Meet…
Meet Remmert Keizer, the founder of GJ GROEP. He describes himself as actively involved in both social and business initiatives. When I ask him to elaborate, I receive a thoughtful answer: “I have always said that where we are fortunate enough to earn money, we should also let it flow back to social institutions.”
When he then elaborates on the topic of entrepreneurship, he tells me he is proud. Proud that we have been in existence for 25 years. He calls this remarkable because it is not common in this industry. The vision he has always held contributes to this. He tells me: “I have always had the vision to keep everything independent, no outsourcing, everything in-house, and to provide support wherever possible.” If he had to describe this in a short sentence, he calls it: “A broker in the world of personnel.”
Entrepreneurship
Remmert explains that becoming an entrepreneur was not a conscious choice. He started as a chef in hospitality but quickly discovered that this was not entirely his calling because “a dark kitchen was not for him.” He then ended up at an employment agency, where he worked for several years before deciding to start his own business.
Despite it not being a conscious choice to become an entrepreneur, it quickly becomes clear to me that entrepreneurship is in his nature. This is confirmed when I ask him what steps he took to eventually establish his own company.
“There were three agricultural contractors who wanted to start an employment agency but had no idea how to approach it. Because they were keen to set up an agricultural employment agency, they approached me to get involved.”
As he continues his story, I see an entrepreneur with a clear vision. He goes on: “I said I would participate, under certain conditions. In the beginning, there were two other partners, but I immediately made the agreement that we would do it my way, with my vision.”
Ultimately, he acquired all the shares and continued on his own. The reason for this: “You cannot have three captains on one ship; there is only one helmsman.” He tells me it was a step he had to take, one he is very happy about in retrospect. It gives him the opportunity to react more quickly and make decisions in business operations.
The Origin of GJ
I then ask Remmert if he can tell me more about the origin of GJ and the growth the company has experienced. As he indicated earlier, they started in the agricultural sector, where he consciously chose not to house employees and to focus solely on temporary staffing.
In 2001, Monique Barendse (current Commercial Director/Occupational Expert) joined, after which they jointly revised their strategy a year later. Their vision was to provide temporary staff not only to the agricultural sector but also to other industries. From this vision, Payroll services emerged, and gradually the service package was further expanded.
“If you want something, it always takes time.”
Letting Go
Besides having a clear vision and knowing what he wants, Remmert is also a true team player. This becomes clear to me when I ask him what his current role within GJ is, to which he replies that it is on a project basis.
Remmert has handed over daily management to Niels Slieker and Monique Barendse. He made this choice at the time for personal reasons, but to this day, he is still happy with this decision. He continues his story: “We are heading into an economically uncertain period, so it is precisely now that it is good to discuss it daily and stay on top of things.”
I follow up by asking if he feels more involved when a crisis approaches, and if he finds it harder to relinquish control then. He replies: “I always have confidence in the daily management, but during a crisis, you are naturally extra vigilant; I think that applies to everyone. Even in times of crisis, I remain actively involved, but mainly to provide support so that Niels and Monique can continue to focus on daily management.”
Unique but Vulnerable
Remmert says he dislikes hierarchical relationships, both professionally and privately. He states: “Together, you create and are the success.” I ask him if he considers this the key to GJ’s success. He replies: “We have truly seen the world change. In the meantime, we have experienced four crises, supply and demand have changed, and we have broadened our scope significantly. Where we used to only supplement labour shortages, we now advise companies. That is a completely different role. Of course, there are companies that do what we do, but they all do a part of it, and we have everything in-house.”
When I ask if the broad range of services is what makes GJ unique, he answers with conviction: “Absolutely!” A short silence falls before he continues: “But also vulnerable…”
Remmert further explains his answer: “What I mean by vulnerability is that we truly pamper our clients. The broad range of services ensures that we can respond quickly within GJ. Unlike other companies that immediately send their clients an invoice, we do not.”
Setbacks
As the interview progresses, the proud feeling he described at the beginning becomes increasingly evident. However, entrepreneurship knows not only successes but also setbacks. I ask him if he ever had moments when he considered quitting. He does not have to think long about that question and replies: “Certainly! I think every entrepreneur experiences that sometimes, especially when one thing after another fails or when you try to meet all expectations.”
He continues his story and tells me that he believes the national government is increasingly trying to restrict flexibility, while he thinks that Dutch businesses benefit from a flexible workforce. In his own words: “It is almost being made impossible for us.”
Despite the setbacks, Remmert does not let himself be discouraged. We continue to talk about setbacks and eventually arrive at the topic of negativity. He says: “There is a considerably negative attitude towards employment agencies. All employment agencies are tarred with the same brush, and I disagree with this. For that reason, some time ago, I entered into discussions with the FNV.” He adds: “Of course, there are bad employment agencies, but there are also many good ones!”
More Than an Entrepreneur
Remmert is closely involved in social initiatives not only professionally but also privately. He is an active participant in local politics and spends a lot of time at sports clubs. Besides his professional activities, he is primarily a proud father of three children. Remmert considers himself fortunate and socially rich.
“Fortunate with a rich social network around me.”
Proactive Mentality
I ask Remmert if his extensive social network is the reason why he is happy both privately and professionally. He replies: “Absolutely! For example, I greatly enjoy the Friday afternoon drinks at the office where I can chat with colleagues.” However, his answer goes further: “Although I enjoy a pleasant atmosphere at work, it is important that performance is also good.”
In his words, summarised: “cut your coat according to your cloth.”
Following this remark, I ask him what he thinks of the trend of hybrid working, which combines remote work and office work. He replies: “I am not a proponent of it myself, but this is because I reflect it on myself. I find it important to have direct contact with colleagues and to be able to react quickly. I want to be able to see people and just pop in.”
Although he is not a fan of hybrid working himself, he can let go of the idea. This again demonstrates his trust in management. He concludes: “If you choose to let go of management, you should not interfere. I bring things up in discussions with management, but it is up to them to decide what to do with them. I have every confidence that they will make the right decisions.”
The Door Is Always Open
To conclude the interview, I ask if he has any tips for young, aspiring entrepreneurs. He replies: “If they are considering hiring staff, they can contact us. We will think along with them in the most creative way to help wherever necessary.” He concludes his answer:
“The door of GJ GROEP, is always open, for anyone!”
This statement beautifully reflects the vision of an entrepreneur who clearly knows what he stands for and considers it important to give back to society.
