Innovating together: “From smart tools to safer workplaces.”

For Pieter, working as a Data Scientist feels like solving one big puzzle. “I basically build calculators that help colleagues do their jobs more easily,” he says. “Whether that’s helping the malt house keep track of inventory, giving marketing insights for smarter pricing, or letting planning know when we’ll need temp workers.”

But for Pieter, innovate together is as much about culture as it is about technology. “Here, working with data isn’t just a buzzword.” He feels that what he does is truly valued. “Royal Swinkels keeps investing, not just in systems, but in people too. A new colleague joined recently, which gave me more time to focus on developing solutions. And as my work becomes more visible, I’m getting more questions from different teams. They don’t need to know all the technical details. They just trust we’ll figure things out together.”

Even outside of work, Pieter sees how collaboration and innovation go hand in hand. “There are padel nights, Friday drinks, pub quizzes. You meet colleagues from totally different parts of the company. And besides being fun, those chats sometimes spark new work ideas too. Innovation starts with connection, and that happens often outside the meeting room.”

Sofie, who works as a Safety Engineer, also sees how tightly innovation and teamwork are linked. “I focus on making the workplace safer. From how we store hazardous materials to giving safety briefings and creating policies. But most of all, it’s about making sure people can do their work safely.”

She’s closely involved in planning new production lines and machines. “It’s not just about the technical side, it’s also about how we work. How can we keep things safe and efficient? We think about that early on. People often reach out to me now. They know I want to help, and I really do.

For Sofie, innovation starts with working together. “Sharing knowledge and helping each other is how you move forward. When everyone’s heading in the same direction, real progress happens.” There’s also plenty of room to grow. “I’m taking courses and looking into how we can make instructions more fun and easier to follow. That’s innovation too.”

What speaks to her most is the mutual trust at Royal Swinkels. “People really listen to you here; whether it’s about an idea, a concern, or your own development.” She notices that colleagues are committed and genuinely care. “People stay here for years. They believe in the company. And when something needs attention, it doesn’t just get brushed aside. You don’t see that everywhere.”