ManualMaster and CSR

A crucial part of delivering high-quality products and services is taking responsibility. Responsibility for the well-being of everyone involved with ManualMaster, for our role in society, and for our place on this planet. We strive to operate in a socially responsible manner and are happy to explain the steps we are taking to achieve this. That way, you know exactly what you can expect from us.

Sustainable Business Practices

How and where can we influence a more sustainable and careful use of resources, nature, and people? How sustainable is our organisation, and how can we continue to improve ourselves in this area? We have succeeded in ensuring that our consultants only need to travel for half of their assignments. Personal contact, knowing who you are working with and where someone works, is of great importance to us. However, once that initial introduction has taken place, remote collaboration can be an excellent solution. Our target was an even 50/50 split between online and on-site work, and we are almost there. During our most recent measurement in 2026, 49% of our consultations took place online and 51% on-site. A result that we are pleased with. Over the coming years, this balance may shift further towards online collaboration, provided that we continue to visit our clients and partners in person. Maintaining personal contact is essential to us, as it forms the basis of a sustainable and long-lasting working relationship.

Thanks to your cooperation in conducting consultations online, the vehicles driven by ManualMaster consultants have emitted approximately 20,000 kilograms less CO₂ over the past few years. That is equivalent to the amount of CO₂ absorbed by around 800 trees. That’s almost a forest 🙂

Electric Driving

In addition, we encourage our colleagues who regularly travel for work to lease an electric vehicle. We do this by removing barriers, such as arranging the installation of a charging point at home. More than half of our vehicle fleet is now electric, and that percentage is expected to grow to 100% within the next two to three years.

Diversity and Connection Within and Beyond the Workplace

De Bank van Noppes

Fred Vahlkamp, co-founder of ManualMaster, is, alongside his work for ManualMaster, the initiator of De Bank van Noppes. This inspiring location in the heart of Gorinchem is a social initiative focused on bringing people together for work, meetings, cooking, living, and meaningful connections. All of this is guided by the motto “Space for Each Other”.

For some, De Bank van Noppes is a home. For others, it is a place where they can catch up and discuss matters concerning themselves, their company, association, or organisation. The various workspaces and meeting rooms, together with the beautiful city garden and fully equipped kitchen, create an oasis of inspiration and tranquillity in the lively city of Gorinchem, with its welcoming terraces, restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues situated within the most beautiful fortified city walls in the Netherlands. If you would like a brief introduction to the unique residential care concept created within the bank before your meeting, training session, or team outing in Gorinchem, please feel free to ask.

Would you like to make use of the facilities at the bank? You are more than welcome to do so. Please contact De Bank van Noppes for further information. Many individuals, organisations, and businesses have already done so.

De Bank van Noppes

Natuurcentrum Gorinchem

A wonderful place on the most beautiful and most enjoyable island in Gorinchem. Located at Gijsbert van Andelpark 1, this beautiful site features a petting zoo, educational centre, café, and play facilities for children. This foundation is also closely connected to us and is supported not only financially but also organisationally. Several of our colleagues are actively involved with the Nature Centre. Throughout the year, a wide variety of organisations host events here. In addition, there are social initiatives such as the weekly seniors’ lunch and the fortnightly community meal. A chance to enjoy a meal together, meet others, and do so at very low cost.

De Vitamine Kantine

Located in the centre of Gorinchem at Langendijk 1 is a small hospitality venue affiliated with us: De Vitamine Kantine. Healthy sandwiches, salads, smoothies, and excellent coffee and tea are at the heart of what we offer. You can work at the window-side bar or simply grab something to go. Healthy nutrition is the central theme, but it is also a place for personal development. A place for those who need support in carrying out their work or for those whose circumstances temporarily require a different kind of working environment. As a ManualMaster customer, you are always warmly welcome in the most beautiful fortified city in the Netherlands, and we would be delighted to let you sample something from our menu.

Ruimte voor Elkaar

This organisation provides guidance and support to people with additional care needs. We discover what those needs look like through working closely with each individual. This allows us to identify their ambitions and determine the environment that suits them best. That place may be at De Bank van Noppes, De Vitamine Kantine, or the Nature Centre site. People who have a WLZ (Long-Term Care Act) or WMO (Social Support Act) indication, for example, can come to us for what is commonly referred to as day care activities. To us, they are simply colleagues. These colleagues work alongside our staff, volunteers, and people participating in reintegration programmes. If you are looking for a place where you can grow and contribute, please contact us at info@ruimtevoorelkaar.nl.

Natuurcentrum Gorinchem

Knowledge Sharing

Developments around the world are moving at a rapid pace. We believe it is important to stay connected with our customers and business relations regarding these developments. One of the ways we do this is by organising knowledge-sharing events such as our Quality Pop-Ups and our annual Congress in November. Through these events, we aim to create meeting places for quality professionals from a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, food production, industry, chemistry, laboratories, and government. During these events, knowledge and experience are shared not only by experts with attendees, but also among participants themselves. This exchange of ideas fosters innovation and creates new connections between professionals from different organisations who pursue similar goals, for example in the field of sustainability. The topics discussed at these events extend far beyond quality management alone. Care for people, society, and the planet plays a central role.

Quality Pop-Up

Developments around the world are moving at a rapid pace. We believe it is important to stay connected with our customers and business relations regarding these developments. One of the ways we do this is by organising knowledge-sharing events such as our Quality Pop-Ups, conferences, and Co-Labs.

The ManualMaster Team

If everyone thinks alike and looks in the same direction, it becomes easy to miss what is happening around you. Our team is highly diverse. Why is that? Because we do not actively manage for diversity; instead, we value everyone for who they are. Whether you are a man, a woman, or something else, young, somewhere in the middle, or simply a little more experienced, whether you believe in God or in nothing at all, whether you are a refugee, have a light or dark skin tone, or identify in your own unique way, none of that matters to us. It probably helps if your favourite football club starts with a capital A (for Ajax ;), but that’s only natural.

Apart from that, we pay no attention to such personal characteristics, and diversity seems to arise quite naturally. We are proud to contribute to preparing the next generation for the labour market and offer positions for one or more interns during almost every semester. ManualMaster is a recognised training company for various vocational education programmes (MBO).

Ambition

After such an extensive list, you might almost lose sight of the forest for the trees. Still, we have one more ambition, inspired by the previously mentioned interns, Eline and Gitte. We have a plan. However, it will require quite a bit from us and from our immediate surroundings. So first, we will continue our research and explore the possibilities. Once we are ready, we will be happy to share more, because we are already proud of it before we have even done anything.

What Goals Have You Achieved, or What Ambitious Plans do You Have?

If you would like to share your story, we would greatly appreciate it. We publish submissions beneath this article, and if you are happy for us to do so and the content is suitable, we may even feature it in one of our newsletters. We look forward to hearing from you!

Team Spirit