What SKILLS vmbo does

SKILLS vmbo is a Dutch public secondary vocational school (vmbo) located at Van Riemsdijklaan 103 in Heemskerk, on the border with Beverwijk in the IJmond region of North Holland. Established under its current brand in 2022 (formerly known as Kennemer College beroepsgericht), the institution is operated by the educational foundation Stichting Voortgezet Onderwijs Kennemerland (SVOK) and serves students transitioning from primary school (groep 8) through vmbo diploma completion, typically aged 12-16.

The school delivers standard Basis/Kader vmbo education with a two-year exploratory bridge period, after which students commit to one of five professional profiles: Bouwen, Wonen en Interieur (BWI); Horeca, Bakkerij en Recreatie (HBR); Economie en Ondernemen (E&O); Produceren, Installeren en Energie (PIE); and Zorg en Welzijn (Z&W). Specialized theme classes (Sport, Horeca, Techniek) and a combined Kader/TL bridge class are offered in the first two years. Practical training is supported by dedicated facilities including the student-operated Lestaurant, technology labs, workshop spaces, and the Tiny House construction project. The school also offers an ISK (Internationale Schakelklas) for international transition students. Technology stack is non-proprietary, comprising standard Dutch educational platforms (Zermelo, Magister, Muiswerk, Numo).

Revenue is generated primarily through Dutch government funding allocations for secondary vocational education; tuition is free for students. The school's GTM motion is community-led, relying on direct engagement with regional primary schools via open house events, information evenings, and interactive recruitment activities (e.g., rebus competitions, cake giveaways). Marketing channels include Instagram, YouTube, a school website with checkjouwskills.nl microsite, and five newsletters per school year. Distribution occurs through direct enrollment during central Dutch admission weeks, and progression to mbo-level vocational education is supported through a formal transition agreement with Nova College and participation in the regional Sterk Techniek Onderwijs (STO) network.

Name

SKILLS vmbo

Legal name

SKILLS vmbo

Website

https://skillsvmbo.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SKILLS vmbo is a Dutch public vocational secondary school (vmbo) in Heemskerk/IJmond serving students aged 12-16 with five technical and service professional profiles, operated by foundation SVOK, free of tuition, and funded through Dutch government per-student allocations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Secondary Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual CTE & Career Pathways Programs (K–12) (EDAJADAL)

Keywords

• Vocational secondary education
• Vmbo career preparation
• Technical education programs
• Hospitality training programs
• Care and welfare education

Headquarters

HQ city

Heemskerk

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded education: As a public vocational school under Stichting Voortgezet Onderwijs Kennemerland (SVOK), SKILLS vmbo receives government funding for providing secondary vocational education. Tuition is free for students as per Dutch public education regulations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SKILLS vmbo is a Dutch public vocational secondary school (vmbo) that delivers preparatory secondary vocational education for students aged 12-16 in the IJmond/Kennemerland region. The school offers a two-year bridging period followed by specialization in five professional profiles (BWI, HBR, E&O, PIE, Z&W), themaklassen in Sport, Hospitality, and Technology, and a Kader/TL bridge class. Education is government-funded and tuition-free for students.

Product overview

SKILLS vmbo is a vocational secondary school (vmbo) that operates as a single, unified educational institution offering multiple learning pathways and professional specializations. The school provides standard Basis/Kader VMBO education with specialized themaklassen (theme classes) in Sport, Hospitality, and Technology, as well as a combined Kader/TL bridge class. Students choose from five professional profiles: BWI (Construction, Living & Interior), HBR (Hospitality, Bakery & Recreation), E&O (Economics and Entrepreneurship), PIE (Producing, Installing and Energy), and Z&W (Care and Welfare). The school also operates the Sterk Techniek Onderwijs regional collaboration program, a Tiny House construction project, and the Lestaurant practical training restaurant facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basis en Kader VMBO
• Themaklassen (Sport, Horeca, Techniek)
• Kader/TL-brugklas
• Bouwen, Wonen en Interieur (BWI)
• Horeca, Bakkerij en Recreatie (HBR)
• Economie en Ondernemen (E&O)
• Produceren, Installeren en Energie (PIE)
• Zorg en Welzijn (Z&W)
• ISK (Internationale Schakelklas)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly all exam candidates passed their exams on the first attempt, demonstrating strong academic outcomes.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nova CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNova College is the mbo (secondary vocational) institution where SKILLS vmbo graduates continue their education. The schools maintain a smooth transition pathway, allowing students to seamlessly progress from vmbo to mbo level programs. This partnership is essential for student career progression.
• Sterk Techniek Onderwijs (STO) IJmond/Zuid KennemerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSKILLS vmbo participates in the Sterk Techniek Onderwijs network, collaborating with other VMBO schools in the IJmond and Zuid Kennemerland region. The initiative, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Education, aims to strengthen and develop technical education programs and attract more young people to technical careers.
• Regional VMBO SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with other VMBO schools in the IJmond and Zuid Kennemerland region on joint activities, technical education workshops for primary school students, and shared professional development for teachers.
• Team SportserviceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeam Sportservice provides a Regisseur Gezonde Leefstijl (Healthy Lifestyle Coordinator) who visited SKILLS vmbo in the context of the 'Day of the Healthy School Canteen'. The school collaborates on healthy eating initiatives and breakfast/lunch provision for students.
• NHVeiligminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHVeilig, in collaboration with police, HackShield, and Offlimits, organized a free webinar on safe online gaming for parents at SKILLS vmbo. The school facilitates expert knowledge sharing on youth safety topics.
• MBO Educational InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious MBO institutions participate in MBO information evenings at SKILLS vmbo, providing third-year students with information about available mbo programs and career pathways. This is part of the mandatory career guidance program for students.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Yuverta: Large Dutch vocational education institution providing VMBO, MBO, and training programs across multiple regions. Comparable as a multi-profile, practice-oriented VMBO operator with a similar regional multi-campus model.
• Wellantcollege: Large Dutch regional vocational institution offering VMBO and MBO programs with an applied, hands-on focus. Comparable as a multi-profile Dutch vocational secondary school operator with a similar foundation/funding structure.
• Helicon: Dutch vocational education group operating VMBO and MBO programs across multiple regions with green-sector specialization. Comparable in offering hands-on, career-oriented secondary education with practical training facilities.
• Da Vinci College: Dutch regional vocational education institution offering VMBO and MBO programs in Dordrecht and surrounding areas. Comparable as a multi-profile VMBO operator with a similar practice-based curriculum and regional catchment model.
• Aeres: Dutch vocational education group offering VMBO, MBO, and applied higher education across multiple regions with green-sector specialization. Comparable as a multi-region VMBO operator focused on practice-based learning.
• Curio: Major Dutch regional educational institution providing VMBO, MBO, and adult education in West Brabant. Comparable as a large multi-profile VMBO operator with analogous governance and government-funding structure.

Direct peers

• Nova College: The MBO institution where SKILLS vmbo graduates continue their education under a smooth-transition partnership. Closest educational partner for curriculum alignment and downstream student placement, with overlapping student population.
• Kennemer College: Sister school under the same SVOK foundation, serving the same IJmond/Zuid-Kennemerland region. Operates the theoretical (HAVO/VWO) track, making it the most direct organizational peer for governance, student pipeline, and regional competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/skillsvmbo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skills-vmbo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 SKILLS vmbo