VVS Noord- en Oost-Nederland is a vocational training centre for women, established in 1986 and situated in the city of Assen. Legal status- private foundation. The workfield of the centre covers the four northern provinces Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe and Overijssel.The history and setting up of the women’s training centres are based on the growing need for training and employment opportunity for women job seekers, especially women returners and migrant and ethnic minority women. In the Netherlands there are 7 of these specialized training centres. The centres are united in a national umbrella organisation, the National Association for Vocational Training for Women. Each centre is an independant organisation, with own legal status, statutes and board, developing and delivering her own training activities, focussed on the regional labour market needs.Together, the seven training centres have a staff of more than 250 employees, management, trainers and support personnel. The annual turn-over being NLG 20million.