Netherlands | Social entrepreneurship
Sûr Atelier turns newcomers’ talent into work, and fashion into a fairer story
Across Dutch cities, many newcomers arrive with talent and ambition, yet struggle to find work and build local connections. Without early opportunities, a fresh start can turn into years of waiting: waiting for language skills to grow, for networks to form, and for the first chance to prove themselves. Sûr Atelier helps break this cycle by offering a practical route into work and society. Through hands-on experience, daily interaction and coaching, participants build the skills, confidence and networks needed to move forward. So that people can build a life in the Netherlands on their own, Sûr focuses on economic self‑reliance, through work, entrepreneurship or education.
A safe place to grow through work
The idea for Sûr Atelier started in 2015. When founder Lara Scot gets involved with refugees arriving in Haarlem and sees how difficult it was for them to find work and connect with Dutch residents. With a background in fashion, she believed that craft could be more than a profession, it could be a pathway into society.
She started with a few sewing machines and a handful of makers. This has since evolved into a social enterprise that offers something many systems struggle to provide: a soft landing into Dutch working life.
Sûr Atelier is not just the name of the social enterprise. It has been chosen carefully. Lara searched for a word that stood for “safe”, to emphasize that newcomers in the Netherlands are safe and can remain safe within the project. She deliberately looked in French, associating it with refined style that matches the refined crafts of the makers. And the “û” matters too: the little “roof” (circumflex) symbolizes the sense of safety people longed for, reflecting Lara’s intention to be that protective “roof” for as many people as possible.
Atelier-shops where learning happens through work
Sûr Atelier addresses structural barriers that can keep newcomers sidelined -language barriers, limited networks and unfamiliar systems- by offering that soft landing into Dutch working life. In Haarlem and Utrecht, Sûr Atelier runs atelier-shops where production and sales take place in the same space. Here, participants are not only learning, they are also offered meaningful work. As makers, they create and sell clothing, while also providing tailoring and repair services. The shop is a meeting place where customers encounter the makers and the story behind their clothing.
This set-up reflects real working life. By being part of a team, interacting with customers and contributing to a shared result, participants build professional skills, practice Dutch in everyday situations and gain confidence. At the same time, they expand their networks beyond their immediate circles and begin to participate more actively in society.
From participation to independence
At Sûr Atelier newcomers work in permanent positions or in work–study pathways and are supported through coaching, language buddies, and practical help in day-to-day life. They work on building a work rhythm, stepping out of isolation, improving their Dutch and addressing personal challenges that may stand in the way of employment.
Because this development takes place through real work, participants can experience what it means to contribute and to be valued. This strengthens their confidence, restores a sense of purpose and encourages them to take ownership of their future.
After completing the programme, participants move on to paid work, continue into education, or in some cases progress into employment within Sûr Atelier itself. In this way, Sûr creates a clear pathway towards economic self‑reliance, enabling people to build a life in the Netherlands on their own.
Slow fashion, fast learning
Sûr Atelier combines its social mission with a commitment to sustainable fashion. It follows a slow-fashion approach: producing in small batches, working with leftover textiles and natural materials, and focusing on repair and quality. This reduces waste, avoids overproduction and keeps the supply chain transparent.
Because customers meet the makers, the production process becomes visible and personal, adding value for both sides. In this way, Sûr contributes not only to social inclusion, but also to a more conscious and sustainable fashion industry.
Rabo Foundation is backing the model, building the capacity
Rabo Foundation has been involved with Sûr Atelier since 2017, when the organisation was still in its early stage following its official establishment in 2016. In this phase, it is essential for social enterprises like Sûr to secure funding in order to launch and scale their ideas effectively.
Rabo Foundation supported the organisation financially through multiple growth phases, each time in co-financing with Stichting DOEN. This support contributed to Sûr opening its current two locations and expanding work-and-learn opportunities for newcomers.
Beyond financial support, Rabo Foundation also contributed to capacity building for the entrepreneur. She participated in training programmes such as the MiniMaster and the Leergang Sociaal Ondernemen at Utrecht University, supported by a Rabo Foundation scholarship. This helped her further develop her entrepreneurial skills.
In addition, Rabo Foundation facilitated connections with other social entrepreneurs and provided access to a coach (Hop Step & Leap) to strengthen brand positioning.
Now, Sûr Atelier is preparing to open a third location in the Netherlands. Rabo Foundation is supporting this next phase of development, enabling Sûr to further scale its impact through its business activities. This is expected to create more work-and-learn opportunities while helping to reduce textile waste, as demand grows.
This is why Rabo Foundation supports Sûr Atelier
Rabo Foundation backs social enterprises in the Netherlands, like Sûr Atelier, because work is a proven pathway to (economic) self‑reliance and belonging. With their business model, social enterprises tackle important societal challenges. They look beyond profit alone and prioritize impact alongside financial returns. Creating opportunities for people who face barriers to employment, so more people can participate in the society. They look beyond profit alone and prioritize impact alongside financial returns.
Rabo Foundation supports these entrepreneurs at an early-stage, when risks are too high for traditional finance, but potential impact runs deep. Providing loans or grants and acting as a driver for growth. Beyond finance, Rabo Foundation strengthens organisations with expertise and network connections to unlock partnerships, market access and co-financing, so impact scales faster.