UTRECHT, 15 May 2009 – On Friday, 15 May 2009, Geert van der Linde, Head of the Quality, Health & Safety and the Environment department at Strukton Civiel was named Business Improvement Manager 2009. Mr Ed Nijpels announced the winner at the ‘Talent Deserves Attention and Stimulation’ symposium.
In awarding the prize, the Dutch Quality Management Network (Nederlands Netwerk Kwaliteitsmanagement – NNK) emphasised the crucial role of innovation, especially under the current economic circumstances. The winner of the Business Improvement Manager award completed a groundbreaking, innovative project with a clearly positive and qualitative impact on the organisation.

Mr Ed Nijpels handed over the prize on behalf of NNK and KIWA. The Business Improvement Manager prize was awarded this year for the first time. According to the panel of judges, Geert van der Linde possesses all the qualities of a Business Improvement Manager. The judges were especially impressed with how he succeeds in transforming the business mission into innovations and the strong sense of unity he creates within the organisation.

Strukton Civiel also underscored that innovation plays a crucial role. Over the past two years, the trend towards establishing bigger, integrated long-term contracts – often in new contracting and tendering combinations – has become clearly visible in our primary market. Such developments are setting the tone for the future, presenting enormous opportunities. But we’re not about to sit around waiting.

Geert van der Linde plays a key progressive role in this respect, within our organisation and the sector as a whole. In a relatively short space of time, his team has already achieved a great deal. Take the ‘Zero Accidents’ human-interest campaign and establishing associated policy guidelines, for example.

In order to offer customisation, sound prioritisation and ongoing improvements for Strukton Civiel and its business units, and in addition to following the subcontractors’ checklist for safety, health and the environment (VCA), we keep a close eye on developments affecting the international OHSAS 18001 standard and make sure that our business processes remain compliant. Strukton also awards top priority to environmental care. The environmental management system will expand further and be brought in line with the NEN ISO 9001 and NEN ISO 14001 standards.
Geert also contributed actively towards establishing a sector-wide initiative under the banner of ‘Bewuste Bouwers’ (building with awareness).

NNK
NNK is the knowledge network for quality management. In the field of quality, NNK serves as the most important knowledge platform for the business community, government and non-profit sector. www.nnk.nl.

KIWA
KIWA is an international knowledge institute for the certification of people, products, processes and management systems. Visit www.kiwa.nl.