From raw data to customer insights: Ton Sluiter and Peter Ellen lead the way at HeadFirst Group
In the dynamic environment of HeadFirst Group, Ton Sluiter, Manager of Data, and Peter Ellen, Journey Manager on the Customer Experience (CX) team, are at the helm of an evolution towards a future driven by data and customer experience. Their shared passion for the power of data and customer experience serves as the driving force behind their continuous pursuit of improvement and innovation.
"It's great to see how fast we're growing, with the ability to innovate quickly." - Peter Ellen
That immediately made it interesting for me, the feeling of a blank canvas. As time went on, a clearer picture emerged of what I could contribute. CX is now rolled out for all HeadFirst Group brands."
Innovation & growth
When asked what makes his work so fascinating, Ton responds enthusiastically. "Working with data is actually similar to refining: raw data comes in, is processed and eventually leads to valuable insights. We not only collect data for its original purpose, but also discover unexpected applications. We call this serendipity. I get energized when we can take clients or ourselves further with it!"
Peter shares Ton's enthusiasm: "It's great to see how fast we are growing but still have the ability to innovate quickly. I really appreciate that drive. Our shared commitment to unlock the potential of data and improve the customer experience reflects the energy of HeadFirst Group."
Want to read more about how we operate at HeadFirst Group? Download the 2023 annual report here.
Digitizing for more user-centricity and shorter processes
Within HeadFirst Group, we started an important behind-the-scenes project last year: a completely revamped, digital onboarding of professionals as soon as they start working for our clients. In collaboration with screening platform Victoria ID, we are working on a faster and smarter way to conduct screenings - an important, but also time-intensive, part of onboarding. Gerjan Pranger, operations director at HeadFirst Group: "By further digitizing the process, we are creating space to give personal attention to our professionals and partners at the times when it really adds value for them."
Founder and CEO of Victoria ID, Stéphanie Eikhoudt: "With Victoria ID, we want to introduce a new validation method. Together with HeadFirst Group, we are working to reduce screening turnaround times by automating the process as much as possible. For example, we use validated ID data for simultaneous checks, which results in faster results and ensures the reliability of the information."
"Developments go as fast as they can, but as slow as they have to." - Gerjan Pranger
Building bridges together
Gerjan continues: "We strive to create a fully digital workflow and shorter processing times. That is one of our project management principles. After the testing phase and a successful pilot with Rabobank, it is now time to address process challenges. For example, what is technically smartest, but more importantly, what works best for the user? Everything has to be aligned, which takes time and attention. We are building bridges together as we walk over them."
"High quality standards emphasize efficiency, convenience and customization." - Stéphanie Eikhoudt
"Our focus is on bringing together different teams, each with their own expertise. Creating synergy and motivating teams are fundamental to the success of our project. This joint effort has allowed us to refine our strategies during the pilot phase. In 2024, we will celebrate an important milestone: the full integration and implementation of this innovative platform.", concludes Stéphanie.
Want to read more about the developments we are working on at HeadFirst Group? Download the 2023 Annual Report here.
Record gross invoice value of €2,6 billion for HR-tech unicorn HeadFirst Group
21% organic growth, net fee income of €76 million
HR-tech service provider HeadFirst Group achieved a record gross invoice value of €2.6 billion in 2023, marking a fully organic growth of 21 percent compared to 2022. Net fee income increased by 20 percent to €76 million leading to an EBITDA conversion of 50%. These results lay the perfect foundation for further growth in 2024 as the organisation continues its strategy of 'tech enables touch', aiming to make societal impact simultaneously.
In addition to financial success, HeadFirst Group also saw significant increases in employee and client satisfaction in 2023. Marion van Happen, CEO at HeadFirst Group, stated: "This proves that our strategy works: by intelligently leveraging technology, we digitalise processes extensively, enabling us to utilise the personal touch of our colleagues at moments where it truly adds value for clients, suppliers, and independent professionals. Our colleagues are satisfied because they are engaged in meaningful work, and our clients are happier. These two elements continue to reinforce each other."
Impact unicorn
Due to years of organically good results and the recent completion of the joining of forces with Impellam Group, HeadFirst Global has achieved the so-called unicorn status, which says business valuation of more than 1 billion euros. Marion van Happen: "We have become a unicorn, but more importantly, we combine that with social impact. Financial results are important, so that we can continue to do for our clients what they need, but we are also taking the lead in moving towards a just, diverse and inclusive labor market. This is where our main impact lies, in line with our purpose "Join the next world of work. In addition, we are taking all actions to build an even more sustainable organization so that we deliver value to the society around us."
