regionale praktijk academie

What regionale praktijk academie does

Regionale Praktijk Academie (RPA) is a Dutch regional vocational training institution founded on December 17, 2021, and headquartered at Stationsplein 6, 8331 GM Steenwijk, Netherlands. It delivers BBL (beroepsbegeleidende leerweg) work-integrated learning programs across five sectors — Installatietechniek, Procestechniek, Infra, Horeca & Recreatie, and Bouw — in which students spend four days per week working at partner companies and one day per week receiving theory lessons at the RPA facility from teachers seconded by accredited ROCs (Deltion College, Drenthe College, Alfa-college). Students earn a salary for all five working days and RPA covers tuition, study materials, books, licenses, and tool sets; graduates receive a recognized MBO diploma and a guaranteed job placement.

The operating model is built on a coordination stack of regional partners: SBB-erkenning as an erkend leerbedrijf, municipal backing from Steenwijkerland (founding partner), Meppel and Westerveld, a €100,000 subsidy from the Province of Overijssel (2022), and an employer network that includes FrieslandCampina, ELEQ, DYKA, Kornelis Caps & Closures, Van der Valk Hotel Wolvega, and Roelofs groep, among roughly fifty companies within a 25km radius. Recruitment of VMBO school leavers aged 16–20 flows through direct website enrollment, Open Days, VMBO school partnerships, and the Sterk Techniek Onderwijs network, with dedicated praktijkcoaches (e.g., Gert Zinger for Installatietechniek, Jantinus Haveman for Infra) providing on-the-job mentorship.

Revenue is generated primarily through Dutch government vocational education subsidies via the BBL system; RPA also charges students nothing (and pays them a salary), with some programs carrying a small personal contribution. The organization is structured as separate foundations per sector under the RPA umbrella, governed by entrepreneur-led boards, with Joël Assenberg serving as project leader (projectregisseur) and Bert Endedijk as chairman (voorzitter). RPA is not venture-backed and operates as a private, mission-driven regional initiative addressing the Dutch technical skills shortage.

Name

regionale praktijk academie

Legal name

Regionale Praktijk Academie

Website

https://regionalepraktijkacademie.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Regionale Praktijk Academie is a Dutch regional vocational training institution in Steenwijk offering BBL work-integrated learning programs across five sectors — installation, process, infra, hospitality, and construction — serving VMBO graduates aged 16–20 with government-funded diplomas and guaranteed job placement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Junior Colleges (61121), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rural/Regional Community Colleges (EDAHADAK), Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO)

Keywords

• Vocational training
• Work-based learning
• MBO education
• BBL programs
• Technical training

Headquarters

HQ city

Steenwijk

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Student tuition subsidies: Government-funded vocational education. The RPA receives funding for educating students through the BBL system. Students receive salary from the RPA for all 5 days (including school days), and the RPA pays for study materials and licenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Regionale Praktijk Academie (RPA) is a collaborative vocational training institution that offers BBL (beroepsbegeleidende leerweg / work-integrated learning) programs in five sectors: Installatietechniek, Procestechniek, Infra, Horeca College, and Bouwmensen (Construction). Students work four days per week at regional partner companies and receive one day of theoretical education per week at the RPA facility in Steenwijk, while earning a salary and earning a recognized MBO diploma with guaranteed employment upon completion.

