content for member maatwerkbedrijven.
• WerkVormen (publication) Magazine/publication covering topics relevant to the sheltered employment sector, including training policy, sustainable careers, and sector news, distributed to consented contacts.
• DIGIT-ABLE EU project offering a hybrid activity program to strengthen the digital maturity of social enterprises (maatwerkbedrijven).
• CASE Collective Purchasing Scheme Collective purchasing scheme covering over 40 framework contracts (office supplies, IT, energy, cleaning products, work clothing, fuel, telecom) that delivers cashback to participating maatwerkbedrijven through COLLECTIEF.coop.

Quantifiable outcome

• 63 member maatwerkbedrijven representing ~77% of the Flemish sheltered workshop sector's workers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AgoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroep Maatwerk has a broader collaboration with Agoria (the Belgian technology and industry federation) focused on strengthening ties between Flemish industry and maatwerkbedrijven. The partnership aims to demonstrate that sheltered workshops are strategic partners for industry, enhancing competitiveness, flexibility, and innovation. An interview with Agoria chairman Tim Berckmoes (CEO of ABC Engines) and Groep Maatwerk director Jolyce Demely was published as part of this collaboration.
• COLLECTIEF.coopcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCOLLECTIEF.coop operates CASE (a purchasing assistant) which is actively promoted by Groep Maatwerk to its members. CASE provides collective purchasing benefits across 40+ framework contracts including office supplies, IT, energy, cleaning products, work clothing, fuel, and telecom, delivering cashback to participating maatwerkbedrijven. The partnership also includes YOU-P, offering purchase benefits for employees of member organizations.
• Collectief.coopcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollectief.coop manages the CASE collective purchasing scheme, which Groep Maatwerk actively promotes to its member maatwerkbedrijven. The scheme covers over 40 framework contracts for various goods and services, providing cost savings and cashback. Marianne Deseure (financial director at OptimaT and chair of Collectief.coop) and Ilse Fannes (director) are quoted endorsing the scheme.
• VDABminorOthersVDAB (Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding) is the Flemish public employment service. Groep Maatwerk refers individuals interested in working at a maatwerkbedrijf to VDAB, making VDAB a referral pathway partner for placing job seekers with disabilities.
• FebrapminorOthersFebrap is the Brussels federation of sheltered workshops (Federatie van de Brusselse Beschutte Werkplaatsen). Groep Maatwerk refers inquiries about sheltered workshops in Brussels to Febrap, and vice versa for Wallonia to Eweta.
• EwetaminorOthersEweta is the Walloon federation of sheltered workshops. Groep Maatwerk refers inquiries about sheltered workshops in Wallonia to Eweta, and for Brussels to Febrap.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Agoria: Belgian federation for the technology and industry sector, and explicit strategic partner of Groep Maatwerk. Comparable as a sector federation operating model, though serving industrial rather than social-employment members. Adjacent partner in the industry-sheltered workshop integration agenda.
• Inclusion Europe: European-level advocacy organization for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Adjacent to Groep Maatwerk's mission of inclusive employment, with broader pan-European advocacy scope rather than direct sheltered-workshop representation.
• COLLECTIEF.coop: Belgian cooperative managing the CASE collective purchasing scheme marketed to Groep Maatwerk's members. Functions as an ecosystem/partner rather than direct peer, but integral to Groep Maatwerk's value proposition and member cost-savings positioning.

Direct peers

• Febrap (Federatie van de Brusselse Beschutte Werkplaatsen): Federation for sheltered workshops in the Brussels-Capital Region. Directly comparable to Groep Maatwerk as the regional sector federation providing advocacy, training, and member support for social enterprises employing workers with distance to the labor market, and explicitly cross-referred in Groep Maatwerk's referral pathways.
• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen (BAG WfbM): German federal association of workshops for people with disabilities. Comparable to Groep Maatwerk as a national sector federation providing representation, advocacy, and member services for sheltered employment operators, with broader geographic and member scale.
• Eweta: Walloon federation of sheltered workshops. Mirrors Groep Maatwerk's role in Wallonia, providing sector representation, training, and member services to social enterprises employing people with disabilities or other barriers to regular employment. Referenced as the Wallonia referral counterpart.

Broad incumbents

• APSE (Association of Public Service Excellence): UK-based organization supporting employment, social inclusion, and supported employment programs for disadvantaged groups. Comparable to Groep Maatwerk in advocating for and providing services to member organizations serving disadvantaged workers.
• EUSE (European Union for Supported Employment): European umbrella body coordinating national federations for supported employment, including Flemish/Walloon organizations. Comparable to Groep Maatwerk at the European level in setting standards, providing training resources, and advocating for supported employment across member states.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/groepmaatwerk
• Facebookfacebook.com/groepmaatwerk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vlaamse-federatie-beschutte-werkplaatsen-vlab-vzw-

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 Groep Maatwerk