More information
HeadFirst Group's annual report can be read and downloaded at headfirst.group/investor-relations.
HeadFirst Group accelerates ambitions with strategic appointment Renger Lammers
HR tech services provider HeadFirst Group has added Renger Lammers to the organisation's management team, in the role of managing director growth & strategy. CEO Marion van Happen: "Renger will focus on strengthening the commercial strength of our organisation. With this appointment, we bring focus to the continued development of our services in the Netherlands and our international growth strategy."
HeadFirst Group recently confirmed its acquisition of Impellam Group. Together, they are one of the world's leading Managed Service Providers specializing in STEM talent and a distinctive HR-tech platform for professionals. Through the group, more than 75 thousand professionals are active for clients all over the world, accounting for a turnover (managed spend, in 2023) of 8 billion euros.
In anticipation of the publication of its annual report next week, HeadFirst Group shares that both the joining of forces with Impellam Group and the appointment of Lammers fit perfectly within its internationalization strategy. Van Happen: "Our international growth ambitions are great. At the same time, we are continuously developing our services in the Netherlands and there is still market share to be gained. With the arrival of Renger, we can bring that shared focus to life. He fits perfectly with our vision of customer centricity and with his skills, Renger will play a key role in further expanding and positioning our organization."
After working for Aldi Einkauf Ohg in Germany, where Lammers learned the intricacies of operational excellence in a large organization, he returned to the Netherlands to lead Essent's commercial operations. In the years that followed, he ran a consultancy firm for commerce, operations and change. For the past three years, he has been Commercial Director of Manpower Group in the Netherlands and will join HeadFirst Group as of April 2024. "The impressive growth and ambitious strategy, combined with the use of technology to enable the human touch in the service provision, has made me enthusiastic about taking this step. Making clients happy is what I do it for, and we will undoubtedly do that with the great team that is already there and that I can start working with immediately," says Lammers.
HeadFirst Group and Impellam Group join forces to become a global leader in STEM, digital and IT talent, managed services and HR tech
HeadFirst Group and Impellam Group announced today that they have joined forces. Together they form one of the world's leading Managed Service Providers with specialism in STEM talent and a distinctive HR-tech platform for professionals. The group accounts for revenue (managed spend, by 2023) of 8 billion euros, has 2,100 expert colleagues and more than 75 thousand professionals working for clients around the world.
This strategic step provides customers with a unique, truly global tech and talent solution to ensure they stay at the forefront of their industry. The deal has created an unparalleled force in digital, IT, data, life sciences, clinical and engineering talent and leaves the expanded group well-placed to drive market beating growth and to deliver increased value for colleagues, customers, professionals, suppliers, and shareholders.
Han Kolff, chairman of the Board, commented: "We are proud to have brought industry leaders HeadFirst and Impellam together. As well as vast geographic reach, our expanded group combines world-class expertise and market-leading tech, providing customers with mission critical talent, hereby creating a unique platform for growth in a growing market. I am confident HeadFirst and Impellam will power the next world of work together.”
Julia Robertson, CEO of Impellam and the enlarged group, said: “We have an exciting future ahead of us. In a world where talent and tech must come together to build better businesses, we will collaborate to leverage the combined strength and capability of our market-leading brands, our people, and our distinctive technology. Our complementary cultures and our focus on our customers’ needs will ensure we deliver market leading, digitally enabled and differentiated solutions to our customers across the world.”
Experienced team driving growth agenda
Leading the future success and growth of the combined business, the Board of the new group includes: Han Kolff, non-executive chairman, Julia Robertson, group CEO, Tim Briant, group CFO, Marion van Happen, CEO of HeadFirst Group, as well as non-executive directors and co-founders Koen Bekkering and Boyd Sleeman.
There will be no immediate changes to the day-to-day operations of Impellam Group and HeadFirst Group. Impellam and HeadFirst will continue to deliver industry-leading solutions to customers, suppliers and professionals.
Following the completion of the transaction, Lord Ashcroft, the former majority shareholder of Impellam Group will serve as non-executive director on the board.
