How To Be Successful In The Netherlands

Transcription

1 business accounts Printversion 1 van 7 Volume 17 04/ In this issue: Page 1 Via Breda Page 2/3 Economic Barometer Page 4 Fact-finding mission To India in Page 5 Brim different destination to buildings Meet & greet Breda Page 6 Activities Page 7 Using less to do more and doing so successfully - International collaboration at Hazeldonk Meer business park Breda s new railway station and the development of the railzone strongly contribute to the city s international position. With this project Breda has struck gold. The city has become very attractive for companies that are Benelux-oriented, according to alderman Mr Arbouw. It is our ambition to become the Dutch southern transport hub. There is a clear demand for flexible and multi-purpose office concepts and with the development of the railway zone Breda will emphatically anticipate this change in market demand. Breda Railway Station also includes a new bus platform offering space to twenty buses. The railway timetable will conveniently suit theirs. There will be room for more than 4,000 bicycles in and around the station and the station s rooftop will provide parking space to more than 720 cars. A wide underground corridor of shops will connect the north and south sides of Breda Railway Station. The front and back of the station will have large open squares, with wide roads offering good access. ECONOMIC BAROMETERBREDA Every year, the municipality of Breda together with Avans University of Applied Sciences and Rabobank Breda, do research on the economic situation in Breda. On page 3 you can read a summary of findings. The construction of Breda s new railway station has started. Building activities will continue until mid The fully new Breda railway station offers an up-to-date and comfortable way of bringing together travelling, living, working and shopping. Breda s modern railway station is ready to meet a growing number of passengers. Being used every day now by approximately 27,000 people, the railway station will be used by approximately 57,000 in The new railway station therefore has six tracks and three platforms with sixteen trains arriving and departing every hour. Four of these are highspeed trains. Breda Railway Station will be the only Brabant stop on the Amsterdam-Schiphol- Rotterdam-Brussels-Paris high-speed link, thé Gateway to Brabant. Inside the station there will be houses and offices, which will include the Inland Revenue. Furthermore, the railway zone will be the location for the new court of justice and a possible World Trade Center (WTC). In the future the new railway station and surrounding area will justly be called the place to be for traveller, consumer and new Breda entrepreneur alike. If you are interested in a possible new location for your company, please contact Mr Boudie Hoogedeure of BrIM Breda. He will be pleased to make an appointment with you. You may contact him by at b.hoogedeure@breda.nl or by phone at (076) CRISIS LICHTE KRIMP NUL Economische Barometer Breda GROEI LICHTE GROEI BrIM Breda and Social Media Apart from finding updates in Breda Business Update newsletter, you can read about the latest of all of Breda s developments on our BrIM Breda LinkedIn Group and on Twitter. BLOEI >> Page 2

2 2 van 7 CRISIS LICHTE KRIMP NUL Economische Barometer Breda GROEI LICHTE GROEI BLOEI Breda s economy in heavy weather, Mild recovery expected for second half In Breda s economy was severely troubled by the economic crisis. For the first time since 2015 Breda s employment has dropped; 2,900 jobs have been lost in one year s time. There has been a particularly large loss of jobs in catering, health and welfare. Consequently, unemployment has risen by 1,000 (+20%) to a total of 6,000 people, youth unemployment even rose by 51%. Confidence among producers and consumers has further declined over the past year. The consequences of the crisis for Breda s property market are less demand, increasing vacancy and price levels under pressure. Despite all the negative developments, has also seen a few bright spots. In a number of sectors like consultancy and research, business services and education the number of jobs still rose. Breda s population is becoming increasingly enterprising, the number of companies setting up shop has risen by 4%. The level of vacancy of offices and shops in Breda is below the national average. ECONOMIC BAROMETER BREDA Still an increase of the number of new businesses In the years 2011 the number of new businesses has grown by almost 600 (4%) to 14,713. This is the result of an increasing number of one-man companies. The number of companies of two or more employees is going down or remains constant. Score and development per size class 1wp 2-9 wp wp wp >=250 wp totaal Number of jobs Number of businesses Job development Development of new businesses Bron: O&I, Vestigingenregister 7,6% -3,5% 0,8% -3,4% -7,3% -2,7% 7,8% -2,3% 0,5% -5,1% 0,0% 4,0% promises to be another heavy year for Breda s economy. Breda s Economic Barometer for ranks at an insufficient 5.4. A further increase of unemployment of 11% is expected for. This brings unemployment to the level of The negative sentiment among Breda s entrepreneurs is translated into a further decrease of employment. A clear recovery of the property market is not to be expected in. Breda s positive aspects remain its attractive business climate and supply of skilled labour. With this favourable starting point Breda may benefit from a slow economic recovery which is expected to become apparent in the second half of. Breda s employment drops by 2.7 % in In the years 2011 Breda s employment decreased by almost 