Confed has found a new investor in Start Foundation Participaties

Confed has secured a new investor in Start Foundation Participaties. This investment will enable this inclusive enterprise in the international manufacturing sector to grow in the coming years. The number of employees is expected to rise from 350 to more than 400. Confed is PSO step 3 30+ certified and is therefore classified in the highest category of social inclusive companies.

Joske Paumen, director of Start Foundation Participaties, says: “We didn’t have to think twice about it. This investment allows us to clearly demonstrate that we are keen to invest our money in companies that put our principles of a fair labour market into practice.”

Pioneer

Confed has been a pioneer in the field of social enterprise since its foundation in 2005. The company’s former CEO and current ambassador, Peter Hobbelen, says: “We believe in opportunities for everyone. We do this by focusing on the possibilities rather than the impossibilities. By working with people who face barriers towards the labour market, we not only create high-quality products but also valuable prospects for the future. This involvement enables Confed to scale up further. As a result, we will be able to offer even more opportunities for people within the target group in the manufacturing industry in the future.”

Manufacturing company Confed develops and assembles high-tech products and product components to customer specifications for clients from all over the world. Confed’s client portfolio includes many renowned names such as Quooker, Sunshower, VDL-ETG, Swarco, Itho Daalderop and many others. The company operates from three locations. Two of these are based in the Netherlands, namely Amersfoort and Dordrecht. The third branch operate from Komarno in Slovakia.

Start Foundation

Start Foundation is a Dutch equity fund that off which the roots go back to the Start Employment Agency. It has been active since 1998 and invests in companies and initiatives that make the labour market fairer. Since early 2025, the fund has also had its own investment arm. The current fund’s supervisory board includes Annemarie van Gaal, Anneke Westerlaken and Staf Depla. In the past, these included Wim Kok, Femke Halsema, Johan Stekelenburg and Anton Westerlaken.

[1] The PSO step 3 30+ certificate recognises organisations that meet at least the quantitative requirements set out in Article 2.82 of the Public Procurement Act. See www.pso-nederland.nl