To reduce technical debt, we have to start by investing in our employees.
Freek Matheij
Global Citizen Development Director
The solution
Tech skills, democratized
In order to comprehensively understand the true state of tech skills within Arcadis, the team led by Freek Matheij launched its Citizen Development program, a three-month program made accessible to tech-savvy Arcadians not yet certified in key technologies.The program has a simple and powerful mission: to democratize technology and increase the agency of all Arcadians.
To power the Citizen Development program, Arcadis leveraged the Pluralsight Skills platform. With its breadth of expert-led content, hands-on learning, and tailored Skill IQ and Role IQ assessments, Skills was a natural fit for Arcadis’s mission. Executives at the company saw the analytics and quickly bought into Citizen Development. In fact, they liked it so much that the conversation became a question not of cost, but of how many people could complete the program.
By enabling Arcadians with technology skills, the company became better equipped to address real-world challenges and freed up resources for strategic initiatives and the larger needs of the business.
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Digital fluency
Pluralsight Skills has driven a 40% increase in tech proficiency and empowered Arcadians to transition into more technical roles.
Better security
Thanks to Pluralsight Skills, Arcadis has seen fewer security vulnerabilities, fewer tickets, and more time for innovation.
Better skill measurement
Pluralsight’s Skill IQ and Role IQ assessments offer accessible, data-driven reporting on the state of tech skills within Arcadis.
Enhanced focus on sustainability
Upskilling has increased personal productivity, reducing the amount of time spent on repetitive tasks and making it easier for Arcadis to focus on making a positive ecological impact
It’s not about cost anymore. It’s about how many people we can get through the program.
Melissa Planas Risi
Citizen Development Consultant
The next steps
Expanding people-first learning opportunities
As Arcadis Global Technology Officer, Bram Mommers, puts it, “Upskilling our staff, investing in our staff, and training are super important to make sure we get to where we want to be. In the end, it’s all about our people.”
The Citizen Development program is only the beginning. In the future, Arcadis hopes to expand it into an “expedition program,” with over 2,000 Arcadian Citizen Developers involved.
This year and beyond, company leadership will remain focused on envisioning new ways to equip Arcadians with digital capabilities and put them in a better position for career advancement.
I have used different learning platforms, but Pluralsight is by far the best one. It has awakened a hunger to keep learning even more.
Charlie Torres
Citizen Development participant