Our business is the work of people, even though we use and develop prominent technical solutions. Diversity in knowledge, background, age, gender, and personality of our people is very important in that regard. Therefore, DHV has joined the covenant of “Talent to the top”. We continuously invest in the training and development of our employees. We consider it important to create room for passion, participation, and team spirit.
DHV is renowned for its knowledge and expertise. But are we also known for our horizontal organization and the fact that a number of DHV foundations and the employees are the sole shareholders? Or that there are no walls in the workplace because we were convinced as early as 1970 that people collaborate better in an open office?
Creativity and imagination
The era of operating in a mono-disciplinary fashion is gone. The increasingly complex issues of our society require integrated solutions. Creativity and imagination are very important elements in finding the solutions. Our employees understand this and therefore strive to collaborate with each other. Yet, we are also increasingly entering in alliances with businesses and institutions that complement our expertise in essential aspects.
Investing in training
Sustainable development is the outcome of the combined learning experiences of individuals. We learn on a daily basis. We are actively looking for the next discovery and the passion for our work propels us forward step-by-step. Training and sharing experiences play a crucial role in that regard. Consequently, we continue to invest in the training of our employees, even in difficult economic times.
For instance, in 2009, DHV developed a special course of lectures on sustainability for its own employees. The course is intended to encourage awareness, to share substantive knowledge, and to support its use in daily practice. Overall, each employee of DHV received approximately 50 hours of training in 2009.
Cradle to Cradle Pressure Cooker and “DHV Droomsessie” (DHV Dream Session)
Moreover, for our clients, we have also developed a few methods for the optimal use of sustainability knowledge. Some examples of these methods are the “Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Pressure Cooker”, in which our C2C consultants take on your task, and the “DHV Droomsessie”, in which we bring clients and stakeholders together in order to develop a joint sustainability vision.
Diversity
Just like in nature, diversity within a company is a sign of robustness, wealth, and resilience. We consider diversity to be a valuable aspect in our teams. One of the aspects of that diversity is the male-female ratio. The percentage of women in management positions has slightly increased in recent years and is now 16%. At DHV, this percentage is 26%.
Health and safety policy
Health and safety is also evidently provided for at DHV. Prevention is the primary goal. However, everything must be handled properly if something happens after all. Therefore, DHV has recorded the relevant rules and processes in its health and safety policy