With well-trained employees from the City Management Department, we keep The Hague's public spaces safe. "Is a resident of The Hague crooked? Is a paving stone not properly laid? Are tree roots poking through the paving? Then, as a resident of The Hague, you can report it to the City Management Department (DSB). They are responsible for keeping the eight districts of The Hague clean, safe, and livable. Gosé Pijpers, manager of the Service Teams and Local Traffic Control at DSB, explains: "Carrying out our work requires a wide range of knowledge. That's why our infrastructure employees receive targeted and customized training from SOMA Bedrijfsopleidingen."
Genuine thinking and practical training
How did the collaboration between SOMA Business Training and the City Management Department of The Hague come about? Gosé recalls that it originated through a former mentor from the Municipality of The Hague. Gosé: “He used to work as a trainer at SOMA Business Training and told me about their approach. They offer practical training, genuinely contribute ideas, and tailor training to individual needs. That sounded so good that I've now had a great collaboration with SOMA Business Training for over two years. We just had a bit of bad luck with COVID-19. Many training courses were cancelled because many lessons had to be taught in real-life situations. We're now working hard to catch up.”
Gain various knowledge and skills at SOMA Training
Gosé's team members require a broad range of knowledge, from checking barriers to carrying out road repairs. They must be able to carry out these tasks independently and professionally. Gosé explains: "That's why everyone receives appropriate training. They also all receive customized roadwork training. We developed this training in collaboration with SOMA Bedrijfsopleidingen, and it's already paying off! We're truly benefiting from the knowledge and skills the team members gained during this course. They can truly work independently and efficiently. This allows us to resolve citizen complaints within three days—a promise we have to keep."
Knowledge and practical experience at the required level after training at SOMA Bedrijfsopleidingen
Gosé: “I've noticed that our employees don't mind a training day at all. They enjoy learning something new, especially because they can immediately put it into practice. And as soon as they receive their diploma, I'm certain they possess the level of knowledge we expect and that's necessary for the job. Coincidentally, I just hired a new employee who previously obtained his diplomas from SOMA Bedrijfsopleidingen. That's great; I know he has the right knowledge and has already gained practical experience during his training. He simply had a head start on the other candidates.”