2,900 jobs. This drop of 2.7% brings the employment level to 102,234 jobs. The decline mainly occurred in the catering industry. In West-Brabant employment fell by % By comparison, the national decline over the same period amounts to 0.7% There are positive developments in sectors where employment has increased. This means consultancy and research, other business services, education and retail. This is not enough to compensate for the decline in other sectors. There are positive developments in sectors where employment has increased Bron: O&I, Vestigingenregister consultancy and research other business services education retail information and communication utilities finance rent and trade in real estate other services agriculture culture, sport and leisure industry building transport and warehousing Wholesale local government healthcare and welfare catering This means consultancy and research, other business services, education and retail. This is not enough to compensate for the decline in other sectors. Bron: O&I, Vestigingenregister

3 3 van 7 Breda s employment drops by 2.7 % in Breda s target sectors Breda has a number of target sectors, in which extra opportunities for economic development are acknowledged and stimulated, which is the case for Logistics, Care Economy, Creative Industry, Image Culture and Education. Together, these sectors account for 47% of the city s employment. Each of these sectors has shown a strong growth of employment over the past few years. Despite the decline of employment that becomes clearly visible in certain parts, it is expected there will be sufficient growth potential for the next few years. ECONOMIC BAROMETER BREDA Mid 2020 the number of highly-skilled will have risen by 11% and the number of those with middle vocational training by 7%. In 2020 the share of the highly-skilled in the professional population will be lower than that of those with the middle vocational training. Property market Breda groei (%) Logistiek ,3% Zorgeconomie ,1% Creatieve industrie ,3% Beeldcultuur ,5% Onderwijs ,7% Bron: O&I, Vestigingenregister Breda manages to maintain its position in a difficult market In the Netherlands, the property market has been having a hard time over the last few years. By diminished demand the volume of transactions has dropped sharply, the supply is growing faster than expected, there is an increased vacancy, prices are under pressure and the number of new building projects has decreased strongly. Breda s property market is troubled by this negative market trend. However, the various segments of the property market show a different picture. In the office market had a demand of 19,000 m 2 (Source: DTZ). This is half the size of Growing labour market in and In the years the labour market was very tense. This becomes less so from mid 2008 partly because of rising unemployment and a declining number of vacancies. From 2009 there has been a growing labour market. In there is a substantial loss of the number of vacancies and unemployment rises enormously new vacancies Bron: CBS, CPB, UWV werkbedrijf, bewerking O&I Gemeente Breda number of unemployed Vacant shops % (January ) Enschede S-Gravenhage Eindhoven Rotterdam Groningen Tilburg Apeldoorn Nijmegen Dordrecht Maastricht Arnhem Almere Leiden Breda Utrecht Amsterdam Zwolle Zoetermeer Haarlem S-Hertogenbosch Amersfoort Bron: Locatus Number of highly-skilled people larger than that of those with middle vocational training In the next few years Breda s professional population will grow especially among those with middle and higher vocational training (+10%). Among those with lower vocational training there will be a slight decrease (-5%) Breda s vacant office space is 14%. A survey by DTZ Zadelhof (Nederland Compleet, January ) shows that Breda s level of vacancy is somewhat below the national average. Rents are falling slightly but there is a suspicion tenants are being offered more and more incentives. Figures by DTZ Zadelhof (Nederland Compleet, January ) show that in, m 2 of Breda s business space market has been occupied. At -42% the decline is slightly less than the office market. At 5.4% Breda s supply-stock ratio is more unfavourable than nationally Vacancy of shops in Breda low in comparison with other big cities With a strong inner city and one of the largest home boulevards in the Netherlands, Breda has grown into an increasingly important shopping city. However, also in Breda shop vacancy has increased to 33,900 m 2 (176 stores). With 8% vacancy, it is lower than in most other big cities. lager middelbaar hoger Bron: CBS, CPB, ABF Research, bewerking O&I Gemeente Breda Please see:

4 4 van 7 Fact-finding mission to India February, NFIA/BOM/Breda delegation To answer the question, the City of Breda and Foreign Investments of BOM regional development company have taken the initiative to send a small delegation to India on a fact-finding mission which was intended to learn and experience if in fact there are opportunities for our region, show these and present the Brabant/Breda region as the Gateway to Europe. Small Group: local government official, NFIA India, BOM, BrIM Breda. This makes it possible to switch rapidly, does not create the need for ceremony and offers easier access to companies. An integrated approach by four dimensions of government: international, national, provincial and local. The focus is on company structures, finding sectors, networks and companies offering opportunities. To gather information about this there have been talks with many companies, meetings with diplomats (Consul General of Mumbai, diplomatic representative in Bangalore), Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the