More and more municipalities in Brabant are demonstrating together that lateral entry is an effective way to fill crucial positions and retain new talent in government for the long term. In the past three years, 68 vacancies have been filled within the Ruimte voor Groei program, of which 60 lateral entrants are still working within the government.

The Ruimte voor Groei initiative by the Association of Brabant Municipalities (VBG) and the province of North Brabant aims to help career switchers find jobs in the spatial and mobility domain. The program may be further developed for other policy areas.

Room for growth

Ruimte voor Groei is special because of its scale and approach: 38 municipalities and the province collaborate, supported by Berenschot Search (recruitment and selection) and Wyzer Academy (training). The joint program focuses not only on recruitment but especially on sustainably retaining people for the public sector. Because the lateral entrants go through an intensive training year together, a strong foundation of knowledge sharing, mutual support, and professional development arises.

Deputy Saskia Boelema: “In times when pressure on the government is high, Brabant municipalities show that it can be done differently: by working together, investing in people, and providing space for new talent. The success of lateral entry proves that with an open mind and Brabant decisiveness, we can build a more attractive public sector. This is exactly what makes Brabant stronger.”

Impact on living environment

One of the participants, Jorien Melsen, made the switch from the commercial sector to a position in the physical living environment three years ago. “It was quite exciting to change course after 10 years in business. But this program gave me the guidance and confidence to take that step. I now work on files that have a direct impact on my own living environment, which I missed in my previous job. I had never felt such meaningful work so strongly before.”

Unique due to scale and cooperation

The program received a subsidy from the VNG, partly due to the urgency around accelerating housing construction. Here, the human aspect is crucial: sufficient and well-trained professionals make the difference. The fact that so many municipalities jointly pursue this approach makes the program unique in the Netherlands. “By joining forces, a solid infrastructure is created to find, train, and guide talent. The combination of cooperation, joint employment, and professional support forms the basis for success,” says José van Aaken, municipal secretary of Maashorst and member of the Ruimte voor Groei steering group.

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