There it is. The certification that confirms what Joke de Graaf, Head of HR & Organization, has known since her arrival five years ago: HeadFirst Group is a Great Place To Work. "Work happiness and fun are at the top of our priority list, because colleagues make our organization. That's why we are constantly looking at how we can make it better, nicer and safer for them. The certification is confirmation that we are on the right track!" 

Why is the certification so important for HeadFirst Group?
"Of course we can say that we are a good employer, but with this certificate we can really demonstrate and radiate what employees experience and feel. The independent employee survey uses the Trust Index to measure trust, pride and pleasure. It is extremely valuable that, in addition to the total score, we also have insight into the results for all HeadFirst Group brands and the various departments."

In your opinion, why are you a Great Place To Work?
"We really look at the individual. What do you need? What talents do you possess and how can we give you the space to continue to develop? Because we believe that when our employees grow and improve, we as an organization do the same."

"A great example of this is the Lean program we started last year. Under the name 'Home Run,' several colleagues worked in groups on improvement projects within our organization. Different responsibilities, opportunities to work out new ideas and collaborate with other teams. In this program we saw colleagues grow in their roles and with the improvements they brought, so did the organization. Very cool to see! We also offer our employees the opportunity for further development through our own HeadFirst Group Academy and run more training programs for our employees. For example, we have started a leadership course for novice managers."

What are you most proud of within HeadFirst Group?
"Several things! For example, our energy-neutral headquarters is something I'm really proud of. We can offer so much for our employees here, such as cool events in our own theater, a fully equipped restaurant for a nice breakfast or extensive, healthy lunch and of course ergonomic (flex) workstations."

"We also bring great initiatives. For example, in 2022 we set up a Diversity & Inclusion task force, which is committed to a work culture where everyone feels free, valued and safe, as well as able to be themselves. We also pay a lot of attention to vitality and mental health, including offering unlimited support through the platform OpenUp and an in-house gym where employees can exercise for free. These are elements that I find very important in an employer."

What is the next step now that you have the GPTW certification in?
"Obtaining it every year and, of course, scoring higher and higher! We have now achieved the certification with a Trust Index of 72%. A percentage to be proud of, but again, we always want to improve. Our goal is to grow into the top 10 best employers, which is what we will be working on with Great Place To Work in the coming years. I look forward to working with my colleagues to create a plan to make our organization an even better place to work. With one of our core values - Learn every day - in mind, I take on this challenge with great enthusiasm!"

Would you like to experience working at a Great Place To Work for yourself? Check our vacancies and find the position that suits you perfectly. Want to know more about HeadFirst Group as an employer or a vacancy? Please contact Preciosa Borger, our Corporate Recruiter on 06 - 25 23 50 33 or werkenbij@headfirst.group. We like to think along with you!