HPC Centrum
HPC Centrum is a publicly funded Rotterdam secondary school delivering praktijkonderwijs (practical education) to approximately 215 students aged 12-18, combining theoretical lessons with hands-on vocational training and structured employer internships. Operated under Stichting SARO.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersRotterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What HPC Centrum does
HPC Centrum is a publicly funded secondary school for practical education (praktijkonderwijs) located in Rotterdam, Netherlands, serving approximately 215 students aged 12-18 who have been recommended by their primary schools for practice-oriented rather than purely theoretical education. The school is operated under Stichting SARO, a Rotterdam educational foundation that also runs sister sites HPC Charlois and HPC Zuidwijk. Students follow a unified curriculum combining five practical vocational subjects (retail & logistics, hospitality, technical studies, facility management, and green/horticulture) with core theoretical subjects (Dutch, English, mathematics, ICT, citizenship), with class sizes capped at roughly 16 students and supported by individual mentorship and formal job coaching.
The school's pedagogical model is anchored by a structured internship program that begins in year 2 with internal placements and progresses to external employer internships. These are organized primarily through the TOP Academies framework, which connects HPC Centrum with major Dutch employers such as Stedin, Bijenkorf, ISS, HAGO, Verhage, ASN Autoschadeherstel, and Binder & Van der Spek. Graduates receive a Praktijkonderwijs diploma plus branch certificates, and may continue on an in-house Entreetraject toward an MBO level 1 diploma before entering the workforce. Operationally, the school uses Magister for student information, Profijt for learning goals, Deviant Studiemeter for assessment, and a digital portfolio system, but does not develop proprietary educational technology.
HPC Centrum is funded through the Dutch government's secondary-education allocation tied to student enrollment; secondary education in the Netherlands is free for students, and the school does not charge a parental contribution. New students are recruited via primary-school referrals (basisscholen group 7/8), recurring VIP open-house events, and direct enrollment, with an additional zij-instromer pathway for transfers. The institution has been recognized as an "Excellente School" by the Dutch Education Inspectorate three consecutive times (valid through 2025), and holds the "Veilige School" certification and a multi-year "Gouden Schoolkantineschaal" for healthy canteen offerings.
HPC Centrum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HPC Centrum
- Legal name
- HPC Centrum
- Website
- https://hpc-centrum.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HPC Centrum is a publicly funded Rotterdam secondary school delivering praktijkonderwijs (practical education) to approximately 215 students aged 12-18, combining theoretical lessons with hands-on vocational training and structured employer internships. Operated under Stichting SARO.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HPC Centrum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Secondary Practical Education (Praktijkonderwijs)
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)
Keywords
Where HPC Centrum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rotterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
HPC Centrum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Government-funded Education: HPC Centrum is a publicly funded secondary practical education school. Secondary education in the Netherlands is free for students. The school receives government funding based on student enrollment. No parental contribution is required for educational activities.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
HPC Centrum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HPC Centrum is a publicly funded secondary practical education school (praktijkonderwijs) in Rotterdam serving students aged 12-18 with practical learning talents. The school combines theoretical lessons with hands-on practical training across five vocational subjects (retail & logistics, hospitality, technology, facility management, and green) and structured internship programs with business partners. There is no parental contribution required for educational activities, as the school is funded by Dutch government allocation.
Product overview
HPC Centrum is a secondary school for practical education (praktijkonderwijs) offering a unified educational program for students aged 12-18. The core offering consists of practical vocational education combined with theoretical subjects. Students follow a curriculum comprising five practical subjects (Detailhandel & Logistiek, Horeca, Techniek, Facilitair, and Groen), theory subjects (Dutch, English, Math, ICT, Citizenship), and structured internship programs. The school uses an Individual Development Plan (IOP) system and digital portfolio for tracking student progress. Post-graduation support includes an MBO-1 trajectory for students who wish to continue learning.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Praktijkonderwijs (Practical Education) A form of secondary education for students aged 12-18 with a talent for hands-on learning, combining practical skills with theoretical knowledge to prepare students for employment.
- Detailhandel & Logistiek (Retail & Logistics) Practical vocational subject covering retail operations, warehouse management, and delivery services. Students learn to work in shops, reception desks, and logistics environments.
- Horeca (Hospitality) Practical vocational subject teaching food preparation in professional kitchens, with focus on clean and safe working practices. Leads to branch certificates for kitchen work.
- Techniek (Technical Studies) Practical vocational subject teaching students to work with tools and machines in a real workshop, including metalwork, bicycle technology, painting, and auto cleaning.
- Facilitair (Facility Management) Practical vocational subject covering health care, personal care, and cleaning techniques. Students can be trained as professional cleaners in partnership with HAGO.
- Groen (Green/Horticulture) Practical vocational subject teaching plant care, garden design, and park maintenance. Students learn to use tools and can earn certificates for equipment like leaf blowers or forklifts.
- Stageprogramma (Internship Program) Structured internship program starting with internal school placements, progressing to external company internships. Job coaches help students find suitable placements aligned with their talents and chosen vocational subjects.