HeadFirst Group once again Great Place To Work
For the second year in a row, HeadFirst Group has received Great Place To Work certification. This global authority examines organizations in terms of workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behavior. With a Trust Index of 77 percent, HeadFirst Group meets the criteria for great place to work. Joke de Graaf, Head of HR & Organization, emphasizes, "The certificate is not a goal in itself, but it does confirm that we are a wonderful employer. Even more valuable is the feedback received, which we can work with in the coming year."
Voice of the employee
The leading, international HR tech services provider has once again experienced unprecedented growth over the past year, with as many as 200 new employees and the recent confirmation of a takeover bid for Impellam Group. Despite this significant growth in size, HeadFirst Group continues to invest in its most important asset: its employees.
For De Graaf, achieving Great Place To Work certification is an important step in understanding how employees perceive the culture built at HeadFirst Group. "I am immensely proud that our efforts to create a safe and trusted work environment, where each person feels at home and valued, have paid off. This is partly due to the fair treatment everyone receives, regardless of factors such as gender, age or origin."
Responsibility and trust
The survey shows that employees consider themselves "full members of the organization. De Graaf explains: "Mutual trust is important to us and we like to give employees the freedom to do their jobs. Making mistakes is allowed and is of course part of the job. That is why 'Learn every day' is one of our core values. It is positive that the numbers show that employees care about each other, are innovative and try to do things in an innovative and better way. That's why we offer the HeadFirst Group Academy, various workshops and trainings, leadership programs and advancement opportunities. Getting a little better every day, both as an organization and as individuals, is what we strive for. With the perfect balance between advanced technology and human interaction always being the starting point."
In addition, employees experience management as approachable and easy to deal with. De Graaf adds, "We take various initiatives to create a pleasant working environment with facilities in our offices. Think of the possibility of hybrid working and flexible working hours, so that everyone can design their own working day. Bottom-up leadership is also part of this. With us, no rigid hierarchy, but rather flexibility in and ownership of one's job."
Festive outlook
This second certification comes as an additional source of motivation not only for past efforts, but also for future endeavors. "Successes, birthdays and anniversaries do not go unnoticed and we like to celebrate together. With regular outings and drinks, we make it a party to work at HeadFirst Group. I look forward to a year in which we can strengthen the foundations we have laid and be consistently recognized as a work environment that is equitable and focused on innovation for everyone involved," concludes De Graaf.
About Great Place to Work
Great Place to Work helps organizations create a culture of trust. They do this through the Trust Index™, the employee survey that measures trust, pride and joy. They believe that trust is the basis for better individual performance, team performance and business results. Growth and innovation then follow naturally. The philosophy is based on more than 30 years of experience in 60 different countries.
HeadFirst Group strengthens its internationalization strategy with MSP frontman Arco Elsman
Arco Elsman has been appointed managing director MSP services by HR tech service provider HeadFirst Group. This gives him ultimate responsibility for the success of Staffing Management Services and ProUnity, HeadFirst Group's two international Managed Service Providers. "The MSP market is ripe for innovation and international expansion, and with Arco we are excellently positioned to further strengthen our services in currently 15 countries and push our boundaries," said Marion van Happen, CEO HeadFirst Group.
MSP services are known worldwide as a progressive and efficient strategy whereby organizations outsource their hiring processes to external experts, the MSPs. Elsman brings over 20 years of knowledge and experience in the outsourced HR services industry, including MSP and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO). His impressive career includes leadership roles at leading organizations such as Yacht, where he held the position of operations director, Twago, as managing director of the freelance marketplace and talent pool, and carried European responsibility at Randstad RiseSmart until the end of 2023.
With that fresh perspective, he is now clearly ready for his new challenge: "I was looking for an organization where customer focus, innovative entrepreneurship and exponential growth are key. This is what I have found at HeadFirst Group. I look forward to using my experience in the human capital market to take the next step of growth - together with the enthusiastic team."
Van Happen added: "Arco is a perfect fit for this position for his empathy and client focus, as well as his astute talent management and proven success in internationalization and scaling HR tech companies. The initial focus is on successfully serving our existing clients, adding large clients to our portfolio and organizing consulting services. From this base, we will continue our ambitious internationalization strategy."
