APK Group named Limburg Entrepreneur of the Year!

Our owner, Paul Kerkhofs, and CEO of APK Group Belgium, Maarten Broens, were proud to receive the prestigious title on behalf of APK Group. According to the jury, this recognition is due to four strong pillars: our international presence and ambition, our sophisticated buy & build strategy with 60 acquisitions to date, our solid and transparent management style, and our strong roots in Limburg.

APK Group was founded in 1960 by Jef Kerkhofs. However, it was under the impetus of his son Paul that the Pelt-based company opted for a sophisticated acquisition strategy in 1995. More than sixty acquisitions later, the entire group has a turnover of 526 million euros with 2,630 employees in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, and activities in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and France. By way of comparison, in 1995 the company had a turnover of 250,000 euros with five employees.

Surgeons of modern cities

“We see ourselves as surgeons who construct the arteries and nerve pathways of modern cities and society with great precision,” is how Paul Kerkhofs likes to describe it. What initially started out as electrical work, APK now offers a wide range of activities: the last mile of all kinds of infrastructure works, both for governments, telecom companies and network operators such as Fluvius and De Watergroep. It may seem like a traditional company, but that is not the case. It is precisely this combination of different techniques and technologies that makes APK Group so special.

“We want everything to be right straight away, and yes, we use AI for that too,” says CEO Maarten Broens. “Good infrastructure is crucial for a region that wants to be the gateway to the rest of Europe.”

‘This award is obviously not just for me, but also for the family, the management and all the employees who work their socks off day in, day out,’ says Paul Kerkhofs. ‘Together, we will continue to build sustainable growth, with respect for our roots and an eye to the future.’

Growth

Since 1995, APK has achieved growth of 15 to 20 per cent per year. ‘And we will continue to do so over the next five years, especially in the Netherlands and Germany,’ say CEO Maarten Broens and owner Paul Kerkhofs. For the year 2029, the target is even 1 billion in turnover. ‘Our down-to-earth mentality is an asset. It means we rarely come across as aggressive, which is important when it comes to acquisitions,’ says Paul Kerkhofs. ‘We also ensure proactive communication with the residents of the streets where we are working.’

APK Group is managed by a dual management structure: on the one hand, a supervisory board with independent directors – chaired by owner Paul Kerkhofs, and on the other hand a board of directors in which the third generation is also represented. "In terms of corporate governance So everything is fine," laughs Paul Kerkhofs.

Where it all started with electrical work, APK now offers a wide range of activities: the last mile of all kinds of infrastructure works, both for governments, telecom companies and network operators such as Fluvius and De Watergroep. It may seem like a traditional company, but that is not the case. It is precisely this combination of different techniques and technologies that makes APK Group so special.

“Paul Kerkhofs is APK,” says CEO Maarten Broens. “This is a family business in the broadest sense of the word. Paul can be proud of how, under his leadership, APK Group has grown into what it is today.”

Future assured, also in Limburg

Paul Kerkhofs and Maarten Broens believe that growth in the coming years will mainly be in mobility. ‘Think of all the infrastructure work that is needed to enable shuttles and cars to drive autonomously. Or think of 5G networks, fibre optic networks, heat networks and smart cities,’ explains Paul Kerkhofs. ‘But we also see future challenges and opportunities in ongoing digitisation, sustainability and the energy transition.’

‘With all these branches, we operate more like a fleet than a tanker,’ explains Maarten Broens, CEO of APK Belgium. ‘Our fleet consists of several ships, each with its own captain. They are much more manoeuvrable and can respond more quickly than a tanker. Our order book is already full in the long term. We have many long-term contracts with our customers, and we think along with them. They consider us a reliable party and a full-service partner.’

‘Limburg plays a central role in the gateway to Europe,’ Paul Kerkhofs emphasises. ‘Limburg therefore needs a multidisciplinary and international infrastructure company from the top five, which is anchored in Limburg. We want to play that role. We also promote those typical Limburg values: we are thinkers, but also doers. And we are diverse, multicultural and down-to-earth.’

We are honoured by this recognition, congratulate the other nominees, and look ahead with confidence. Limburg can be proud of its entrepreneurs, and we are proud to be part of this story.