“The social themes in my work affect me”

Renée finds assignments via Babbage in which her social heart and communication strength come together. In Spot On… we would like to introduce our colleagues to you. This time in the spotlight: Renée Schut-Verkuijlen, a self-employed person who works for clients via Babbage.

Renée has been working as an independent communications professional for years. She did two interesting assignments via Babbage, in which she can fully express her social heart. “What do I like about Babbage? The colleagues are involved, offer valuable workshops and really think along with you,” she says. “I first got to know Babbage via a workshop on personal branding. I found it inspiring to work on communications in that way. When I started looking for a new assignment, I always kept following Babbage. They have a nice range of self-employed assignments.”

After her studies in Communication, Renée started working at the university where she studied. There she worked as a communications advisor and spokesperson. “I then chose a PR and communications agency where I worked for all kinds of clients – from a TBS institution to a hospital,” she continues. “I then continued my career in the public sector, including at a vocational education institution, the municipality of Utrecht, the Social and Cultural Planning Office and the Council for Public Health and Society.”

Getting started with Babbage

Via Babbage, Renée started as a self-employed person at the Youth Authority in early 2023. “I have a special interest in youth care. This assignment was a great opportunity to get to know that complex field better. As a communications advisor and spokesperson, I worked on the visibility of the organization. When I started, I didn't know the Youth Authority itself. But I saw that as an opportunity: how do we ensure that this club is seen and found more? I started working on that question.”

Renée set up a new corporate identity, supervised the communication of a merger and brought the organization national news with her own media network. “I also got a lot of energy from the collaboration with the researchers and the director, with whom I prepared all media appearances. The highlight was the publication of the report The State of Youth Care 2024, which was picked up by many national media. A personal highlight: I presented two webinars for the first time. Exciting, but so much fun to do. It has now become part of my comfort zone.” In her second assignment via Babbage, Renée works a few hours a week at the State Commission against Discrimination and Racism.

Babbage as a fine partner

Babbage is happy to contribute to Renée's success and job satisfaction. According to her, Babbage has an eye for developments in the field of communications and actively responds to them. "That was also the reason for me to work through Babbage. In the collaboration, I notice how accessible and flexible the colleagues are. After my first two-year assignment at the Youth Authority, I felt it was time for a new step and I thought: someone needs to come here who can build on what is already there. Then I suggested an independent and experienced communications professional from my network. Babbage was open to that. In the meantime, that person has taken over my role and I have been able to carefully transfer my work. This experience says a lot about how Babbage works: committed, quick to respond and with confidence in the network. That makes Babbage a great party to work with."

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