"The WRKLab issue really hit home when we were standing on Friso’s construction site."

Through the WRKLab, students Janneke, Minoe and Ilias worked under Renske’s supervision on a project concerning sustainability on the construction site. “It soon became clear that we could save a thousand euros a month. That was a wake-up call for us and for the site staff.”

Testimonials

The Future Ready Business (FRB) major is part of WRKLab, where business administration students are prepared for graduation by learning how to make organisations future-proof. At WRKLab, students work on real-world business challenges.

One example of this is the project by Janneke, Minoe and Ilias, who collaborated with Friso Bouwgroep. Their assignment: How can Friso Bouwgroep encourage site staff to use energy more sustainably, using the ten-step plan for driving change? This project built on the findings of Stan and Martine, who had previously spent ten weeks investigating how behavioural change can be implemented within an organisation. Using this as a basis, the FRB students developed a concrete and practical plan for Friso Bouwgroep.

Construction students: learning on the job

The students emphasise that they not only learnt about the construction sector, but also about working within the organisational culture of a company like Friso, where, despite its size, there is a strong family atmosphere. “It was the first time we’d been so deeply involved with an organisation,” says Janneke. “We’d never worked with a client at this level before. Renske really took us into the world of construction. If we had a question, we could just send Renske a text message. We often got a reply straight away,” says Ilias. “That weekly contact and the freedom to approach people ourselves made everything much easier.” Janneke adds: “We were allowed to go anywhere; everyone had a moment to spare for us. It felt as though we were truly part of the company.”

Over the course of 20 weeks, the students visited several construction sites and spoke to construction workers, contractors and site managers. “The issue suddenly became very real when we were standing on the building site and could talk to the people who work there every day,” says Minoe. “That gave us much more insight than just sitting behind a desk or learning from books. We saw how the construction workers handle switching the boiler on and off and that they weren’t yet being mindful about it.”

The issue of sustainability was a real eye-opener for the students. “We’re discovering just how much energy is consumed on a construction site, and that huge savings can be made with minor adjustments. This approach brings theory and practice together effectively,” says Janneke. “After doing some calculations, we soon realised we were talking about savings of a thousand euros a month. That was a wake-up call for us and for the site staff.”

Friso Bouwgroep at the WRKLab

A close bond with the team

Despite the size of the organisation, the students immediately felt part of the family. “Everyone recognised us very quickly, both at the office and on the building site,” says Ilias. “The site managers gave us a warm welcome at every site. When we walked onto a site, they often knew straight away why we were there.” Minoe adds: “It felt as though we were part of the team. That made the project not only more enjoyable, but also much more educational. I really felt as though I was on a mini-work placement.”

Supervisor Renske looks back with pride on their time at Friso Bouwgroep. “They picked everything up quickly and were open to everything. One week they were on a building site in Harlingen and the next week in Burgum,” she says. “It’s special to see how they became part of our team. I mostly let them get on with it and only steered them in the right direction where necessary. They’ve done a fantastic job.”

A successful partnership

Renske emphasises that this project is a fine example of how education and the business world can come together. “The students bring a fresh perspective and new knowledge from their studies, whilst we show them in practice how things really work in the construction sector.” Over the course of the project, the students have built up a good rapport with Renske and her colleagues. “It was special that a client invested so much time and energy in us,” says Minoe.

The group project was awarded a grade 8. Following their experience at Friso Bouwgroep, Janneke, Minoe and Ilias are continuing their final-year placements in Friesland. All three have found an internship that suits their interests. Minoe found her final-year internship via WRK.frl/ and will be working at Van Vuuren in Grou. Here she will have the opportunity to further deepen her business management knowledge. Ilias has opted for a dynamic, sporting environment and is working on his final-year project at Sportcentrum Ursus. Janneke will further develop her affinity with the construction sector during her graduation placement at Bouwzorg Fryslân.

Fancy joining Friso Bouwgroep?

We are the committed builder: reliable, skilled and steadfast. Since 1946, we have been working together to create a sustainable living environment. We are a versatile builder and literally cover every aspect of the construction industry. We build homes, offices and bridges, as well as factories and schools. We maintain and refurbish, and we restore and renovate. Our skilled staff work with passion every day on a wide range of construction projects. We can build anything. We want to continue doing this together – so let’s keep building!

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