From Training to Targeted Recruitment: Our Partnership with Van der Zee
Skilled professionals are in short supply. This is especially true in a specialized field like butchery. That’s why, together with Van der Zee—a butcher serving the hospitality industry and a partner of HANOS—we’ve been looking beyond simply filling open positions for years. This partnership isn’t just about finding people; it’s also about training, developing, and recognizing craftsmanship. Vakblad Voedingsindustrie spoke with Van der Zee and our colleagues Henri Mels and Birgit Toonen about this approach and our long-standing partnership.
Investing Together in Craftsmanship
Seven years ago, Van der Zee developed the “Skilled Butcher” training program in collaboration with Flexspecialisten . This hands-on program enables participants to become butchers over the course of two years.
Our colleague Henri Mels, Fresh Produce Account Specialist, was involved for many years as the program’s coordinator and mentor. This allowed him to get to know Van der Zee, the trade, and the people who are a good fit for the organization up close.
Van der Zee now organizes the program itself, but our partnership has continued. We use the knowledge and experience we’ve built up over the past few years to conduct targeted recruitment today.
Knowing Who Is a Good Fit for an Organization
Together with Birgit Toonen, Business Development Specialist at Flexspecialisten, Henri looks for people who not only have the right skills, but—above all—are a good fit for Van der Zee and can continue to grow in their field.
We don’t always wait for a specific job opening to become available. When we speak with someone we’re convinced is a good fit for Van der Zee, we actively bring that person to the company’s attention. This allows us to proactively identify suitable candidates even outside of an active recruitment drive, create opportunities, and address the shortage of skilled professionals.
For us, this collaboration demonstrates what happens when you truly get to know an organization. It’s not just about providing staff when needed, but about investing together in expertise, development, and sustainable staffing.
Read the full interview
Read the full interview,“Van der Zee Offers Its Own Butcher Training Program for HANOS,”in *Vakblad Voedingsindustrie*: https://vakbladvoedingsindustrie.nl/nl/artikel/van-der-zee-heeft-eigen-slagersopleiding-voor-hanos
