Youca Action Day
On Oct. 17, 2024, the Youca Action Day took place, a wonderful initiative that gives young people the opportunity to spend a day working with a company. The goal is to raise money for projects fighting for a more just society. I was given the unique opportunity to work with my dad for one day at Verstraete Enterprises. I was really looking forward to this.
Gilles Desruelle worked one day with his father: crane operator Koen Desruelle. His wages were donated to charity. Below you can read his report on this special day :
On Oct. 17, 2024, the Youca Action Day took place, a wonderful initiative that gives young people the opportunity to spend a day working with a company. The goal is to raise money for projects fighting for a more just society. I was given the unique opportunity to work with my dad for one day at Verstraete Enterprises. I was really looking forward to this.
The day started early: at 6 a.m. we left together for Jabbeke and drove from there by truck to Zelzate.
Once we arrived, I got to pick the right lighting pole to replace a broken one. We parked the truck and began cordoning off the road so we could work safely. Placing the proper signage was crucial. After everything was properly cordoned off, we were able to get the crane ready to lift the pole.
The process of pulling out the old pole was very instructive. We had to pay close attention to where the cables were to avoid damage. When we had removed the old pole, the new pole was already on site. Installing the new pole required precision: the pole had to be straight, deep enough in the ground and properly anchored. We repeated this process 2 more times. By the 4th pole, however, we faced a challenge: it was completely overturned because a car had hit it. It took a lot of effort to get the pole out of the ground, but with the help of the crane we finally succeeded. After removing this pole, no new pole was needed, but we had to sleeve the wires together and tuck them away safely to avoid accidents. This was the last work we did in Zelzate. After the hard work, we returned to our company.
Reflecting on this day, I can say that it was a great but also exhausting experience. I am grateful that this gave me this opportunity to learn more about the company's operations and to work with my dad. It made me realize that some jobs are tougher than they look, but very interesting.
This day was not only a unique experience for me, but also an opportunity to attend
contribute to a good cause. If another day like this is organized in the future, I would definitely like to participate again because I learned a lot and experienced great moments.
Other news items
November 4, 2024, the third edition of the Job and Training Fair took place at the COREtec Dôme organized by VDAB, the Economic House Ostend and Filou Ostend
The first edition of our summer festival took place on Friday, September 6, 2024, an event that was received with great enthusiasm.
On Thursday, February 6, 2025, we were present at the Technoboost edition in Izegem. This event offered an excellent opportunity to inform young people and their teachers about the possibilities within our company, both in terms of internships and future jobs.
The future belongs to the youth and Technoboost in Torhout was an excellent opportunity for them as well as for our company! It was an opportunity for us to motivate young people for a technical ob.
An employee satisfaction survey was conducted in October 2024 in cooperation with the HR department as part of a training project. The survey was completed by both blue and white collar workers, which provided a balanced picture of the work environment.
On Tuesday, October 15, 2024 Light Infra organized a training day for apprentices in Herentals in collaboration with RTC Antwerp for the 2nd time.
In 2024 we again participated in the whale fishing sloop race, this time with two teams. During the exciting open final our teams achieved 5th and 10th place respectively. We are particularly proud of their excellent efforts!
Verstraete Enterprises remains committed to the future at all times. Thus, in September 2023, we started the new construction project in Jabbeke.
As a company, we are fully committed to cooperation with technical schools. We organized a Battle of the technical schools at our headquarters in Jabbeke and our site in Herentals.
Verstraete Enterprises shines during the 2023 Whaleboat Race - An exciting participation in a unique rowing competition.
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Discover the world of technical innovation at Verstraete Enterprises during Open Business Day
About Verstraete Enterprises
Since 1932, we have provided the installation, connection and maintenance of various infrastructure works. We are a committed partner with a particular focus on the environment and improving our business processes. In everything we do, we ensure minimal inconvenience to the surroundings.
- A family business for 3 generations
- 3 branches and 6 depots in Belgium and France
- more than 250 employees
- 11.7 years average seniority
Our employees are our highest asset
We attach great importance to the well-being of our employees, as they are the driving force in our company. A good working environment and safe equipment are the basis here. We also provide personal in-service training and customized training for those who want or need it. This is how we grow together as a company and reap the benefits of our progress as a team.
A family business where every employee counts
At Verstraete, we know that success is the result of the effort and commitment of every colleague. We believe in the power of collaboration and understand that each employee plays an invaluable role in achieving our goals and delivering high-quality services to our customers.
Space to further educate yourself
Every employee has the opportunity to learn new skills, further specialize and strive for continuous improvement. We believe that investing in our people leads to greater self-confidence, more innovative ideas and, ultimately, a stronger company.