What REA College does

REA College provides customized vocational training and pathways to employment for young people who need extra support and cannot easily access regular vocational education. The organization offers tailored vocational programs across fields such as administration, ICT, logistics, technology, green professions, care and welfare, media design and facility services. It combines education with coaching, job placement support and workplace learning. Services include the TalentenExpeditie, Ontwikkeltraject, and employment mediation and job coaching. Programs form a bridge between secondary (special) education, MBO and sustainable work on the regular labour market.

Name

REA College

Legal name

REA College

Website

https://reacollege.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

REA College offers customized vocational education, talent programs and job coaching for young people needing extra support to reach work.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Arnhem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ESB-regeling Subsidy: REA College is funded through the ESB-regeling (Ernstige Scholingsbelemmeringen / Severe Learning Barriers), a subsidy scheme from the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid). The costs of training and extra guidance are covered by this scheme. Students pay no tuition or book fees. The vast majority of students enter through this route, which is accessed via municipalities (Participatiewet) or UWV (Wajong).
2. Maatwerkfinanciering via Gemeente: Some municipalities fund customized trajectories outside the ESB-regeling through their own reintegration policy, providing alternative funding for specific situations.
3. Inkoopkaderscholing via UWV: In certain cases, UWV procures training and guidance for youth with Wajong benefits through inkoopkaderscholing arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

REA College delivers customized mbo level 2 vocational training, an 8-week talent discovery program (TalentenExpeditie), and job placement with workplace coaching (Arbeidsbemiddeling & Jobcoaching) to youth aged 16+ who cannot function in regular vocational education due to autism, ADHD, burn-out, anxiety, depression, or other learning barriers. Programs are delivered across nine locations in the Netherlands and are fully funded through the ESB-regeling government subsidy, with the explicit outcome of sustainable employment rather than diploma issuance.

Product overview

REA College is a Dutch vocational education provider offering customized training programs for young people (16+) who cannot succeed in mainstream education due to various barriers. The core offerings include Beroepsopleidingen naar Werk (customized vocational training), the TalentenExpeditie (8-week talent discovery program), and Arbeidsbemiddeling & Jobcoaching (job placement services). These programs are delivered across 9 locations throughout the Netherlands (Arnhem, Eindhoven, Groningen, Haarlem, Heerhugowaard, Leeuwarden, Leiden, Maastricht, and Nijmegen) and are funded through the ESB-regeling (Ernstige Scholingsbelemmeringen subsidy). The portfolio spans diverse vocational areas including Administration & Economics, Healthcare & Welfare, Facilities & Logistics, IT & Technology, Metal & Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Green sector, Media Design, and Business Services. Additional services include the Ontwikkeltraject (development program), empowerment training, and partnerships with other educational institutions for extended program offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beroepsopleidingen naar Werk Customized mbo level 2 vocational training programs tailored to individual talents and pace, with personal guidance, leading to sustainable employment for youth with severe learning barriers (ESB indication).
• TalentenExpeditie Intensive 8-week talent discovery program using practical assignments, company visits, and personal coaching to help young adults identify suitable career paths before committing to a vocational track.
• Arbeidsbemiddeling & Jobcoaching Job placement and workplace coaching services that match graduates to employers and support them through onboarding and retention, including UWV-subsidized job coaching arrangements.
• Ontwikkeltraject Development program of up to 10 months where participants explore talents and interests, develop basic skills, gain practical experience, and receive personal guidance to make informed career choices.
• Opleidingen in Samenwerking Customized vocational training programs delivered in partnership with other educational institutes across virtually all vocational fields, with a dedicated trajectory coach guiding the student throughout.
• Administratie & Economie Vocational track in administration and economics covering roles such as administrator and management assistant, preparing students for commercial or service-sector employment.
• Zorg & Welzijn Healthcare and welfare vocational track, including healthcare assistant roles, designed in collaboration with partner healthcare organizations where students complete practical training.
• Facilitair & Logistiek Facilities and logistics vocational track including distribution center worker and management assistant roles, covering mail processing, room preparation, and inventory management tasks.
• Multimedia/Grafisch Media design and graphic design vocational track covering print and digital design roles such as graphic designer and media designer.
• IT & Techniek ICT and technology vocational track covering ICT management support, system/network administration, and programming roles, offered across all locations.
• Metaal & Techniek Metal and engineering vocational track covering welding, construction work, technical support, and mechanical drawing, incorporating modern developments such as 3D printing.
• Elektrotechniek & Elektronica Electrical engineering and electronics vocational track covering installation, repair of electrical systems, and electronic circuit building, available exclusively at the REA College Nijmegen location.
• Groen Green sector vocational track covering horticulturist and garden center worker roles, with practical lessons delivered at client sites and nurseries in partnership with horticultural companies.
• Dienstverlening Breed Broad services vocational track covering business services, logistics, and facility services for wide-ranging career preparation, offered at the Groningen location.
• Zakelijke Dienstverlening Business services vocational track covering financial work, secretarial support, and receptionist or telephone operator roles in commercial or service environments, offered at Eindhoven and other locations.
• VLAM-Training Skills training offered at the Groningen location to enhance professional competencies alongside vocational training programs.
• Topklas Personal skills development program with coaching and skill assessment services offered at the Haarlem location.
• Empowerment Training Personal empowerment training focused on self-awareness, goal-setting, and achieving personal potential, delivered at multiple locations including Haarlem.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sustainable employment as the final destination, not just diploma issuance