organisation of an Investment Round Table (in cooperation with the Bangalore Chamber of Industry). Finally, some members of the delegation had a meeting with The Art of Living, a spiritual organisation, because it is essential to know about and understand Indian culture to get the right picture. Mission: finding possibilities for Brabant companies and conditions for Indian business to make investments and create partnerships. The cities that were visited were Mumbai and Bangalore. Conclusions and recommendations Contacts and meetings lead to the following conclusions and recommendations Focus in approach is indispensable The role of the authorities is different from the one in China, less presence There are still too many trade restrictions: task for Europe and cabinet Large companies will find their own way; the government may have a facilitating task for medium and small companies Brabant s scope offers no profile because of the diversity of the proposition, focus is necessary. Next: Focus on IT on the one hand (Eindhoven) and logistics on the other (Breda); collaboration required with the Port of Rotterdam in connection with expected logistic proposition. In addition opportunities for infrastructure, waste management, water management, food / dairy and energy Collaboration is necessary as well as sectoral, targeted and small-scale approach First results and agreements: The first companies that want to come to the Netherlands will now also show an orientation on Brabant / Breda. The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce has started preparations for a delegation trip to the Netherlands and will also be received in Brabant / Breda. Infotech is an Indian company already in Breda; there have been talks with Indian management in Bangalore Dinalog is talking to a company from India to discuss possible location Contact has been made between Consulate / Mumbai and Dinalog / Breda about Indian logistics. Conclusion: For Brabant, India is an extremely interesting and relevant economy, though a difficult one.

5 5 van 7 MEET & GREET BREDA Save the date MEET & GREET BREDA Meet & Greet Breda was initiated by Holland Expat Center South, the Municipality of Breda/BrIM Breda and the International School Breda. The idea behind this initiative is to bring like-minded internationals who are living and/or working in the region together in an informal setting. Are you an international living/working in Breda? You re most welcome on June 6th in museum MOTI. Thursday, June 6th, from MOTI - Museum of the Image Boschstraat 22, BREDA A gathering for internationals living and/or working in the Breda area. For more information please contact Ellen van Hooijdonk evhooijdonk@isbreda.nl Olivia van den Broek-Neri o.vd. broek-neri@eindhoven.nl or Marcelle den Hooglander mapa.den.hooglander@breda.nl Supported by: Sponsored by: BrIM holland expat center south Incubator Breda, for start-ups Commissioned by the City of Breda, BrIM Breda is investigating the possibilities to give a different destination to buildings that are now vacant in order to stimulate small business accommodation in the neighbourhood. The transformation of De Keysersmolen, a former school on the Oranjeboomstraat 198 in Breda, will be the start. Even before the summer Breda Incubator, Oranjeboom branch, will be officially opened and offer a location for first-time entrepreneurs. The classrooms will be turned into small business rooms, the former auditorium will be furnished as a meeting place for entrepreneurs and the gymnasium will offer space to flexible workplaces. Meanwhile, the building houses two parties that can offer direct help to first-time entrepreneurs with their business plans. These parties are Starterslift and Business Coach Breda (BCB). Several coaches are assigned to support first-time entrepreneurs wherever necessary and to offer them advice. With Starterslift for innovative companies, anyone who wants to start his own business or has been running one for a few years can knock on Business Coach Breda s door. Apart from coaching, BCB also offers a network including training, advice and starters meetings. In this way the Oranjeboomstraat offers more than just a low-cost business location. The target group consists of entrepreneurs who recently started and now work from home or improvised office space and of people who are planning to start an enterprise. They will mostly be one-man companies (ZZPs), but they could of course also be cooperations of several people. As a rule, it is hard for first-time entrepreneurs to find low-cost and flexible accommodation in the regular market. Commercial landlords are not easily inclined to do business with first-time entrepreneurs based on flexible tenancy contracts at low rents because often this is less attractive, financially. To prevent unfair competition, it is important for tenants to move up, eventually. Tenancy contracts can therefore be drawn up for a maximum period of three years. After that, a tenant basically needs to move to the commercial market. In fact, the building is particularly suited for organising workshops; training space is for rent. For more information, please go to and Photo's: Rene De Gilde

