Dura Vermeer embeds innovation throughout the organization with the support of nlmtd

Innovation

Challenge

Dura Vermeer has ambitious plans to embed innovation throughout the entire organization on a structural basis. The challenge was to define a broadly supported vision for innovation and determine how to ensure it takes root across the organization.

Result

In collaboration with nlmtd, an innovation vision was developed and launched through the 2025 Innovation Award and 15 inspiration sessions, resulting in an organization-wide movement that brought innovation to life among employees.

Client

Dura Vermeer is a full-service construction and infrastructure company that designs, develops, and delivers projects, including engineering, management, maintenance, renovation, and transformation.

In brief

Dura Vermeer no longer saw innovation as a side issue, but as an integral part of its day to day operations. Together with nlmtd, the company developed an inspiring vision for innovation and a way to bring that vision to life, from executive management all the way to the construction site.

A Strategic Innovation Vision as a Compass

Inspirational sessions throughout the Netherlands

Challenge

Building on a Clear Vision

Dura Vermeer has ambitious goals: to build in a more sustainable, digital, and innovative way. But turning those ambitions into reality required more than isolated initiatives. The organization set out to establish a clear direction for innovation and to encourage employees to take an active role in it.

The challenge was to define a vision that charts a course for the future and genuinely takes root throughout the entire organization.

Deepdive in the process

To achieve this goal, a three step approach was developed in collaboration with nlmtd, integrating strategy, communication, and activation.

1. An Inspiring Vision for Innovation
Working closely with the management and core teams, Dura Vermeer defined its innovation compass. External trends, internal strengths, and market dynamics were brought together into a clear, cohesive narrative that guides all innovation efforts.

The vision was translated into specific focus areas for each division, such as digitization, automation, and innovative construction concepts.

2. The Dura Vermeer Innovation Award
A vision only gains value when people put it into action. That is why nlmtd, together with Dura Vermeer, launched the Dura Vermeer Innovation Award 2025: an organization wide program that invites employees to share ideas, collaborate, and bring innovation to life.

The Innovation Award also served as the first opportunity to share the new innovation vision across the entire organization. By aligning the challenge with the defined focus areas, employees were immediately introduced to the strategic direction.

3. Communication & Activation

To promote the Innovation Award and reinforce the vision, we developed an energetic communication campaign with a clear message: innovation starts with you.

Through 15 inspiration sessions held across the country, along with strong visibility at all levels of the organization, our innovation focus areas became relatable for everyone. These sessions proved to be a powerful way to inspire employees with the new innovation vision while inviting them to contribute through the Innovation Award.

Results

The collaboration led to an organization-wide movement that breathed new life into innovation.

A clear vision for innovation that charts the course for Dura Vermeer’s future.
Focus areas by division as a guide for innovation.
The Dura Vermeer Innovation Award as an ongoing program that motivates employees and fosters a sense of ownership.

The result: employees feel a sense of ownership over innovation and make a visible contribution to the company’s future-readiness.

What We Learned

The strength lies in combining vision with action. A clear vision provides direction, while action creates momentum. By linking strategy to concrete initiatives, Dura Vermeer has taken a significant step toward making innovation a structural part of its day to day operations.

What's next?

Further bringing the innovation vision to life in daily practice, the focus areas are translated into concrete projects and initiatives, allowing the vision to increasingly guide decisions and actions throughout the organization.