The Royal Louwman Group has reached Level 3 on the Performance Ladder for Social Entrepreneurship (PSO). This places Louwman among the top 10% of best-performing companies in the Netherlands in terms of promoting inclusive employment. On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Tako Kampstra, General Manager at PSO Netherlands, presented the certificate to Marlène Volf, Chief Corporate & Legal Affairs Officer.
The step from Level 2 to Level 3 is the result of an independent audit conducted by KIWA, a certified institution. In addition to being a leading provider of mobility solutions, Louwman also commits to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social inclusivity. As a family business, Louwman places great value on social engagement. This isn’t only reflected in creating lasting employment opportunities for individuals distanced from the labour market, but also in the choice of partners who share these values.
A culture of inclusion and development
Marlène Volf explains: “One of the three pillars within our CSR policy at Louwman is ‘Everyone Counts’. This is reflected throughout our entire organisation, but especially within our dealership network. We allow students from various educational backgrounds to progress from a learning environment to permanent employment. We offer them extensive training opportunities to advance in roles that not only suit their skills, but challenge them as well.”
John Naborn, General Manager of Louwman Care, adds: “In our Care division, 32 colleagues work with an SW-indicator or protected work status. As a work-learning company, we provide opportunities for personal and vocational development, including the chance to obtain an MBO certificate, with the ultimate goal of career advancement within or beyond Louwman.”
The PSO: a benchmark for inclusivity
The PSO, developed by TNO, serves as a national standard and measuring tool for social entrepreneurship, objectively assessing the extent of inclusive employment. The PSO recognition offers organisations a clear framework to increase their social impact using the four performance levels – Aspirant Status and Levels 1 to 3.
Reaching Level 3, Louwman underscores its ongoing commitment to enhancing an inclusive labour market and promoting social entrepreneurship in the Netherlands. This achievement demonstrates Louwman’s dedication to its values and the positive impact the company aims to have on society.