6 6 van 7 Activities 2014 Inspiring Encounters In order to promote the interests of local and regional businesses and networking on a local and regional level, BZW is made up of twelve circles (regional circles). Each of these organises a range of encounters annually, focused on current topics, which are always very well attended. Other successful initiatives include the more than thirty regional study clubs, where members usually meet within a living room-setting. Promoting Business Interests BZW is active in many areas which concern entrepreneurs and it is the most prominent voice of the business community in the South of the Netherlands. The current economic climate and government policy help determine the subjects we tackle. In addition, BZW consults its members to determine the priorities for each year. For the priorities are: Accessibility/Infrastructure The A58 motorway between Vlissingen and Eindhoven is the life-line for the economy in the South of the Netherlands. But the road is clogging up. In BZW managed to get the necessary broadening of the road higher up on the agenda. Thanks to a public-private venture the road can now be upgraded sooner than originally planned. The national government s response was positive and the Province is prepared to finance the plans in advance. In BZW will begin involving the business community in exploitation opportunities and innovative solutions on and around the A58. For further information visit: Job Market and Education Because of the looming shortages in the workforce, the region sets great store by educating talented people and keeping them here, as well as attracting talented people from elsewhere. This means that employers in Brabant and Zeeland must have a well-managed HRM-policy in place. BZW intends to support its members in this area. In a project will start that will offer entrepreneurs a better insight into staffing issues. The project will also tackle new innovative forms of collaboration between entrepreneurs in the job market and education areas. In addition BZW organises: An annual conference with hundreds of visitors (: autumn, from 2014: the third Tuesday of March annually) Information meetings focused on current developments, in collaboration with BZW-partners and VNO-NCW Meetings for special interest groups within BZW: healthcare, manufacturing, HRM, security, strategy & leadership Golf excursions For a full, up-to-date overview visit and Business and Social Climate The provinces of Brabant and Zeeland form the industrial heart of the Dutch economy. In order to reinforce the appealing business and social climate, BZW will be starting a number of projects in, which will include: streamlining exports financing, offering entrepreneurial support to promote the growth of exports, a top 10-list of priorities to make Brabant and Zeeland more appealing for knowledge workers immigration, and new funding constructions for young entrepreneurs such as NextOEM. Regulations A BZW survey held in late revealed that our members are not satisfied with the level of service provided by the government. In many government institutions there is a culture that promotes a minimum of effort, which is not conducive to the competitive position or the business climate in Brabant and Zeeland. In BZW is setting up a series of meetings with the Provinces, municipalities and UWV to discuss the objections of the business community and to solve the problem. BZW: Employers Organisation for Brabant and Zeeland Sustainable Entrepreneurship BZW believes that sustainability or socially responsible entrepreneurship is no longer an option, but a precondition for businesses to guarantee their future. In order to help entrepreneurs, BZW set up the project Samen Slim Verduurzamen (Towards a Joint Increased Sustainability) in, and developed a BZW-sustainability scan. In the project will become more in-depth. It will take on board the relationship between government and the business community and study the opportunities for a Brabant-Zeeland Green Deal that will reward the trailblazers of socially responsible entrepreneurship. Other points of interest include a better inspection of businesses environmental policies, and how to promote sustainability in purchasing and tenders. Brabants-Zeeuwse Werkgeversvereniging BZW Reitseplein 5 Postbus LG TILBURG T (013) F (013) E info@bzw.nl Zeeland Offices: Westkade 104 Postbus AB SAS VAN GENT T (0115) F (0115) E zeeland@bzw.nl Website: BZW on your smartphone? Go to and add this page to your start-up screen. Partners of BZW: BZW in the region: Some things are simply better arranged on a regional level, close to where you are. Go to to see which activities your local BZW organises in your region. For further information, please contact your regional manager: 1. bzw.nl/middenennoordzeeland I Wies Saman I T (0115) bzw.nl/zeeuwsvlaanderen I Wies Saman I T (0115) bzw.nl/bergenopzoom I Jeroen de Lange I T (013) bzw.nl/moerdijk I René Mens I T (013) bzw.nl/roosendaal I René Mens I T (013) bzw.nl/breda I Jeroen de Lange I T (013) bzw.nl/oosterhout I Jeroen de Lange I T (013) bzw.nl/middenbrabant I Sara Vermeltfoort I T (013) bzw.nl/denbosch I Eugène Princée I T (013) bzw.nl/oost I Eugène Princée I T (013) bzw.nl/eindhoven I Jan van Mourik I T (013) bzw.nl/helmond I Rob Bogman I T (013) BZW summary effective The most effective collective of entrepreneurs in the South of the Netherlands BZW is the regional network of VNO-NCW regional FACTS An inspiring environment for encounters and co-operations Successful in promoting business interests inspiring research institutions A recognised partner of stakeholders such as provinces, municipalities and BZW-members: 3000 top-level managers from 1900 businesses Industries: mainly manufacturing, construction, trade, logistics, education, business services, healthcare recognized Over 100 BZW-members are FIGURES Activities in 2014 administrators in sub-regions or committees organisations successful BZW also offers secretarial duties to more than 30 local employers These secretarial services yield a further 2000 business contacts for BZW BZW on your smartphone?

