The Young Digitals

The Young Digitals

Every talent deserves a chance. Yet for many young people who are distanced from the labour market, that chance often remains out of reach. The Hague-based social enterprise The Young Digitals believes in the digital skills and creativity of the young generation. That is why this company has developed a 24-month programme that trains young people without a diploma to become fully-fledged digital marketers. With six weeks of free training, valuable work experience and personal guidance, these ‘young digitals’ are taking steps towards a paid job and a sustainable future.

The result? A powerful win-win: young people regain perspective and self-confidence. At the same time, companies benefit from the fresh digital energy of new talent with professional expertise at The Young Digitals.

From kitchen table to impactful business

The Young Digitals was founded in 2019 at a kitchen table in The Hague. After more than twenty years of working in marketing and education, founders Marc and Sjoerd asked themselves: What do we want to do for the next twenty years? The answer turned out to be simple: something that really contributes. ‘We wanted to share our knowledge and experience with young people who could use some help,’ says Marc. ‘We wanted to focus more on meaning than just hard cash.’

Their idea grew out of a clear insight: there is a large group of young people who leave education without a diploma, but who do have digital talents. ‘They were practically born with a mobile phone in their hands,’ laughs Marc. They live online, are adept at social media and creation, but rarely get the chance to use that talent professionally. ‘We thought: if you don’t have a diploma, how can you get a good job?’ adds Sjoerd. ‘Those digital skills are worth their weight in gold.’

The approach: learning, working and growing

The Young Digitals works with a three-step approach. Young people begin with a six-week training course, during which they learn everything about online marketing, from setting up social media campaigns to creating content in Canva — no boring theory, but practical skills that can be used immediately.

This is followed by valuable work experience: participants take part in real campaigns at companies. This allows them to build up a portfolio and gain insight into the workplace. Finally, The Young Digitals helps them make the transition to paid work, often at the organisations where they previously did their internships.

In addition to professional training, The Young Digitals also focuses on the well-being of its participants. Young people receive one-on-one coaching and learn essential skills for employees, including presenting, collaborating, and providing feedback. As an extra, personal obstacles are also taken into account: anyone with debts or requiring additional assistance is referred to the relevant authorities. ‘We invest heavily in personal development,’ explains Marc. ‘Because growing as a marketer starts with growing as a person.’

Employers also receive guidance. They learn how to supervise people from Generation Z in the workplace, something in which The Young Digitals now has a great deal of experience.

From plants to offices: growth with meaning

The founders still vividly remember the very first training day in 2019. Participants were asked to bring a plant with them, as a symbol of growth and care. ‘And to our surprise, they all showed up with plants!’ laughs Sjoerd. ‘That moment felt like the beginning of something special.’

Since that day, The Young Digitals has grown from a small room to an organisation with multiple locations in The Hague, Utrecht and Rotterdam. Their office in The Hague is located in Apollo 14, ImpactCity’s startup hub, where they provide training and collaborate with other impact-driven entrepreneurs.

The team consists of nearly 50 colleagues, and more than 400 young people have participated in the programme to date. The company recently celebrated its fifth anniversary on the beach, together with customers and former participants.

Friends for life

What sets The Young Digitals apart is that their impact goes beyond training marketers. Close friendships and even occasional relationships develop between participants. ‘We never anticipated that,’ says Marc. ‘People who come here, often feeling insecure or lonely, find friends for life.’

Within the organisation, success is not measured by turnover records, but by personal growth. ‘We always celebrate how our people develop. That’s the best thing about what we do, seeing them grow and flourish,’ says Sjoerd. ‘That’s what we do it for. Not how high our turnover is.’

2035: national and international ambitions

The Young Digitals’ vision for the future is clear: ‘By 2035, The Young Digitals will have established partnerships with various commercial companies, government bodies and local authorities. This will create a natural flow of young people into work. The quality of training and welfare support will remain the same. We want to expand our impact in the Netherlands further, and who knows, maybe beyond,‘ says Marc. ’But The Hague will always be our home base. The city offers so many opportunities.’