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stichting REA College PluryncoreOthersParent organization for REA College locations in Groningen, Leeuwarden, Arnhem, Nijmegen, Groesbeek, Eindhoven, and Maastricht. Pluryn is a care and education organization providing support to people with disabilities. Privacy matters for these locations are handled under the Stichting REA College Pluryn privacy statement.
• HeliomarecoreOthersParent organization for REA College locations in Heerhugowaard, Haarlem, and Leiden. Heliomare is a rehabilitation and education organization. Privacy matters for these locations are handled under the Heliomare privacy statement.
• Erasmus+ CL4L (Creative Learning 4 Life)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerREA College Pluryn participated for 2.5 years in the Erasmus+ CL4L project together with partners from Italy, Slovenia, and Lithuania. The consortium developed an Assessment instrument and a Compendium with 30+ exercises for training Life Skills in Creative Ways. Results are available at www.cl4l.eu.
• Other Training Institutes (Other Opleidingsinstituten)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorREA College organizes customized trajectories in collaboration with other training institutes across virtually all vocational fields. Through the TalentenExpeditie, students can choose a training that fits them, which can be at one of REA College's own locations or they can purchase a training from a partner institute. A fixed trajectory coach guides the student throughout the entire training trajectory.
• Hoveniersbedrijven (Horticultural Companies)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor the Groenopleidingen (green sector training), REA College works intensively with horticultural companies. Students do practical lessons together with a training coach at customer sites of these companies. The plant cultivation direction is offered at REA College's own nursery and a regular nursery every week.
• UWVcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUWV assesses ESB (Ernstige Scholingsbelemmeringen) indications for qualifying students and can fund training for youth with Wajong benefits. Also provides job coaching support. REA College works with UWV to make trajectories possible that fit the individual student.
• Gemeenten (Municipalities)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMunicipalities fund REA College trajectories through the Participatiewet and ESB-regeling. They authorize ESB applications and refer youth to programs. Municipalities can deploy REA College trajectories as part of broader reintegration trajectories.
• Healthcare Organizations (Zorgorganisaties)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFor Zorg & Welzijn (Healthcare & Welfare) training, REA College works closely with healthcare organizations. Students do practical training at these organizations, and the programs are designed in collaboration with these partners.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heliomare: Dutch rehabilitation, education and youth-care organization that is itself the parent operator of three REA College locations (Heerhugowaard, Haarlem, Leiden) and runs comparable vocational and labor-reintegration pathways for people with disabilities. Directly comparable in mission, target population (youth with learning barriers and disabilities), and Dutch funding model.
• Stichting Pluryn: Dutch care and education foundation serving youth and adults with disabilities, and the parent operator of seven REA College locations. Pluryn runs its own education, residential, and labor-reintegration programs that overlap materially with REA College's vocational training and ESB-funded trajectories.
• Goodwill Industries International: Global non-profit providing vocational training, employment placement, and job coaching for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Highly comparable business model (customized training, employer matching, government/contract funding) and outcome-focused mission similar to REA College.
• Mencap: UK non-profit supporting people with learning disabilities, including vocational preparation and supported employment services. Comparable to REA College in its combination of customized training pathways, employer engagement, and government-funded service delivery for a similar beneficiary profile.
• WerkPro: Dutch social enterprise focused on labor reintegration and supported employment for people with a distance to the labor market, including youth with psychological or cognitive barriers. Highly comparable to REA College's Arbeidsbemiddeling & Jobcoaching function and operates in the same Participatiewet-funded space.

Emerging players

• Koninklijke Visio: Dutch non-profit providing education, rehabilitation, and labor-market support for people with visual impairments, including customized vocational pathways and employer-side job coaching. Operates in an adjacent niche to REA College's learning-barrier population with overlapping funding mechanisms.
• Koninklijke Kentalis: Dutch non-profit specializing in education and (re)habilitation for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have communication disabilities, including vocational tracks. Comparable in mission and Dutch subsidized model, though focused on a different disability segment than REA College.

Broad incumbents

• Wellantcollege: Dutch MBO vocational education provider with broad programs across green, food, and technical sectors, and customized learning pathways for students who need extra support. A broader incumbent in the same Dutch vocational market that competes for similar at-risk youth cohorts.
• Scalda: Large Dutch regional MBO institution offering vocational education across many sectors, including pathways for students with support needs. Operates in the same Dutch postsecondary vocational market as REA College but as a generalist rather than a niche specialization.
• Lentiz Onderwijsgroep: Dutch secondary and vocational education group with strengths in green/horticultural and technical tracks, offering customized learning routes for at-risk students. Comparable in delivering applied vocational training within the same Dutch system, though at broader scale and without REA College's learning-barrier specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/88952539
• Instagraminstagram.com/reacollegean
• Xx.com/REACollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/reedsms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 REA College