Global player
HeadFirst Group recently confirmed its agreement with Impellam Group to acquire Impellam. They intend to join forces to become a leading global player in MSP and talent management. The combination, with more than €7 billion in revenue (managed spend, by 2022), will enable accelerated growth opportunities in Europe, the U.K., North America and APAC. The appointment of Elsman as managing director of MSP services is consistent with this strategy.
HeadFirst Group confirms takeover bid for Impellam Group, creating world leader in workforce solutions for STEM talent
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
HeadFirst Group ("HeadFirst") and Impellam Group ("Impellam") announce that they have reached agreement on HeadFirst's acquisition of Impellam. They are joining forces to form a leading global player in MSP and talent management. The combination, with over €7 billion in revenue (managed spend, by 2022), will enable accelerated growth opportunities in Europe, UK, North America and APAC.
For HeadFirst, Impellam represents an attractive opportunity to invest in one of the world's market-leading Managed Services Providers and a leading group of companies specializing in recruitment for STEM (data, life sciences, tech & engineering) professionals. There is a clear strategic rationale for the combination of HeadFirst and Impellam that is expected to deliver the following benefits
- highly complementary geographic coverage, with limited to no overlap, creates a larger group with a strong presence in continental Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and APAC, which can benefit clients with a larger, global, geographic spread;
- complementary skills and expertise create significant opportunities for our clients and for cross-selling our services;
- HeadFirst Group's strong technology, data and digital platforms provide an opportunity to further improve operational and business performance within the larger group;
- a strong combined management team can continue to deliver on the long-term strategy of a larger group;
- more career opportunities for colleagues within the larger group.
Julia Robertson, CEO at Impellam Group, says: "We look forward to joining forces with HeadFirst to create a larger, more digital and diverse service offering with greater geographic reach. The combined strength of market-leading brands, cultures and people - balanced with technology from the expanded group - enables us to even better support our clients with their workforce management challenges across the UK, Europe, North America and APAC. At the same time, it provides more career opportunities for colleagues."
Han Kolff, Chairman of the board at HeadFirst Group, commented, "This merger will be groundbreaking, building on the complementary strengths of Impellam and HeadFirst. Together, we will become a global leader in mission-critical talent, enabling us to serve our clients, suppliers and professionals in an unparalleled way. We have an exciting journey ahead of us with plenty of opportunities for our teams, deepening HR technology and expanding geographic reach further and faster."
Future management of the group
HeadFirst Group aims to bring Impellam Group's key executive management, namely Julia Robertson (current Chief Executive Officer of Impellam Group) and Tim Briant (current Chief Financial Officer of Impellam Group) to the board as Group CEO and CFO, respectively. They will work together with board members Marion van Happen, who will also continue as CEO of HeadFirst Group, and Han Kolff, who will be non-executive Chairman, and non-executive board members Koen Bekkering and Boyd Sleeman, to drive the future success and growth of the new group.
For now, there are no changes in the day-to-day business of Impellam Group and HeadFirst Group. Impellam and HeadFirst will continue to provide their services to clients, suppliers and professionals unchanged. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2024.
An announcement with full details on the terms of the transaction can be read in full on the website headfirst.group/takeover
About HeadFirst Group
HeadFirst Group is a leading, international HR tech service provider and the largest platform for professionals in the Benelux, operating in fifteen European countries. The organization offers a diversity of HR solutions, such as Managed Service Providing, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, intermediary services (matchmaking, contracting) and HR consulting. More than 25 thousand professionals work for over five hundred clients in Europe, with which HeadFirst Group realizes an annual turnover of over two billion euros. The main brands of HeadFirst Group are the MSP (including intermediary services) labels HeadFirst, Between and Staffing Management Services, RPO and recruitment specialist Sterksen, IT talent sourcer StarApple and the Belgian HR technology company ProUnity.
About Impellam Group
Impellam Group is the holding company of a group of diverse, integrated labor market service providers in STEM talent (data, life sciences, tech & engineering), providing workforce solutions, talent management and recruitment and selection of professionals globally across various industry sectors and key end markets. Impellam Group's two main operating divisions provide the following services: 1) Global Managed Services ("GMS"): complete workforce solutions through multidisciplinary management of the overall talent process and 2) STEM: MSP, RPO, contracting, permanent employment and SOW workforce solutions focused on IT and digital specialists, data experts, scientists, clinicians and engineers. Impellam Group's divisions operate under several brand names, including Guidant Global and Comensura (GMS), as well as Carbon60, SRG, Lorien and Bartech (STEM).
