Enexis and Motopp: united in diversity and workplace integration.

Four newcomers discover a sense of belonging and foster connections within their teams.

Fresh faces from other cultures that enter the Dutch workforce resemble unpolished gems: brimming with valuable skills and experience, yet their potential often remains untapped. Regrettably sosince diversity in the workplace not only helps companies succeed but also reduces staff shortages and helps them adjust to societal change. At Enexis and Motopp, we grasp this concept, and collaboratively, we utilize the power of newcomers. Today, four Motoppers have perfectly integrated. Mehmet, formerly a forensic investigator in Turkey, fully embraces Dutch culture: ‘I’ve celebrated carnival twice and even dared a New Year’s dive this year!’

Those who must adapt to a new cultural environment tend to think more analytically and solution-oriented—a significant reason to embrace newcomers. Joost Looij, ICT director, echoes this sentiment: ‘It adds depth to the IT sector. When your team mirrors society, you make better social decisions.’

When your team mirrors society, you make better social decisions.

Joost Looij, ICT director Enexis

According to Joost, newcomers arrive with motivation, technical skills, and valuable knowledge from their home countries. In a tight labour market where talent retention is challenging, these qualities are priceless. “Plus,” adds Joost, ‘we can help them integrate into society through work. Win-win for everyone!’

Motopp is a good match for what Enexis needs. ‘The intense process surrounding energy transition demands a lot of time and energy from us. Motopp takes a lot of pressure off by continuing to support ‘our’ people on the job. That helps us enormously in a smooth integration.’

Co-founder of Motopp, Merijn Biesterveld, stresses the collaborative effort: ‘Of course, we continue to support our former trainees, but without the open-mindedness and active engagement of Enexis colleagues, it wouldn’t work. Being seen, accepted, and appreciated in a new environment is crucial for successful integration. It’s amazing to see how Enexis empowers our people to settle comfortably into their teams!’

Co-founder of Motopp, Merijn Biesterveld, stresses the collaborative effort: ‘Of course, we continue to support our former trainees, but without the open-mindedness and active engagement of Enexis colleagues, it wouldn’t work. Being seen, accepted, and appreciated in a new environment is crucial for successful integration. It’s amazing to see how Enexis empowers our people to settle comfortably into their teams!’

The Motoppers—as the newcomers are affectionately dubbed by Motopp—arrive with their traineeship expertise and continue to refine their skills on the job.

Pioneers Mehmet Cankurtaran and Halil Kanat, who joined Enexis in 2022, demonstrate this model works well. Both men of Turkish origin have found their place. Halil, residing with his wife and cats in Groningen, found his colleagues to be a great support during onboarding. While his military background might suggest otherwise, pursuing a job as a Mendix developer aligns with his longstanding passions for cybersecurity and web design. ‘Mendix is a whole new world, but I’m deeply fascinated. I’m aiming for a senior role!’

Hüsameddin, who once worked as a business sales specialist in Turkey, now calls Alphen aan den Rijn home with his family. His new role fits him perfectly: ‘I truly feel part of the team, my colleagues help me with everything. It might sound odd, but paying taxes brings me joy now! I’m so happy I can give back to society and have a future perspective again.’

Ibrahim faces a major career shift after 18 years working as a system engineer in Turkey. He’s quick to notice a difference in the Dutch job market. ‘Here, it’s not about climbing a rigid hierarchy like back home. I love the free-spirited vibe, you can ask anything. Thanks to the bonds I’ve formed at work, I feel like a true Dutchman. I just need to brush up on my language skills. Speak Dutch to me, and I’ll have to!’

Wiebe Glimmerveen works closely with the two gentlemen and, as a Capability Manager, is expert on the skills drive organizational success. ‘People like Ibrahim and Hüsameddin bring not only new professional insights but also a high level of motivation rooted in their life journeys, which broadens everyone’s horizons. This has a positive effect on group dynamic and collaboration; team members are more engaged with each other than before.’

(…) team members are much more engaged with each other than before.

– Wiebe Glimmerveen, Capability Manager Enexis

The positive influence of these two Motopp newcomers paved the way for Hüsameddin Bayram and Ibrahim Akdas to join Enexis as SAP consultants in 2023. While currently still on secondment, they’re projected to become fully integrated team members by September.

Interested in a partnership?

Are you also interested in IT talent for your organisation? We would be happy to discuss the possibilities. Please contact Benedicte Lochtenberg. Mail to: [email protected] or call: +31 (0)20 261045