Young Professionals - self-directed learning

While financials might perceive limited growth opportunities in SMEs, these companies often provide significant autonomy and broad learning experiences. However, thriving in this environment requires self-directed learning – the ability to take initiative in developing necessary knowledge and skills. This skill is also vital for their future careers, enabling them to adapt to changes like AI, sustainability, and flexible work models.

The project

How can we effectively foster self-directed learning among entry-level financials (less than 3 years of work experience) within the specific context of SMEs? This is the central question of our project. In collaboration with SMEs and SME-focused staffing agencies, we are developing and researching concrete interventions (tools and strategies) designed specifically for the SME environment.

Approach and goal

1. Development: Compile a toolkit of promising interventions.
2. Testing & Optimization: Implement and evaluate these interventions within real SME settings.
3. Dissemination: Make the tested and refined toolkit widely available to the entire SME sector.

Our goal is to deliver a practical, evidence-based toolkit that empowers SMEs and staffing agencies to effectively guide entry-level financials, enhance their self-directed learning capabilities, and thereby support their long-term employability within the sector.

Expected outcomes

• A proven, effective toolkit with interventions tailored for usability in SMEs.
• Insights into best practices for stimulating self-directed learning in the workplace.
• Enhanced competencies for both the financials and their mentors/supervisors within participating organizations.
• Dissemination of findings through professional and academic publications and presentations.

This project aims to support the professional development of entry-level financials, help SMEs retain valuable talent, and enable staffing agencies to improve their services to the SME market.

Team

• H.A. Berkers

Partners

• Royal Talent (SME and staffing agency for entry-level financials) 
• i4talent groep (SME and staffing agency for entry-level financials) 
• Hofmeier (SME and staffing agency for entry-level financials) 
• HighQ (SME and staffing agency for entry-level financials) 
• Save Plastics (SME with entry-level financials) 
• Zandrecycling Nederland BV (SME with entry-level financials) 
• SuccesDay Group BV (SME with entry-level financials) 
• Dux Data BV (SME with entry-level financials) 
• Get Responsive BV (SME with entry-level financials) 
• Stichting MKB-Amsterdam (industry association) 
• Stichting New Financial Forum (foundation in the expert group) 
• Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (professor of employability in the expert group) 
• Landelijk Overleg Opleidingen Finance & Control (industry organization in the expert group) 
• AC-scholenoverleg (industry organization in the expert group)