PSO label as proof of social entrepreneurship
With the Social Entrepreneurship Performance Ladder (PSO) you demonstrate the extent to which your organization engages in social entrepreneurship. The PSO ladder focuses on offering and increasing opportunities for people with a distance to the labor market.
With a PSO certificate you make your inclusive policy visible to clients. The quality mark is increasingly requested in tenders, because social entrepreneurship is becoming a more important criterion. Normec supports you quickly and efficiently in obtaining your PSO-certificate.
What does the Social Entrepreneurship Performance Ladder mean?
The PSO is a scientifically based quality mark, developed by TNO. The ladder provides insight into the extent to which organizations contribute to labor participation of vulnerable groups.
With the quality mark you show that you:
- Offers structural opportunities to people with a distance to the labor market
- Being an inclusive employer in practice
- Actively contributes to a society in which everyone participates
This is how you make social entrepreneurship concrete and measurable.
The PSO ladder and chain stimulation
The PSO label is structured as a performance ladder with four levels. The greater your commitment to social entrepreneurship, the higher your organization scores. Entry is possible at any level.
An important part of PSO is chain stimulation. Do you purchase from social organizations? Then you indirectly contribute to employment for vulnerable target groups. This contribution counts towards your own PSO score during the audit.
In this way, the hallmark stimulates not only individual organizations, but the entire chain to do business in a more social way.
With PSO certification:
- You increase your favor factor compared to competitors
- Comply with Social Return requirements for tenders
- Make a demonstrable contribution to an inclusive society
- Make your good employment practices visible to clients
- Strengthen your social position and reputation
Show that social entrepreneurship is not a promise but a structural part of your organization.
How the PSO audit works
In order to obtain the PSO label, an audit takes place. During this audit, the auditor assesses:
- The percentage of employees with a distance to the labor market in relation to the total workforce
- The way your organization deals with these employees.
After submitting the application, we plan the audit together. Do you obtain the certification? Then the certification is valid for two years. With a bi-annual audit we check whether your organization still meets the requirements.
Please note: an offer request is not yet a definitive PSO application. For certification, you must submit a final application via MyPSO (step 6).
Methodology
How does PSO certification work?
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1.
Audit
In an audit we check whether your organization meets the requirements of the PSO label.
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2.
Report
After the audit, the auditor discusses the result and any changes. We then send the audit report to PSO-Netherlands within two weeks.
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3.
Frequency
A PSO certificate is valid for two years. After two years, we check with an audit whether your organization still meets the requirements of the PSO label.
Want to know more about the PSO quality mark?
Frequently asked questions about the PSO label
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The label is intended for organizations that do social business and offer opportunities to people with a distance to the labor market.
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Entry is possible at any of the four performance levels, depending on your current commitment to social enterprise.
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After certification, the label is valid for two years. After that, recertification takes place.
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The auditor assesses the proportion of employees with a distance to the labor market and the quality of guidance and policy.
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Yes. By purchasing from social organizations, you make an indirect contribution that counts toward your PSO score.