Social Return

Focusing on Social Return increases the opportunities for people who find it difficult to secure employment. They are willing and able to work but may, for example, have been unemployed for some time and receiving benefits, or have a disability. By offering them work, you provide not only financial independence but also recognition and the opportunity for personal development.

Implementing Social Return with our suppliers is tailored and depends on the nature of the assignment. This can, for example, involve employing people from the target group or offering internships or work-based learning programmes. It may also include purchasing from a social enterprise or utilising our own knowledge and resources to help the target group find employment.

Further information (only available in Dutch) on how to implement Social Return can be found in this flyer

With the suppliers with whom we enter into a Social Return obligation, we take the following steps:

1. Within 15 working days after contract award, the supplier requests a consultation via socialsocialreturn@ns.nl to discuss suitable options for fulfilling the Social Return obligation. The Social Return Action Plan should be used for this purpose. Within one month of this meeting, the supplier submits the completed Action Plan to socialreturn@ns.nl.
2. Subsequently, monitoring in WIZZR is initiated. The supplier receives a login code and registers candidates, hires from social enterprises, and/or records activities. Regular consultations are held regarding this. Instructions on how to use WIZZR can be found here (only available in Dutch).

Together with our suppliers, we are committed to ensuring that everyone who is able to work has access to employment.