Event Skills The Finals - March 2023
Skills The Finals, the annual NK for professions, took place in RAI Amsterdam at the end of March 2023. It was the conclusion of an annual program by World Skills Netherlands, in which vmbo graduates (Skills Talents) compete against each other, as do mbo graduates (Skills Heroes). Through preliminary rounds at school and regional qualifying competitions, it is determined which pupils and students qualify for the national skills finals and will compete for the prestigious title of Dutch Champion in their field.
Over 20,000 visitors can watch the trade finals live and participate in the unique LOB Experience. With over 100 do-activities, discover what you like and gain important experiences for your future study choice. This makes Skills The Finals the largest vocational event in the Netherlands."
Let's introduce: Claudia Hoogmoed
Claudia has her own event agency in which she 'hires' herself out. Besides this major event of WorldSkills Netherlands, she organizes all kinds of activities such as company parties, openings and has organized Leidens Ontzet for 10 years. An experienced specialist and that results in a very pleasant cooperation every time. Claudia has been associated with the WorldSkills Netherlands event for many years. First as project manager from the stand construction company, where she also worked with Alvero. And since the 2022 edition as freelance buyer at WorldSkills Netherlands. This position starts in September and continues until a month after the event.
Claudia Hoogmoed"I have never been told at Alvero that something wasn't there or that it was "out."
11 trucks of office furniture
At least 55 competition arenas (10 x vmbo and 45 x mbo), 45 LOB stands and 10 sponsor stands, Claudia has to provide all kinds of furniture. Each participant in the event has his or her own booth work space, with furniture. As a result, Claudia starts taking stock of the wishes and requirements as early as September. From this she compiles a list (within the available budget) from which to choose.
Finally, one order per booth. In total this involves almost 300 office chairs, 260 desk tables and 108 lockers. Supplemented by various individual cabinets, work stools, whiteboards, roller door cabinets and a number of room dividers. There are also booths of sponsors and LOB (Career Orientation and Guidance) partners with activities, which need wastebaskets and lockable low cabinets. New is the Media Square with 12 desk setups with chairs and lockers. Claudia also arranges items such as office supplies and accessories for the games.
The Sunday before the event, Alvero starts setting up the production area. The rest Alvero delivers on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday follows the stress test and an assessment of whether everything is working as desired. Then Friday morning we will start the dismantling of the Talent Hall (vmbo) and Friday evening we will start the dismantling of the other halls. Alvero spent Friday evening with 4 men collecting that furniture and placing it at the exit. Then Saturday the rest of the furniture was collected and everything was loaded at once. "11 full Alvero trucks came to bring the furniture and the same number came to pick it up again," said Claudia.
Another challenge: staying within budget. Attendees are active at the event for two full days, mostly seated. So it is important to provide them with high-quality ergonomic furniture. "That was different in the past, when they sat at simple folding tables. Every year it's a challenge to offer a nice mix of different furniture within budget," Claudia said. "We have to make do with that, but together with Alvero we always come up with it. The huge stock at Alvero keeps us flexible, and if we then have to make a concession, we always find a good alternative."
Large inventory and a flexible attitude
With an event as big as Skills The Finals, you also have to spread the risk. Only you have to be able to do that. There are not so many suppliers who can handle this size and are able to deliver and set up everything at the agreed place, time and with the right furniture, and also pick it up again in its entirety. When you realize that each customer is one order and has its own layout of its booth. Everything is put into place. Claudia works on site with Gert-Jan, driver and project manager at Alvero. Together they do every delivery, according to drawings. Although the latter sometimes deviates. "Sometimes it turns out on location that things don't quite fit or they want a few things done differently. For Alvero this turns out to be no problem. That gives me a lot of peace of mind."
Adjust until it works
"During the dismantling on Saturday, there were as many as fifteen people from Alvero helping out, complete with gloves, helmet, safety shoes. Including a number of people from the office, such as Sandra, my regular contact person, as well as Joost, Mark and Robin from the planning department. I have spoken to them regularly by phone and through Teams, but had never seen them in real life. So nice! You feel that the whole company is involved."
Products deployed at WorldSkills
"We recently had the evaluation of this huge event with Alvero and that was the shortest I've ever experienced. So that's very positive! A few minor points from both sides, but mostly we're happy with each other and how it goes every year."
To know at any time what the (im)possibilities are
"They are all open, friendly, clear, keep their appointments and respond superfast to questions. For example, after every consultation, an offer lands in the mailbox within a day. We know at every moment what we want together and what the (im)possibilities are."
"That all sounds very logical, but in the preliminary process there are quite a lot of changes or going back to what it was before. Never heard or felt an unkind word. Not even while setting up the spaces on site."
Furniture that grows with the event
"We once started with fairly bare booth spaces with bucket chairs and folding tables. If you look now, the spaces feature more luxurious office furniture, and are dressed up with plants and carpet on the floor. We also see more and more the use of cameras. Although the latter is expensive and doesn't always fit into the competition budget."
"Fortunately, there are more and more sponsors who help in specific areas. In the future, we will continue to grow in experience and appearance. For example, the King visited, influencer Marije Zuurveld was one of the presenters and both education ministers were also present."
"Moreover, almost all major TV stations were present to report. The decor and furniture will have to grow with that as well."
Alvero thinks sustainably
"Sustainability is an increasingly important component and we are increasingly trying to implement it wherever possible. For example, there are hardly any printers anywhere anymore. Everyone has a USB stick with the attachments needed for the competition and they can view them on a laptop. So there is only printing now when it is really necessary for the competition. We have set up one central printing room for that."
"And last year we had the UBU chair through Alvero, because there's a good sustainable story behind it. That appeals and also looks very nice. For everything, it has to stay within budget. Alvero thinks along with us in this."
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