The energy transition is an urgent and complex issue, but according to Ruth Klein Witkam, director of Energy at team Human Capital of The Economic Board, there is one indispensable factor: people. "We will soon need 15,000 extra people to realise the energy transition - and that's in our region alone," she says firmly. Ruth works passionately to connect education, government and business to get the right talents in the right places. "Because without people, any vision remains an empty shell" says Ruth.
Ruth Klein-Witkam
Practical approach
Ruth started at The Economic Board about two and a half years ago. Since then, the Human Capital team has grown considerably to take charge of the various complex labour market challenges in Lifeport Regio Arnhem Nijmegen. She works with companies such as Alliander, TenneT, IT companies, SEECE, the HAN and ROC Nijmegen, among others.
"Our region is strong in innovations for grid reinforcement, energy saving and hydrogen research," Ruth says. "But to harness that strength, we need people. IT people, engineers, and also craftsmen who literally lay the cables and build the transformer houses."
Ruth is therefore working with a team on a talent plan for the energy sector, which should be ready this autumn. "The aim is not only to attract people, but also to retain, move them on and upskill them," she says. "So that we can come up with solutions here for the rest of the Netherlands and for the world. "
From planning to doing
What sets Ruth apart is her pragmatic outlook. "I always say: what are we going to do now? Not just make plans, but think about implementation," she says with a smile. "Too often we get stuck in abstractions. But if you don't consider the practical side when planning, you run into that during implementation."
She draws a striking example from practice:
"Someone recently told me about a very practical innovation, when installing heat pumps. Apparently, when suspending them, a nut has to be tightened at the back of the pump. This was quite a fiddle every time, with a spanner and a forearm having to work between wall and pump. This shortcoming was simply solved by making a longer spanner part of the mechanics' equipment, making them up to 10 minutes faster per pump. What was needed for this? An impromptu chat between mechanic and trainer!"
What lesson did she learn from this? "So you always have to talk to the people doing the work" Ruth believes.
The energy sector praxis
One of the projects Ruth is visibly enthusiastic about is the establishment of a practorate in MBO for energy transition. "Everyone knows a professor or lecturer, but a practor does research at MBO level, close to practice," she explains. "We do not yet have a practorate for energy transition here. But after an exploration with quartermasters, we are now really going to set one up. After the summer, we will start setting up the practorate."
Financing starts with cooperation
On funding the programmes within the Energy Talent Plan, Ruth is clear: it is not about "making an application", but organising funding. "There is no central counter where you just collect 10 million," she laughs. "For each project or component, you look at which sources of funding - government, companies, funds - fit the bill. If you involve parties early on and make them believe in the plan, they are more willing to contribute. By drawing up a talent plan together, you can then raise millions together for the whole."
Energy from cooperation and sustainability
What drives Ruth is cooperation from shared motivation, the shared interest. "I'm not doing this for myself, but for the region," she says. "And when you find that your interlocutors feel the same way, it creates a good vibe of: we're going to do it together. I get energy from that."
Apart from directing Energy for team Human Capital, Ruth is also programme manager Smart Sustainability at The Economic Board. She says, "The collaboration in that group always makes me happy too. Together we find new opportunities there, new connections to make the region and the world a bit nicer. And that's where my strength lies. "
Les Petites Perles
Holiday tip
Finally, on a personal note, Ruth's holiday tip for parents with young children is Les Petites Perles. This is a collection of a number of small-scale, child-friendly 'domaines' in south-west France. "Small-scale, well-kept, with sit-down dinners and child-friendly activities - highly recommended!"