- Entreetraject (MBO-1 Trajectory) Post-diploma pathway allowing students to earn MBO level 1 diploma at the school before entering the workforce or continuing to MBO level 2.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly all students find employment after completing their Praktijkonderwijs diploma
Companies that use HPC Centrum
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles4 records
HPC Centrum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
HPC Centrum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- StedincoreStedin is an energy network company providing internship opportunities in the technical/energy sector for HPC Centrum students, particularly for those interested in technical professions.
- ASN AutoschadeherstelcoreASN Autoschadeherstel provides automotive repair internships within the TOP Academies framework, offering students practical experience in bodywork repair.
- Binder & Van der SpekcoreBinder & Van der Spek provides green project internships, allowing students to gain experience in horticulture and landscaping through practical projects.
- HAGO (Zorg)coreHAGO provides cleaning internships at Erasmus MC and Maasstad Hospital, allowing students to train as professional cleaners in healthcare settings as part of TOP Academies.
- VerhagecoreVerhage (hospitality company) provides food service internships, enabling students to gain practical experience in the hospitality sector.
- ISScoreISS provides internships in healthcare, wellbeing, and hospitality sectors, offering diverse placement opportunities for students through TOP Academies.
- BijenkorfcoreBijenkorf (department store) provides retail and logistics internships, giving students experience in high-end retail environments and supply chain operations.
- SARO (Stichting Rotterdamse Ouderschool)coreSARO is the educational governance organization that HPC Centrum is part of. SARO manages primary and secondary education in Rotterdam, focused on providing equal opportunities for all children from 0 to 18 years.
- TOP AcademiescoreTOP Academies is a collaboration between schools and businesses providing students with extra opportunities for employment in hospitality, technology, healthcare, green sectors, and retail through structured internship programs.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
HPC Centrum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Stichting PROVSO: Sector organization for Dutch praktijkonderwijs and voortgezet speciaal onderwijs schools. Comparable industry/membership context; publishes the PROVSO.WORKS magazine HPC Centrum contributes to. Sets sector standards and convenes peer schools.
- Stedin (employer-partner perspective): Major Dutch energy network operator that hosts HPC Centrum interns in technical roles. Relevant as a strategic demand-side partner that shapes the practical curriculum and provides direct-to-employment pathways.
Broad incumbents
- Albeda College: Major Rotterdam MBO institution offering vocational education across multiple sectors (hospitality, technology, healthcare, facilities). Comparable employer-partner relationships and serves a similar student demographic transitioning from secondary education.
- LMC Voortgezet Onderwijs: Larger Rotterdam-based school organization operating multiple secondary schools including praktijkonderwijs and vmbo tracks. Overlapping student population and government funding structure; broader portfolio that includes non-praktijkonderwijs programs.
- ROC Zadkine: Large Rotterdam regional MBO college (post-secondary vocational). Relevant as the natural continuation pathway (MBO level 1/2) for HPC Centrum graduates, and competes for the same employer-partner relationships and Dutch vocational funding.
Regional players
- Lentiz onderwijsgroep: Dutch education group operating secondary vmbo/praktijkonderwijs and MBO schools primarily in West Holland region. Comparable model in practical/vocational tracks with employer-linked internships.
Direct peers
- Praktijkcollege Amsterdam (POA): A large multi-location praktijkonderwijs school in Amsterdam offering the same Dutch vocational-practical secondary track with employer internships and small-class delivery. Most directly comparable operational model outside the SARO network.
- HPC Charlois: Sister praktijkonderwijs school within the same Stichting SARO network in Rotterdam, operating the identical model (5 practical subjects, small classes, TOP Academies internships) at a different neighborhood site. Same parent organization, curriculum, and operational approach.
- HPC Zuidwijk: Third SARO-operated praktijkonderwijs school in Rotterdam-Zuidwijk, sharing the same governance, pedagogical framework, and employer-partner network. Direct comparable in scale and offering.
- De Hef (praktijkschool): Dutch praktijkonderwijs school offering practical secondary education with internships and vocational tracks. Comparable target segment (students with praktijkonderwijs advice) and delivery model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HPC Centrum social profiles
Digital presenceHPC Centrum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HPC Centrum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HPC Centrum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HPC Centrum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HPC Centrum
What does HPC Centrum do?
HPC Centrum is a publicly funded secondary practical education school (praktijkonderwijs) in Rotterdam serving students aged 12-18 with practical learning talents. The school combines theoretical lessons with hands-on practical training across five vocational subjects (retail & logistics, hospitality, technology, facility management, and green) and structured internship programs with business partners. There is no parental contribution required for educational activities, as the school is funded by Dutch government allocation.
Is HPC Centrum a public or private company?
HPC Centrum is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was HPC Centrum founded?
HPC Centrum was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HPC Centrum based?
HPC Centrum is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does HPC Centrum make money?
One revenue line is on record: government-funded Education.
Who are HPC Centrum's main competitors?
Others on record are Stichting PROVSO and Stedin (employer-partner perspective). Broad incumbents are Albeda College, LMC Voortgezet Onderwijs and ROC Zadkine. Lentiz onderwijsgroep is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Praktijkcollege Amsterdam (POA), HPC Charlois, HPC Zuidwijk and De Hef (praktijkschool).
Does HPC Centrum have an API?
No public API is recorded for HPC Centrum.
What industry is HPC Centrum in?
HPC Centrum's product category is Secondary Practical Education (Praktijkonderwijs). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAAAJ, Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.