A partner that understands the dynamics of municipalities, provinces and water boards
Municipalities, provinces and water boards face major social challenges: housing construction, energy transition, digitalisation and social inclusion. At the same time, they are struggling with labour market shortages, decentralisation of policy tasks and increasing accountability pressure. In this playing field, HeadFirst supports local governments with strategic hiring management. Compliant, transparent and future-oriented.
Facts & Trends
The challenges within devolved government
The public hiring market is under pressure. Since 2024, the number of assignments as well as providers has been decreasing. Ageing is visible - 60% of professionals are over 45 - while the willingness to hire remains low. At the same time, rates are rising, but often remain below market levels. Therefore, there is a growing need for a more structured, sustainable and cost-efficient approach to external hiring.
Our approach: strategic and socially responsible
HeadFirst combines local visibility with national clout. With a network of more than 50,000 professionals - from policy advisers to data specialists - we ensure your organisation has the right expertise quickly and responsibly. Our approach rests on five pillars:
- Professional hiring management: transparent, compliant and tailored to your processes
- Realtime grip op prestaties via ons platform Striive
- Legally strong procurement assistance, also for complex framework contracts
- Supplier management with social impact: inclusive, sustainable and local
- Data-driven insights that underpin accountability to college or council
Why do decentralised authorities choose HeadFirst?
We are more than a supplier, we are a knowledge partner who thinks along with your organisation. Decentralised governments choose us because of:
- Experience with dozens of municipalities, provinces and water boards
- Sector-focused teams with in-depth knowledge of the public sector
- Full compliance: AVG-proof, audit-ready and legally underpinned
- Flexibility in technology: deployment of multiple VMS platforms
- Local visibility combined with national coverage
