Brilliant Work

Save the date: Selling without being pushy
2026-02-02 15:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Amsterdam) | Ondernemerslab Arnhem, Bovenbeekstraat 10, Arnhem
Together with Startclub Arnhem, Lizanne Jakobs gives this free workshop.
Whether you have a lot of experience with sales calls or none at all, this workshop is very useful for anyone who has to try to bring in a client at some point.
In it, we discuss how:
– you ask potential clients for an interview
– you can surface the information you need to close the deal
– you can tell the best about you and your company
– and then how to bring in the client
During the workshop, you’ll learn how to make selling feel easier without coming across as pushy. You’ll learn which questions to ask, and how to persuade in a way that doesn’t sound like a hollow call-centre script. After this workshop, you’ll know how to achieve far better results with less effort and less stress.
Participation is free. Registration for this workshop is possible by clicking on this link.

Free Workshop | The crucial steps (and pitfalls) for growth
2026-02-10 15:00 - 17:00 | Noviotech Campus, Building M, Nijmegen, Transistorweg 5, Nijmegen
You’re running a promising startup or scale-up. You have a clear business plan, a small team, and funding. But how do you turn that foundation into a thriving, mature company in the quickest, most stable and easiest way possible? In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore what it takes to succeed in this next phase of growth. Through discussions and hands-on exercises, you’ll gain practical insights and tools to help your business scale smoothly and effectively.
Trainer Lizanne Jakobs
Lizanne Jakobs is an award winning business coach, a well known speaker and an entrepreneur herself. She is the founder of Brilliant Work, repeatedly named best business coaching and consultancy firm in the Netherlands for small to medium sized companies. Her workshops are always interactive, useful and engaging. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a Master’s in International Business Communications, both from the Radboud University. The team of coaches at Brilliant Work help clients grow and further professionalise their companies. Most of these coaching engagements are aided by one of 15 different subsidies.
Good to know
The workshop is facilitated in English. Participation in the workshop is free for everyone, including drinks and bites. However, for cancellations within 24 hours prior to the event, we will charge a fee of 15 euros (excluding VAT) to cover incurred expenses.
Location: Meet & Greet, Noviotech Campus, Gebouw M. Transistorweg 5 Nijmegen
Register now by clicking on this link.

Masterclass: How Do You Become That Attractive Employer?
2026-03-25 13:15 - 16:00 | Welder, Bremvallei 1, 's-Hertogenbosch
In today’s tight labour market, attracting and retaining the right people requires more than a competitive salary and attractive benefits. Organisations that truly stand out make deliberate choices about their positioning, culture and communication.Are you wondering how to meet these expectations without HR becoming a time-consuming or overly complex operation? Then this masterclass by Brilliant Work and WELDER may be just what you’re looking for.
During this practical and inspiring masterclass we explore:

When HR can no longer be managed as a side responsibility
Good employment practices as a driver of growth
The HR foundations that make this possible
Organising HR smartly and scalably, supported by the right tools
How you can secure up to €25,000 in funding to help finance this

Programme
☕ 13.15 – 13:30 | Welcome
We warmly welcome you to the WELDER head office in the beautiful city of ’s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch). We’ll make sure you settle in comfortably with a good cup of coffee, tea or whatever you prefer.
🎓 13:30 – 15:30 | Masterclass
During this masterclass, you will receive practical tips to immediately strengthen and professionalise your people management. Please bring your questions, so we can make this a real interactive session.
🍻 15:30 – 16:00 | Drinks
We end this afternoon with drinks, offering the opportunity to reflect on the session, share experiences and build new connections.
Participation is free of charge.Please note: this masterclass will be presented in Dutch. To register and for more information about this masterclass, please click on this link.

Workshop | How to attract more business leads
2026-04-10 09:00 - 10:30 | Gemeentehuis Druten, Heuvel 1, Druten
This workshop is organised by Brilliant Work and StartUp Nijmegen
We would all love to generate plenty of high-quality leads, month in, month out, whether from the businesses you want to attract as clients, or from schools or government organisations, for example. The ideal client, with the right budget, who is exactly looking for your product or service and magically comes knocking at your door. In reality, however, that rarely happens, or at least not as often as you would like.
So what can you do to gain that initial interest from potential clients? So that you can then start meaningful conversations with them. In this workshop, you will learn how to improve your approach by becoming better at:

Taking a close look at your target audience
Identifying where to find them
Choosing the right activities to spark their interest in a conversation
Planning these activities effectively throughout the year
It is important to note that this will vary depending on your sector and target audience. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution, but there is a way to take control of your own online and offline marketing activities.

This workshop is valuable both for start-ups who are still figuring out how to generate leads, and for more established entrepreneurs who want to do so more effectively.
About the workshop facilitator
The workshop will be delivered by Lizanne Jakobs, founder of Brilliant Work and a well-known coach at StartUp Nijmegen. They have been voted Best Coaching and Consultancy Firm for SMEs in the Netherlands on multiple occasions. Lizanne lived in the United Kingdom for several years and was recognised there as one of the 50 best business advisers. Brilliant Work is a team of 20 professionals who advise, coach and train self-employed professionals and SME clients, often with the support of 15 different types of funding schemes.
This workshop takes place at the Town Hall of Druten.
Please note that the workshop will be presented in Dutch.
Participation is free, but you need to register. For registration and to find out more about this workshop please click on this link.

