Eindje Bouwen | Importance of networking and collaboration in project development
At Studenteninitiatief Eindje Bouwen, our team works with partners to develop creative solutions for affordable and community-oriented student housing in vacant buildings in Eindhoven.
In this blog series, we show how our own experiences as students – in the midst of the housing crisis – drive us to seek solutions and apply them in practice. As a young foundation, we still have a lot to learn, which is why we constantly seek new insights from experts. Each blog focuses on a topic that concerns us, together with a partner who helps us on our way.
In this blog, we talk to Reinier van Abbe, co-owner of project developer PM+ Van Abbe, about the importance of networking and collaboration in project development and the complexity that comes with it.
Our first impression
After the concept for Eindje Bouwen had been developed in previous years, September 2024 marked the official launch of the foundation. The current Eindje Bouwen team consists of students of Architecture at TU/e and Real Estate at Fontys. As students, we naturally have limited practical experience, but we see Eindje Bouwen more as an opportunity to gain that experience and get to know the sector better; for us, Eindje Bouwen is our first real introduction to the world of project development. In the first few months, it became clear that cooperation and a strong network are central to the construction world. This is particularly relevant for a start-up organisation, because practical knowledge is often gained through personal contacts. In addition, this foundation is starting from virtually nothing, which means that gaining practical experience, building a network and shaping a functioning organisation all come together at the same time.
The start of our network
When we started, our network was modest. Fortunately, TU/e and the municipality in particular supported us from the very beginning. With their contacts and tips, the ball started rolling. However, brand awareness alone is not enough: you also have to be taken seriously. It's not a matter of telling your story well once — it's about reliability, something we still have to build as a young organisation. This is where our network proves its value once again: close ties with educational institutions and the municipality show that we are not just trying something out, but are actually working towards major goals with well-thought-out ideas. And even then, you're not there yet. Having a good idea is just one of many steps; you also have to deal with regulations, pressure from partners and, of course, the question of where the money will come from.
The final steps are still in the future, but in recent months we have made significant progress in our network. As a non-profit organisation, we have noticed that many organisations are willing to help us; a kind of goodwill. A good example of this was the invitation to pitch at the Bouwsociëteit, a networking club where professionals from the construction sector meet. As a special exception, we were allowed to present our vision to a large audience there. Not long after that, we celebrated our official launch during the launch event, while enjoying a drink. Our colleagues from SHS Delft and the national director of student housing, Ardin Mourik, also spoke at the event. It was not only enjoyable, but also very useful to be able to reach both our business relations and students directly in one go. Despite these major steps, we still have a long way to go. A network is never “finished”; we must continue to seek out new contacts, each with their own insights. Because that is how we will get closer, step by step, to our ultimate goal of finding a suitable property to transform into future student rooms.
Every three months, we share our challenges and experiences from the past period with our readers and interview a professional about their views on these experiences. In this blog, we discuss the theme of “Networking in construction” with project developer Reinier van Abbe from PM + Van Abbe.
The goodwill factor in construction
While we at Eindje Bouwen are still in the process of establishing new contacts, Reinier van Abbe of PM+ Van Abbe has built up a network over the past decades that is deeply rooted in the Eindhoven community. ‘We know the neighbours on both sides, the scouting club – we have connections everywhere,’ he says about the student housing project on Strijpsestraat. These local roots not only open doors, but also give him a clear picture of what is going on in neighbourhoods and what residents and administrators consider important.
According to Reinier, the value of a network lies in trust and long-term relationships. He calls it “the goodwill factor”: projects only get off the ground when people believe that you do what you say you will do. You build that trust slowly, project after project, by keeping your promises.
“Technically, little changes, but the sentiment, the feeling, is slowly changing.”
After successful projects, the council knows that he keeps his promises, which makes the next process run more smoothly.
With the same line of thinking, Reinier thinks a lot about ways in which he can use Pm + van Abbe to support the development of student housing in a socially responsible manner. He believes that open collaboration between the municipality of Eindhoven, the national government, developers and investors will enable large-scale projects to be realised that individual parties would not be able to tackle on their own. Collaborations of this kind can only succeed if the parties involved are willing to share their networks and trust each other. Over the past year, we have discussed these issues at length with Reinier. It gave us the opportunity to learn how experience and reliability make a difference in building such collaborations. For Eindje Bouwen, it is not only an inspiring example, but also a mirror: it shows where we, as a young foundation, still have steps to take and how valuable it is to invest in relationships and trust from the outset.
The role of experience
For us as a young foundation, this still presents a challenge. We can now participate in discussions and pitch our plans, but without any completed housing projects, we still have to prove ourselves as a reliable partner. Reinier recognises this process: ‘Having a good idea is just one of many steps; you also have to deal with regulations, pressure from partners and, of course, the question of where the money will come from.’ Experience teaches you how to overcome these obstacles, which in turn increases confidence in new collaborations.
At the same time, he emphasises that networking is not a non-committal hobby. According to him, focus is indispensable: ‘The more energy you put into something, the more networking opportunities and ideas you get out of it. I believe in focus – half-hearted efforts are not an option in my profession.’ In his view, Eindhoven needs more people who tackle social problems with the same drive. Only then can development take place on a larger scale and projects not get stuck in good intentions.
For us, this makes it clear that a network is more than just a collection of contacts. It is a system of trust, local knowledge, practical experience and shared ambition. Or, as Reinier puts it:
‘Without all that chatting and drinking cups of coffee... there simply won't be any projects.’
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Each blog focuses on a topic that concerns us, together with a partner who helps us on our way.