Social enterprise at NS
NS is at the heart of society. Millions of people travel by train every day, and our services are for everyone. That is why we believe it is important for our organisation to reflect the diversity of the Netherlands. We invest in diversity, inclusion, accessibility and wellbeing—for both our travellers and our employees.
Social enterprise means the following for NS:
- Building an inclusive organisation that offers opportunities to everyone;
- Collaborating with partners and suppliers to increase social impact;
- Making travel accessible and safe for travellers with reduced mobility;
- Promoting health and activity, including through walking and running;
- Developing talent, for example through practical training and work experience placements.
An employer for everyone
At NS, people from diverse backgrounds and talents work together. This mix makes us strong. We aim for teams that reflect society and ensure everyone feels welcome.
We offer opportunities to people with barriers to the labour market, including Wajong beneficiaries, SW employees and colleagues with disabilities. We also want to increase the number of colleagues from non-Western backgrounds, especially in leadership roles. To achieve this, we collaborate with Agora, a national network promoting cultural diversity.
In addition, we support highly educated refugees through Stichting UAF. Paid work experience placements enable them to gain experience and progress to permanent jobs at NS or elsewhere.
Developing and training talent
Learning is part of working. Colleagues can develop through the NS Learning Centre, our online learning portal, or by gaining practical experience in other departments. We also invest in trainee programmes and leadership courses.
Together with ROC van Twente, the TechniekFabriek trains mechanics to MBO level 2. Students learn mainly through hands-on experience, receive guidance and start earning a salary from their second year. Graduates are guaranteed a job at NS and can progress to higher levels afterwards.
Travel accessible for everyone
We strive to make travel as inclusive as possible for travellers with reduced mobility. Where needed, we provide assistance at stations and on the train. We also ask our suppliers to share this vision, ensuring accessibility throughout the entire travel chain.
NS supports physical activity
Travelling by train almost always means extra physical activity: cycling to the station, walking on the platform, and strolling to your final destination. This quickly adds up to around thirty minutes of activity a day.
As supporters of physical activity, we actively promote walking and running. We participate in major sporting events such as the Rotterdam Marathon, Nijmegen Four Days Marches and Dam tot Damloop. Each year, we organise a calendar of events within two kilometres of a station in partnership with Atletiekunie and KWBN.
In addition, we offer over 650 NS walking routes (in Dutch), often from station to station. From nature walks to family and themed routes, the train takes you everywhere.