7 7 van 7 Using less to do more and doing so successfully International collaboration at Hazeldonk Meer business park Innovative management It took about 20 years to change the landscape in the Breda Hoogstraten border region. Derelict and partly undeveloped business sites around the customs zone were transformed into hypermodern locations for companies specialised in logistics. It gave the region a double scoop: there was an emphatically thematic development for business in international logistics and transport including value-adding service, and there was cross-border collaboration. Not only did the latter take place between authorities on either side of the border, but also between several business associations. The total area covers some 223 hectares including the customs zones that were left unoccupied after Europe s inner frontiers were lifted. In the area, business is done by 160 companies all united in one business association. The binding factors for entrepreneurs are their international focus, their preference for this logistic hotspot and their vision of collaboration. It is only logical that they sought further enhancement of efficiency. Hazeldonk Meer is looking at a bright future. A sound countering the trend? It very much looks like it, says Mr Ton van Tilburg, the Dutch chairman of LCHM, the Dutch-Belgian business association, known in full as Logistic Centre Hazeldonk Meer. And my Belgian colleague Mr Frederik Pollet will certainly affirm this. We have been working together for quite some time now and we manage to gain sizable scale benefits when it comes to park management. Together we purchase a number of facilities in the fields of security, waste management and power and we share a glass fibre network. And, mind you, this crosses borders as well! Frankly, over the past few years the authorities have also paid their fair share in site improvements. Both free traffic flow on either side of the border and on-site have bent many a mind and demanded large investment. Still, there is more to be gained. Hence our enthusiasm about Breda s initiative to use the system of neighbourhood aimed collaboration to draw up a joint park management plan for Hazeldonk Meer with the entrepreneurs and the town of Hoogstraten. The plan became operational when the covenant was signed on 10th January last. We will start by tackling the seven spearheads. Look, as entrepreneurs we will do the job and see the opportunity to look beyond our own business site, we assign full weight to the collective interest. And now that we have come this far, to the point where gains are made, it is logical that with the use of our entrepreneurial instincts we take over management tasks from the authorities. The business association sees new opportunities and the City of Breda and the town of Hoogstraten want to have a more cost-efficient management of business parks. This is again a scoop for Hazeldonk-Meer for never before did authorities and companies display such crossborder collaboration. Breda took the lead in the innovative management of public space and together with the LCHM business association drew up a list of starting points. Mr Frederik Pollet: For us business park management is not our core business, so from the start we invest our energy well and thoroughly, we have Breda s support for the first three years and then the train is off on its own. A key success factor is a good plan and, naturally, we had the advantage of knowing the track. We know each other, know what is going on. I think it is a nice example of unique collaboration when Breda gives LCHM the budget to manage and maintain the public space. We are going to make a smart use of this money to improve the quality of this space. That is when we appear to be able to use less to do more and make sharp purchases at companies that like to have us as a big customer and specialise in maintaining public space. In Hoogstraten is going to keep an interested eye on everything we do. We have agreed that already now Hoogstraten is going to have Meer keep to the level of maintenance that we are going to the require for Hazeldonk in this way. Mr Ton van Tilburg already has an eye for profit: The litter approach pilot of IOK (Kempen s Intercommunal Development Company) will be given priority in this cross-border collaboration. This is where Hoogstraten takes the lead and Breda joins in. This is how we put an end once and for all to the grave annoyance of our entrepreneurs. Although it may not be our core business, the public space is our complimentary card too, no matter how you look at it. That is one thing, and entrepreneurs just like to have value for money so we keep investing in professional park management. For the time being it looks as if the programme of implementation as Breda, Hoogstraten and we made it will save money as well as improve! copyright BrIM Breda / Breda Business Update is an activity of NV BrIM Breda, part of municipality of Breda. Postbus 2522, 4800 CM Breda / T + 31 (0) /