'We benefit from this region's prosperity - a gift that comes with responsibilities'

The success of the Brainport region is leading to significantly more jobs and residents in the coming years. The region is preparing for a jump in scale, putting pressure on society. Every resident must be able to participate, but that does not happen by itself. In addition to support from the national government, the business community is investing in measures in the areas of talent development, accessibility, housing, and equal opportunities through the Brainport Partner Fund. VB Groep is one of the companies that have joined the fund. CEO Robert van Boldrik: “The foundation of our success lies in the combination of business prosperity and Brabant conviviality.”

VB Groep, a cluster of eight nationwide family businesses active in development and construction, is proud to participate in the Brainport Partner Fund. CEO Robert van Boldrik had long been looking for opportunities to become more structurally active for the broad prosperity of the region. “Then, the Brainport Partnerfonds came along, and it turned out to perfectly fit our mission and motivation.”

The core of engaged entrepreneurship

For VB Group, a core healthy company with a turnover of 300 million and over 400 employees, participation in the Brainport Partnerfonds is a logical step. “As a family business, corporate social responsibility is in our DNA. You are there for each other and society. We have been fortunate to benefit from this region's prosperity, which also brings with it a responsibility. Society can expect us to give something back.”

Of the themes the Partner Fund focuses on, Van Boldrik gets “the warmest feeling” with equity and social cohesion. “In line with the objectives of Brainport for Each Other, we can ensure that no one is excluded and that we face challenges together. After all, that is the core of what makes Brainport unique.”

Not all of the fund's themes are equally easy to address from an individual company's perspective. “Take accessibility. That is one of the biggest challenges for the region, but we, as a construction company, cannot contribute to that directly. That is precisely why the fund is so powerful: it makes that broad approach possible.” For VB Groep, housing construction is a prominent theme, but Van Boldrik emphasizes that this was not a driving force in deciding to participate in the fund. “The task is enormous, and it is logical that we already take our role daily. But what especially appeals to us is the broader social agenda of the fund.”

Collaboration is at the heart of Brainport

One of Brainport Eindhoven's strengths is the naturalness with which companies, knowledge institutions and governments work together. “Short and open lines of communication are crucial,” says Van Boldrik. He mentions the structural consultation with the municipality and examples such as internships and workshops offered by VB Groep in cooperation with educational institutions such as Summa College and Fontys Hogescholen.

But cooperation goes beyond these larger projects. Van Boldrik proudly talks about small-scale initiatives that VB Groep supports, such as creating wheelchair accessibility for a neighborhood center of the Ik Wil Foundation in Eindhoven. “Together with our subcontractors, we just took care of that. Everyone was proud of what we had achieved together. Projects like that show who we are as a company and region.” Another example is that every employee of VB Group gets a budget to sponsor a local sports club youth team. “Super cool to see those kids then walk around all week with their training jackets,” he says.

Robert van Boldrik with colleagues from VB Groep, photo © Nadia Ten Wolde

Challenges and solutions: 'Just do it'

Brainport's growth also brings dilemmas. Van Boldrik sees that not everyone is convinced of the desirability of further expansion. “These are mainly growth problems we are discussing now; logically, some people do not see the solution in even more growth. But I am convinced that it is better to solve problems from abundance than to wait until we are in a real crisis. This growth must be broadly supported. That means we must give each other something and look for the solutions together.”

A concrete example is the housing market. “Everyone sees that more housing is needed, but as soon as those plans come into your backyard, it becomes difficult. Both sides are right, so we have to find a way together. It's literally about giving each other space.”

At the same time, Van Boldrik advocates more decisiveness and less bureaucracy. “Too much talking, too little doing sometimes gets in our way. It's just a matter of getting started and taking small steps every day. Not everything has to be solved at once. Acting consistently and reliably is what counts. And then, I also look at the government. Collaboration at the local level is going very well, but the State and Europe still sometimes surprise us with policy changes, while we need clarity and reliability.”

An example to the world

According to Van Boldrik, Brainport is essential for the Netherlands, Europe, and the world. “If you see how technology and society are interwoven, it is a unique area. The foundation of our success lies in business prosperity and Brabant conviviality. Family businesses like ours can switch between the boardroom table and the shop floor, and that is a strength we should cherish.”

For Van Boldrik, the Brainport Partner Fund is an essential building block, but not the only one. “More is needed, but this is a crucial step. If every company takes responsibility and is willing to give something back, we can continue to build a region in which everyone participates. This is easier for some than others, but we can handle anything if we help each other. Whether it is housing construction, accessibility, or social cohesion - together, we can make the region even stronger.”