"NL: "We want to open the sector for new talent"

Attracting and developing new talent for the greenhouse horticulture sector in order to prepare the sector for the future. That is the mission that keeps the HortiHeroes foundation busy. Bas Allart is one of the initiators and he explains how it’s being addressed.

"There was some form of cooperation, but often ad hoc and usually it did not develop into long-term cooperation. Entrepreneurs are willing to give space to the talent that work in the company, but they often do not know how. The current greenhouse horticulture sector and start-ups speak two completely different languages. As a kind of interpreter and connector we advise and assist with that cooperation."

After an intensive preparation, the activities of the foundation will start from April 2018. "We received the request from entrepreneurs Mart Valstar and Jaap van Duijn and aldermen Arne Weverling and Theo Duijvestijn to attract more start-ups to the sector. We have carefully examined the needs of both companies and the young talents. We devised the solutions that could be suitable and we worked out a concept."

Three concrete programs have been developed. "First of all, we have developed an 'intrapreneurship' program. We often see that young employees see points of improvement in their company, or things that in their opinion could be dealt with in a completely different way to be more successful. But often they do not know how to approach it. Our program will assist them. We train them in start-up skills: how do you go from idea to product and from business case to sales?"

Talents are recognized by their companies and signed up for the training, but they can also register themselves. "Two weeks ago we had the first session with companies and young talents. The reactions were very positive."

The second plan is to organize so-called arena events. Monthly meetings where start-ups, talents and companies from the sector meet and can network. "In doing so, we inspire them with speakers from other areas. During the first event on April 5, Peter Savelberg will talk about how the Netherlands as a large green metropolis can compete with 60 other Urban Power Centers in The Battle of the Cities, and a representative from Heineken will explain how the company has embraced the circular economy."

In addition, HortiHeroes links start-ups from outside the greenhouse horticulture sector to companies in the sector. "For example, we have linked Senfal, a start-up that is working on smart software to use energy more efficiently, to Juva and Westland Infra. And the start-up Aruku was introduced to Best Fresh Group and Dutch Flower Group to share their knowledge about artificial intelligence and smart data analysis."

"We want to break open the sector for new talent. We want to show start-ups from outside the sector that the food and flower industry is more interesting than they possibly might suspect. In a few years we should be able to mention dozens of examples of successful collaborations between start-ups and existing companies in the sector."

The preparatory work will be completed in a few months' time and Bas' job will end. "Then we will transfer the tasks to a great team that is going to execute the plans further. We are good at starting things up and they can continue to build it up."