Ambitious entrepreneur — will your business still be here in five years?
2026-05-06 16:00 - 18:30 | Countus, Frisopark 4, Entrance C, Ede, 6711 WZ
Do you want to be able to look back and tell the story of your company’s success? Join this masterclass on securing your future. Be part of the conversation on how to ensure your brilliant business doesn’t end in a brilliant failure.
Many businesses excel at delivering their product or service, but ensuring your company is still standing strong in five or ten years is a different challenge altogether. As you grow—adding more employees, increasing revenue, or expanding internationally—running a business becomes significantly more complex. Many companies don’t survive what is often called the “Valley of Death.”
What risks should you be aware of? What needs to be firmly in place as an SME owner? How do you stay in control and safeguard your company’s future? And how do you make sure you come out the other side of the Valley of Death?
The real question is: when should you start? … Now.
Martijn Croon and Lizanne Jakobs will guide you through it all in this free masterclass. We’ll cover topics such as:

How do you define your long-term vision: your story, your future?
How do you set clear, specific goals for yourself and your team?
Financial control of your business: insight and overview bring peace of mind
How do you identify your key risks and turn them into a clear plan of action?

There will, of course, be plenty of time for your questions. Afterwards, you’re warmly invited to join us for a networking drinks reception.
Lizanne Jakobs is a well-known speaker in the field of entrepreneurship. She is the founder of Brilliant Work, a multi award-winning coaching, consultancy and training firm for SMEs. Together with a team of 20 experts, they support entrepreneurs and their teams in growing and professionalising their businesses—often making use of a wide range of subsidy schemes.
Lizanne has over 15 years of experience as a business coach, holds a degree in Corporate Communication, and is known for her engaging and highly practical approach.
Martijn Croon is a business advisor at Countus, a full-service mid-sized accountancy firm with 25 offices across the eastern Netherlands, specialising in supporting SMEs.
Martijn Croon (MSc in Business Administration, Master in Finance & Control, and a Registered Business Succession Advisor) is a former entrepreneur himself. With over 25 years of advisory experience, he has witnessed both remarkable successes and notable failures.
For Martijn, it’s not the numbers that form the foundation of success, but the entrepreneur’s story. His passion lies in helping business owners shape and write that story for themselves.
Programme:

15.50 Arrival and welcome
16.00 Start
17.30 Drinks and networking opportunity
18.30 End

This masterclass will take place at the Frisokazerne site (Frisopark 4, Entrance C, 6711 WZ Ede).
The sessions will be held in Dutch.
Participation is free of charge. Registration is required.

Walk & Talk with Brilliant Work | Plan Ahead for Your Business’s Future
2026-06-12 14:00 - 17:00 | Landgoed Groot Warnsborn, Bakenbergseweg 277, Arnhem, 6816 VP
On Friday 12 June, Brilliant Work invites SME owners to join an inspiring Walk & Talk. During a relaxed walk, we’ll explore the future of your business together. What’s working well, what could be done more effectively, and where might there be opportunities you haven’t yet spotted?
Fresh air often sparks the best ideas. Together with one of our coaches, you’ll join an open conversation with like-minded entrepreneurs who, just like you, are focused on the future and ready to grow (groups of up to 10 people).
As part of Arnhem MKB City 2026 and to mark Brilliant Work’s 10th anniversary, we felt it was the perfect moment to look ahead together to the coming year, the next five years or even the next decade of your business. Participation is free, but places are limited, so be sure to sign up soon.
After the walk, there’s time to continue the conversation over coffee or tea with cake.
Practical information

Date: Friday 12 June 2026

Arrival: between 2.00 – 2.15 pm

Start Walk: 2.15 pm

Duration: Give and take 1 tot 1,5 hrs

We’ll wrap up with coffee or tea and cake, until around 5.00 pm

Location: Hotel Groot Warnsborn, Bakenbergseweg 277, 6816 VP Arnhem

Get inspired, share experiences and head back to your business with fresh energy.
Brilliant Work is a multi-award-winning business coaching and consultancy firm for self-employed professionals and SMEs. The team consists of 20 experts. For our programmes, entrepreneurs can often make use of up to 14 different grants.

Save the date: Selling without being pushy
2026-06-29 15:00 - 17:00 | Ondernemerslab Arnhem, Bovenbeekstraat 10, Arnhem
Together with Startclub Arnhem, Lizanne Jakobs gives this free workshop.
Whether you have a lot of experience with sales calls or none at all, this workshop is very useful for anyone who has to try to bring in a client at some point.
In it, we discuss how:
– you ask potential clients for an interview
– you can surface the information you need to close the deal
– you can tell the best about you and your company
– and then how to bring in the client
During the workshop, you’ll learn how to make selling feel easier without coming across as pushy. You’ll learn which questions to ask, and how to persuade in a way that doesn’t sound like a hollow call-centre script. After this workshop, you’ll know how to achieve far better results with less effort and less stress.
Participation is free. Registration for this workshop is possible by clicking on this link.
This workshop will be facilitated in Dutch.
