Customer story:
Vanberkel Professionals
How Vanberkel Professionals remains agile in a fundamentally changing labor market
Vanberkel Professionals has been brokering professionals within the public sector for nearly twenty years, ranging from legal and finance to IT, audit, and interim management. It was precisely in this market that the organization foresaw early on that the DBA Act would have major consequences for the use of freelancers and, consequently, for the playing field in which it operates.
Anticipating a tilting market
That development became very visible in a short time. While the vast majority of government contracts were still open to freelancers in 2024, that share dropped drastically in 2025. For Vanberkel Professionals, this meant that a familiar labor market model came under pressure. The organization had to adapt to new dynamics between freelance deployment, permanent capacity, and changing demand from the government.
The challenge therefore lay not only in responding to a change in the law, but above all in positioning the organization to be future-proof in a market that is undergoing structural change. This called for greater visibility and a stronger employer brand. and a broader base to attract professionals.
Building the brand and inflow
Because Vanberkel Professionals anticipated the impact of the DBA Act early on, room was created not only to make operational adjustments but also to invest strategically in recruitment and positioning. Together with UP, the focus shifted to Recruitment Marketing Automation to make the organization structurally visible to relevant target groups.
This approach did not revolve around standalone campaigns, but around continuity. By maintaining a rhythmic presence in the market through multiple channels , Vanberkel Professionals' recognizability as an employer and specialist within the public sector grew. This was essential during a phase when the organization could rely less on existing networks and had to build its own appeal.
In doing so, RMA helped to reach potential candidates not just at the moment a concrete vacancy arises, but much earlier in their orientation process. This established an ongoing relationship with professionals who are open to taking the next step. At the same time, the Vanberkel Professionals brand gained more substance: becoming more visible, consistent, and recognizable in a changing labor market.
A stronger foundation for the future
The focus on structural visibility has helped Vanberkel Professionals noticeably strengthen name awareness and employer branding. This created a stronger foundation for attracting professionals in a market where existing certainties are disappearing.
That stronger market position is particularly relevant now that demand from the government is shifting again. Alongside reduced demand for operational capacity, the need for specialized knowledge is actually growing, for example at the intersection of finance and IT. By investing early in brand, visibility, and recruitment, Vanberkel Professionals has built a starting position that better aligns with this new reality.
Instead of waiting until changes became noticeable, the organization chose to move forward. It is precisely this ability to anticipate early, while continuing to build visibility, that makes Vanberkel Professionals agile in a labor market that is constantly in motion.
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With RMA, UP has made people enthusiastic about coming to work at Vanberkel Professionals . By ensuring structural visibility , UP has given our name recognition and branding a boost.
Bob van Berkel
Director Vanberkel Professionals