Product overview

The Regionale Praktijk Academie (RPA) is a collaborative vocational training institution offering five BBL (work-based learning) programs: Installatietechniek, Procestechniek, Infra, Horeca College, and Bouwmensen. Students receive practical training through work placements at regional companies (4 days/week) combined with theoretical education (1 day/week). Each sector operates as a separate foundation under the RPA umbrella, collaborating with different ROC partner schools (Deltion College, Drenthe College) for diploma certification. Programs lead to recognized MBO diplomas at levels 2-4, with guaranteed employment placement upon completion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RPA Installatietechniek (Installation Technology Training) BBL vocational training program for installation technology covering electrotechnical and mechanical installation trades at MBO levels 2-3. Students work 4 days per week at partner companies and receive 1 day of theory per week.
• RPA Procestechniek (Process Technology Training) BBL vocational training program for process technology preparing students for operational and allround technical roles at MBO levels 2-4. Training covers digitalization, programming, analysis, and process optimization in a 'Smart Processing' curriculum.
• RPA Infra (Infrastructure Training) BBL vocational training program for ground, road, and water construction (GWW) at MBO levels 2-3. Students learn to build and repair roads, install drainage systems, and work with heavy machinery.
• RPA Horeca College (Hospitality and Recreation Training) BBL vocational training program for hospitality, offering 2-year MBO level 2 programs to become a cook or host/hostess. Students work 4 days per week and attend school 1 day per week, with the option to complete the level 2 diploma in 1 year.
• RPA Bouwmensen (Construction Training) BBL vocational training program for construction trades offered in partnership with Bouwmensen. Provides practical work-based training for carpentry and other construction professions at MBO levels 1-4.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% job guarantee - students have employment assurance upon enrollment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gemeente SteenwijkerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2021Municipality of Steenwijkerland serves as founding partner and project initiator. Provided project coordinator (Joël Assenberg) and ongoing administrative support. An essential public sector partner in the establishment of the RPA.
• Deltion CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerROC providing certified MBO diplomas for Installatietechniek, Procestechniek, and Infra programs. Teachers from Deltion College deliver theory lessons at RPA location.
• Businessclub SteenwijkerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness association that was instrumental in founding the RPA. Organized networking events and connected entrepreneurs with the initiative.
• Drenthe CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerROC providing certified MBO diplomas for Horeca en Recreatie programs. Teachers deliver theory lessons at RPA location.
• RSG TrompmeestersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecondary school providing facilities for theory classrooms at the initial location on Stationsstraat.
• SG EekeringeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecondary school collaborating on student recruitment and career orientation programs.
• Sterk Techniek Onderwijs Meppel/Steenwijk (STO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration program for technical education connecting secondary schools with vocational training opportunities. Organized joint events and student recruitment.
• Regio ZwolleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional development organization supporting economic development initiatives including vocational training.
• Wij-TechniekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization representing technical companies that supports the RPA network and student placement.
• Gemeente MeppelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring municipality supporting the RPA with companies and students from their region.
• Gemeente WesterveldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring municipality with companies and students participating in the RPA network.
• Linde CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecondary school in the region collaborating on student recruitment.
• Stad en EschminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecondary school in Meppel organizing practical excursions for HBR profile students.
• C.S.G. DingstedeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecondary school collaborating on student orientation and recruitment.
• BouwmensencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConstruction sector training organization providing BBL programs for carpentry and construction trades through the RPA network.
• Alfa-collegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerROC that may provide certification for certain programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bouwmensen: National Dutch construction-sector BBL training organization that is already an RPA channel partner for the Bouw sector. Both organizations operate the BBL model (1 day theory, 4 days practical work) for technical trades and serve as SBB-recognized collective learning companies.
• Sterk Techniek Onderwijs: Dutch regional collaboration program connecting secondary schools with technical vocational training opportunities. RPA explicitly partners with the STO Meppel/Steenwijk region for student recruitment and orientation — making it a directly comparable technical-talent pipeline program.

Regional players

• Friesland College: Regional MBO institution in Friesland offering BBL vocational programs including technical trades. Operates a similar employer-integrated Dutch vocational model and is geographically adjacent to RPA's Northern Netherlands catchment.
• ROC van Twente: Large regional MBO institution in Twente, neighboring Overijssel, offering BBL programs across technical and service sectors. Comparable as a regional Dutch vocational training provider addressing similar technician and trade skills shortages in adjacent Eastern Netherlands geography.

Others

• Wij Techniek: Sector organization representing Dutch technical installation and construction companies that supports RPA's network and student placement. Comparable as a sector-wide ecosystem enabler for technical vocational training in the Netherlands.
• Techniek Nederland: Dutch trade association for the installation and technical services sector that engages in workforce development initiatives. Relevant as an adjacent industry body addressing the same technician shortage that RPA's Installatietechniek program targets.
• SBB (Samenwerkingsorganisatie Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven): National Dutch organization responsible for recognizing collective learning companies (erkende leerbedrijven) — including RPA itself. Acts as the regulatory and quality assurance infrastructure under which all Dutch BBL providers, including RPA's direct peers, operate.

Broad incumbents

• Drenthe College: Regional ROC serving Drenthe/Overijssel that certifies RPA's Horeca en Recreatie program. As a multi-sector Dutch MBO institution with BBL pathways, it is a directly comparable broad postsecondary vocational provider operating in the same catchment.
• Deltion College: Large regional ROC in Zwolle that is both an RPA certification partner (diplomerende school) and a broader postsecondary competitor offering MBO programs including Installatietechniek and Procestechniek. Comparable as a major Dutch vocational educator with regional employer relationships.
• Alfa-college: Regional ROC in Groningen/Drenthe referenced as a potential RPA certification partner. Comparable as a Dutch MBO institution offering BBL vocational pathways across technical and service sectors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/regionale-praktijk-academie

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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