Meet the KVK Advice Team

Get to know the KVK Advice Team

The members of the KVK Advice Team always have time to listen and help. Gé Gijsen, Hans Litjens, and Werner Käller explain what they do.

Gé Gijsen: enlist the help of networks

Adviser Gé Gijsen has been assisting businesses in financial difficulties for more than 35 years. “The first time we talk, I can often help people figure out what to do next. But I also frequently enlist the help of my network to provide detailed advice and guidance.”

Build a network

As a KVK adviser, Gijsen draws his knowledge from his extensive network. “When the government introduced its corona measures and packages, I was constantly in touch with the institutions. They explained the measures to me and I passed on questions from entrepreneurs. This helped gradually narrow the gap between theory and practice.” Gijsen speaks to dozens of entrepreneurs daily. So he knows exactly what they are up against and what they need to know. In the process, he never stops expanding his own network and that of KVK.

Private and professional

When Gijsen gets a call from an entrepreneur, he listens to them first. “Just to create peace of mind After all, there is always a solution. I ask them about their situation. Do they have employees? What are their finances like? How are things in their private life? After all, private is just as important as professional. I often try to break the ice by finding something we have in common. If we can open up to each other, the conversation becomes valuable and meaningful.”

For years to come

It is Gijsen’s job to help entrepreneurs, but it is also one of his favourite pastimes. “I spend a lot of my spare time on online networks and stay in touch with people. I have close ties with people at KVK, in provinces, and in municipalities. This is just one of the ways in which I make sure I am always in the loop. Conversations with struggling entrepreneurs can be very emotional, “but people tend to be very grateful, even if all I do is listen. I hope to be able to keep doing this rewarding work for a long time to come.”

Hans Litjens: committed and experienced

Litjens has a law degree and is an expert in bankruptcy law. He always looks at situations from 2 perspectives: as a lawyer and as an expert by experience. “I usually get to the bottom of the situation and understand what needs to happen quite quickly. Even if the entrepreneur gets emotional and cannot quite put everything into words."

A bottomless bag of tricks

Often, Litjens can provide a helping hand right away. “I give them simple tools to find their way back to safety.” Litjens often speaks to desperate entrepreneurs who are on the verge of quitting. "My advice: do not give up right away. Bankruptcy should really be a last resort. You can do so many other things before it gets to that.” Armed with a bag of tricks, Litjens gives entrepreneurs tips they can use to find a solution themselves. Sometimes, all it takes is a phone call. Other people may require a few calls. And some may need a referral to other organisations, such as the Entrepreneurs Sounding Board.

In good hands

When an entrepreneur calls with a question, Litjens always has an answer. "I give them a sense of security and reassure them that they are in good hands. That is what makes my work so rewarding. Every week, I speak to about 20 entrepreneurs with major difficulties. We then stay in touch on a regular basis. A week later, I will have an entirely new group on my hands. No 2 days are ever the same and the work stays challenging. I encourage people who are feeling sad and give them hope.”

Werner Käller: whatever your question may be

No two conversations are the same for KVK adviser Werner Käller. “I always look at an entrepreneur’s individual needs. When they call, I focus fully on their story and give them all the time and attention they need. What exactly are they looking for? That is what I will try to find out.”

Long and short conversations

Käller has now worked at KVK for 15 years. In that time, he has had calls about starting and financing a business. But he has also spoken to many struggling entrepreneurs. “Sometimes, people call with a quick question, like what organisation to contact. Others, however, can be in great financial difficulties. They need advice on what to do to become financially healthy again.”

Personal and professional

When people call, they tell their story first. Only then will the adviser start asking questions. “I recap what they just told me and try to find an appropriate solution in the process.” Käller always tries to keep the calls personal. “It is quite easy to tell whether callers are comfortable with that personal angle. The personal and professional lives of entrepreneurs tend to be close together. That is something I always pay special attention to in a call.”

Listen first, advise second

As an adviser, you have to be a good listener. “That means you have to know when to be quiet and when to ask the right questions.” Sometimes the emotions are too much for entrepreneurs. “I give them the chance to tell their story. I listen to them and empathise." At the same time, Käller is careful not to see the entrepreneurs he talks to as victims. "I understand their situation and realise that it can be difficult. But I never dwell on it. After all, they are calling for a reason, and I want to work with them to find out what they can do to move forward."