On March 3, 2023, Impellam completed the sale of two previous operating divisions - Regional Specialist Staffing and Healthcare - allowing Impellam Group to now focus on its core GMS and STEM divisions, where the Impellam Board of Directors expects higher returns from attractive growth markets, significantly improved revenue visibility and improved conversions
Note to editors
Do you have any questions or comments in response to this press release? Please contact Bart van der Geest, spokesman at HeadFirst Group, at +31 (0)6 - 15 89 95 74 or bart.vandergeest@headfirst.nl. Or Kirsty Tranter, global head of communications at Impellam Group, at kirstytranter@impellam.com.
Supplemental Information
This announcement is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be - and does not constitute - an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities, or a solicitation of a vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the acquisition described above or otherwise. This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or a document equivalent to a prospectus.
Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Acquisition are not, and may not, be directly or indirectly transmitted or otherwise forwarded, disseminated or sent in or into or from any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) may not transmit or otherwise forward, disseminate or send such documents in or into or from such jurisdiction.
HeadFirst Group donates €70,000 to TechMeUp for equal employment opportunities
HeadFirst Group donates €70,000 to TechMeUp for equal employment opportunities
HeadFirst Group is committed to a better world beyond the job market. We are committed to improving the environment, nature and the lives of people around the world. A world in which equal opportunities and access to opportunities are a matter of course for everyone. As part of this, we have established - with pride - the 'HFG Foundation', led by colleague Thomas ten Veldhuijs.
Equal opportunities for all
This Foundation bundles our social initiatives, which include helping people in their careers and in life. We believe in equal opportunities for all and see it as our responsibility to contribute to a more just future. We do this by supporting initiatives that stem from our intrinsic motivation and active involvement.
Donation TechMeUp
Every year we set aside budget to donate to causes and initiatives that fit this purpose. Recently, we made a donation of a whopping €70,000 to the TechMeUp Foundation. This donation is intended to fund education in technology for students at a disadvantage in the labor market and to guide them to employment. The goal of this wonderful project is to support ten students through 2023. Once successfully placed in a job, they will repay the interest-free loan in installments, giving future students the opportunity to pursue a technology education as well.
This donation is a sign of our commitment to reducing the gap between social and cultural differences. Through education and opportunities for those distant from the labor market, we actively contribute to leveling these differences.
Want to know more about TechMeUp? Click here for more information.
Take the robot out of the human
Marijn van de Poel is managing director of Ciphix. This innovative company's mission is "Take the robot out of the human," he says. "With about sixty specialists, we automate as many routine tasks and cognitive decisions at our clients as possible. Using Hyperautomation technologies, such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Process Mining and Low-code, we develop 'digital assistants' so that clients' existing employees can focus entirely on more important and interesting things."
"The latter is crucial. Everyone today is struggling with staff shortages, and that's precisely when it's a waste to have well-qualified employees spend time on repetitive work. People want to get to work on new challenges and customer requests, which stimulates and inspires them. When people spend less time on routine jobs, you keep the work fun and interesting and they continue to choose you. That's what Ciphix is betting on."
Balance between tech and touch
How that works, Marijn explains using the first digital assistants Ciphix introduced at HeadFirst Group: "HeadFirst Group handles tens of thousands of hiring transactions every year. A complex process with an application, publication, matching and finally a contract. With the help of the digital assistant, named Benthe, in 2022 we have, among other things, fully automated the reading of assignments. The process is flawless and much faster, while recruiters now have more time left over for the matching itself. It actually creates a better balance between tech and touch, as they call it at HeadFirst Group."
Streamer
"The process is error-free and much faster, while recruiters now have more time left over for the matching itself."
Bring human into the robot
"And we are already looking further together. Artificial intelligence, for example, makes it possible to analyze and interpret the data in applications and resumes faster and smarter, thus providing recruiters with better content support as well. It's just one of the possibilities and the great thing is that HeadFirst Group is completely in the lead. Our technical solutions help with what you want to achieve, but the organization itself has to have the mindset to want to work differently."
"By the way, why do we use real names? It's very deliberate because that way we make our solutions more recognizable and also bring a bit of the 'Human in the Robot.' New software with a techy name doesn't say much to most people. No one really likes SAP or Office, but everyone loves Benthe!"