FAQ for customers

Bureau Baarda joins BexerHamstra (part of Highberg)

Why is Bureau Baarda joining BexerHamstra (part of Highberg)?

Since 1992, Rolf Baarda, as the founder of Bureau Baarda, has been helping clients with transparent and fair remuneration. Always with Model Baarda at the heart of it all. Rolf’s wish was, and remains, to safeguard the continuity of the company, its philosophy and the services it provides to clients. Not because it is now a necessity, but precisely because it is the right fit at this time. For this reason, Rolf has recently held discussions with various parties to explore whether a potential merger would bring added value. And that perfect match has been found in BexerHamstra!

During the discussions, it was important that there was a shared culture and DNA: short lines of communication, a pragmatic approach, a personal touch and a focus on quality. We found this at BexerHamstra and Highberg. Both are enterprising and growing organisations that are keen to move forward. By joining forces with BexerHamstra, we can now offer our clients a wider range of solutions, both in depth and breadth.

Who is Highberg?

Highberg is a group of leading boutique consultancy firms and is owned by Auctus (Private Equity) on the one hand, and by its own active partners on the other. In our view, Highberg thus combines the best of both worlds: the investment strength of a private equity firm with the entrepreneurial spirit of a ‘partner-owned’ organisation. Highberg comprises – including BexerHamstra – eight consultancy firms, each with its own expertise in organisational, digital and sustainability transformations.  The group employs a total of over 400 colleagues across four countries: the Netherlands, Germany, France and India, with the main focus on the Netherlands.

What services does BexerHamstra offer?

The group comprises BlinkLane Consulting, House of Performance, Verdonck Klooster & Associates (VKA), plus the smaller firms Gladwell Academy, AgilityMasters, Schikler and AnalitiQs. And now BexerHamstra too. Together with AnalitiQs and House of Performance, we form part of our own ‘hub’.

What is the (joint) ambition of BexerHamstra (part of Highberg) and Bureau Baarda?

Baarda delivers results! By helping both employees and organisations to improve a little every day. We do this by assisting with organisational design, recognising and rewarding employees, and helping to set up performance development programmes. We see overlap between all these aspects and BexerHamstra’s ambition. They, too, have been helping organisations with the same issues for years. However, until now, they have done so using different models. Highberg aims to become Europe’s leading transformation consultancy in the fields of sustainability, organisational transformation and digital transformation – from strategy and design through to implementation, training and coaching. Highberg is also a B Corp organisation. B Corp stands for Benefit Corporation. These are companies that are committed to prioritising social and environmental goals – something to which we are keen to contribute.

What does this mean for me as a customer?

Bureau Baarda will remain Bureau Baarda, but as an independent team within BexerHamstra. This means that we can and will continue to offer the same services, but also that we can provide solutions to a wider range of queries. Examples include additional benchmark data or more specialised advice on terms and conditions of employment.

Can I still count on the same service?

Absolutely. The same team you know now will continue to do the work. And we’ll be joined by new colleagues who will also be getting to grips with Model Baarda and will be able to lend a hand.

Will I still be put through to a member of staff from Bureau Baarda or BexerHamstra when I ring?

We will remain contactable in exactly the same way, using the same telephone number and email address.

Does all this mean that Bureau Baarda is ceasing to exist?

No, the organisation will continue to exist with the same staff.

Will tariffs and general terms and conditions be harmonised?

No, our own rates and terms and conditions remain in force.

If I am a client of Bureau Baarda, will my details be shared with BexerHamstra, and vice versa?

No, the data will remain accessible only to Bureau Baarda staff. There will be no change in the relationship between our clients and BexerHamstra.

Will my data still be treated confidentially?

That won’t change. Other organisations do not have access to our data.

Who will be able to access my data in future?

There is no change to who has access to the data. Access remains restricted to staff employed by Bureau Baarda.

Who can I ring if I have any questions about this new partnership?

At BexerHamstra, these are Guyot van Meer, Rogier Kerkhof, Rob Westrek or Lianne Hamstra. They will continue in their roles as the partner team and are available to answer any questions you may have.

At Bureau Baarda, that person is Stef Swinkels. He will remain involved with Bureau Baarda as team lead.