HeadFirst Group begins partnership with Schiphol on next phase of talent strategy

A partner for more than workforce solutions

For an organisation that connects the Netherlands with the world every day, access to specialist expertise is of strategic importance. At the same time, the availability of professionals such as IT specialists, data specialists, project managers and cybersecurity experts is under increasing pressure in today’s labour market. By selecting HeadFirst Group, Schiphol has chosen a partner that brings together sourcing, supplier management, labour market intelligence and workforce planning consultancy. This provides greater control over current workforce capacity while offering visibility into the expertise that will be required in the future.

Rutger Treffers, Director Sales at HeadFirst Group Netherlands, commented: "Schiphol is one of the most dynamic and socially significant organisations in the Netherlands. This partnership is about far more than filling vacancies; it is about creating insight and enabling informed decision-making in an increasingly complex labour market. We look forward to building a future-ready talent strategy together, where data, technology and human insight come together."

Talent as a strategic challenge

The availability of talent is increasingly determining how quickly organisations can realise their ambitions. For this reason, Schiphol is looking beyond the traditional distinction between permanent and flexible workforces. At the heart of the partnership is an integrated Total Talent Acquisition approach. By combining operational data with labour market intelligence, sourcing insights and supplier performance data, Schiphol will gain a clearer view of available talent pools, anticipated skills shortages and future workforce requirements. This enables more informed decisions about the most appropriate resourcing strategy for each business need.

In addition, Schiphol and HeadFirst Group will work together to further strengthen Schiphol’s position as a client of choice for scarce and highly sought-after talent. The focus will be on professionals whose expertise is essential to the airport’s continued development. Through targeted recruitment marketing, talent pool management and a strong candidate experience, the partners aim to establish a distinctive position in the flexible labour market. Feedback and experiences from candidates, hiring managers and suppliers will be systematically used to further enhance processes and service delivery.

From insight to action

For Schiphol, the challenge is not simply about filling workforce gaps, but about ensuring that the right expertise is available at the right time for projects that are critical to the airport’s future development. As a result, labour market intelligence will play a central role within the partnership. Insights into talent scarcity, availability, market rates and supplier performance will support better-informed decision-making and enable earlier anticipation of future workforce capacity and expertise requirements.

Natasja Freijer, Head of Talent Acquisition at Royal Schiphol Group, said: "Schiphol is a unique place to work. Behind every seamless travel experience lies work that you simply cannot do anywhere else. Our distinctive challenges require people with the right expertise, experience and knowledge. We look forward to working with HeadFirst Group to attract talent that will contribute to our goals and ambitions."