Progress 25 years of peaking
On the first of May in 1999 Progress officially began its journey. Founders Paul and Saskia saw the opportunity for a high-quality consultancy business in the (bio-)pharma industry and decided to start a company from their own kitchen table. They registered Progress, Project Management and Engineering, as a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak) with the Chamber of Commerce. As their first ‘office’, referred to as base camp, was situated in the living room they often found it difficult to drag themselves away from late-night faxes and other urgent tasks. But as Paul says 25 years later, “Starting Progress was the best decision of my life.”
Soon afterwards the team was expanded with René van Leeuwen as a consultant and project manager. René is “Employee #1” and has been of great value for Progress ever since. One of his first assignments was to deliver an entire new production facility together with Paul.
In 2000, Progress found its first ‘real’ office in a business collection building at Manenburgdreef 101 in Hoofddorp. This significantly improved the work-life balance for Paul and Saskia. While Paul focused on acquisition and recruitment next to his own consultancy projects, Saskia managed all administration and communication tasks.
On February 26, 2003, Progress was formally incorporated as a private company (“Besloten Vennootschap”). In the same year the office moved to Schweitzerstraat 71, Hoofddorp, conveniently located three doors down from Paul and Saskia’s home. The entire open-plan ground floor was converted into office space. What not many people know (until now) is that their teenage children sometimes used the upstairs rooms for noisy pajama parties on the weekend!
In the year 2004 Progress welcomed its tenth consultant to the team. Paul was committed to recruiting only candidates of the highest standards with regards to experience, knowledge and communication skills. Some consultants work independently at the customer, and sometimes Progress colleagues work together to deliver a large project, such as the construction and qualification of an entire new process installation for a product launch.
The year 2005 heralded a significant expansion to Progress’s skillset with the arrival of new colleagues with a strong background in Quality. Progress expanded its services from Engineering projects to Quality support by providing QA & QC expertise and contract QP/RP services. Since then this diversification has continued into other areas, in order to provide a strong foundation for delivering complex solutions to a growing number of customers.
This year marked the first edition of the Progress Summer Event. Employees and their families enjoyed a fun day out in Maarssen, with a wide range of activities for young and old. And of course it wouldn’t be a Progress event without a great selection of delicious food!
As part of a larger initiative for growth and expansion Progress moved to a new office at Bijlmermeerstraat 20 in 2007. This space offered more room and a professional environment with all the amenities.
The next year Progress introduced a new organizational structure, designed to further enhance operational efficiency and support its growth trajectory. The first Management Team was installed. All members combined their roles as MT member with their jobs as consultant and continued performing customer assignments, varying from 3 to 5 days per week.
In the same year Progress secured its initial ISO certification. The preparations for the audit were all done in-house, to outstanding results.
In 2009 Progress celebrated its 10th anniversary with a company trip to Barcelona! Employees enjoyed great food in a vibrant city, as well as lessons in Spanish dancing.
Paul and Saskia enjoyed a year-long sabbatical sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile at home the MT members and office staff were well prepared to keep Progress on a steady course of excellence.
In the year 2013 the Progress team further expanded to thirty talented individuals. More emphasis was put on diversifying the customer base and developing employee talents in multiple disciplines.
With the expansion of our field of expertise from Engineering, CQV, Qualification to CMC, Process scaled new heights to support our customers in the product life cycle from development to commercial manufacturing.
In February 2019 Progress underwent a significant organizational adjustment, transitioning to a full-time management team and a new board of directors. This strategic realignment ensured readiness for further growth and enabled a new generation to map out the route to the top.
In that year Progress also celebrated its 20th anniversary with a company trip to Gent. We enjoyed a great atmosphere in the beautiful historic town, and sampled a few (or more) fine Belgian beers.
In December 2019 Saint Nicholas himself paid an unexpected visit to the office, delighting everyone with chocolate, candy and sage advice. Unfortunately Paul missed this momentous occasion, and to this day it remains a mystery where he was at that time.
In the year 2020 the gradual transition of responsibilities from founder Paul (& MT) to Edwin and Oscar was completed. Paul remains the chair of the board of shareholders. The company grew further to fifty employees, offering a wide range of expertise to the customer.
In the spring of 2022 Progress proudly unveiled the Dutch ATMP Summit. With this yearly event Progress provides a podium for the development and manufacturing of personalized therapies in the Netherlands. This forms part of the company’s strategy to be a key player in cutting-edge and pioneering technology, offering guidance in exploring uncharted and unfamiliar territory. The Dutch ATMP Summit has become a successful annual event with ever-increasing attendance numbers.
2023 marked the unveiling of the rebranding initiative. The familiar mountain ridge remained, but in a fresh design. Initially chosen for Paul and René’s love of alpinism, today it remains equally relevant as many colleagues enjoy the great outdoors, as evidenced by the popular Progress ski weekends. And of course the logo sums up our ethos: ‘To the top together.’
In the latter part of 2023 Progress introduced a participation program, which enables employees to invest in the company and share in its successes. This initiative underscored Progress’s commitment to fostering deeper engagement and collaboration with its workforce. To symbolize their investment in growth and development, each new certificate holder was presented with a bag of red tulip bulbs.
The 25th anniversary celebration occurred at the Beeld&Geluid museum in Hilversum on May 29, 2024. Reflecting on this significant milestone, we’re delighted with the collective joy and satisfaction it evoked. Dive into the day’s highlights through our after-movie, encapsulating the essence of our journey together.
After-movie 25th anniversary celebration
In 2025, Progress – Experts in Life Sciences acquired Methnani & Associates, a specialist in pharmaceutical microbiology and sterility assurance. The company, founded in 2006 by Fathia Methnani, will continue to operate as a subsidiary under its own name.
With this strategic step, Progress expands its consultancy offering and strengthens its position in the life sciences sector. Together, both companies maintain their commitment to high standards, client focus, and shared values — working closely to ensure a smooth transition and a strong future.