Skellefteå was named one of the world’s best places in 2022 by Time magazine.
When Northvolt CEO Peter Carlsson announced plans to build a state-of-the-art battery factory in Skellefteå in 2017, it ignited a global wave of interest. This ambitious project, aimed at powering a sustainable future, has transformed the city and attracted a diverse pool of English-speaking talent from around the world.
The rapid development that followed has been unprecedented. Skellefteå has embraced a diverse influx of talent, transforming its landscape and economy. While issues such as housing shortages and traffic congestion remain challenges, the overall sentiment remains optimistic, even after the recent round of lay-offs.
In February 2023, Norran launched its English service, Norran English, hiring journalist Paul Connolly to translate a selection of our articles and also produce content specifically aimed at our new English-speaking residents. This initiative aims to foster a strong, inclusive community by providing essential information about local life, healthcare, and other vital services.
It's crucial that our new residents, especially those who don't yet speak Swedish, feel included in Skellefteå's community. We do not want segregated communities - we want newcomers to feel part of Skellefteå life.
The overwhelmingly positive response has confirmed the invaluable role of Norran English. It's clear that many new arrivals rely on us, especially during times of crisis, such as Northvolt's current issues.
Norran, a relatively small media outlet, has pushed the boundaries with Norran English. It required courage, conviction, and dedicated employees willing to step outside their comfort zones.
For many newcomers in Skellefteå, Norran English is the most important source of information about what’s happening in our local community.
Traditionally, Swedish local newspapers have relied on Swedish-speaking journalists. However, by hiring Paul Connolly, we challenged this norm. It was crucial for me that Paul was fully integrated into the editorial team, contributing his unique perspective, even if it meant us adapting to his lack of Swedish language skills.
Norran English features columns written by Skellefteå's new residents as well as other content aimed at newcomers.
Of course, there were initial concerns about how the Norran editorial team would react to a non-Swedish speaker, but any doubts were quickly dispelled. Swedes, despite their modesty, have a strong command of English. Casual conversations often seamlessly switch between languages, aided by the convenience of translation tools. Furthermore, an unexpected but very welcome development has been that Norran's Swedish readers also appreciate the fresh perspectives offered by Paul and our other English-speaking columnists.
A diverse workplace enriches Norran and makes us a stronger organization. I encourage other employers to take a chance on talented individuals, even if they don't speak fluent Swedish. Language acquisition takes time, but it's not an insurmountable challenge. You can get a long way with "Swenglish", even if not all the words are quite right. The important thing is that you understand each other.
Nicola Foleher and her family moved to Skellefteå a few years ago. For her, Norran English has been a pathway into the local community.
Many of the highly-skilled Northvolt employees who have been laid off are eager to remain in our region. Some have uprooted their entire family to help build the new, green industries.
However, those who came from non-EU countries face significant challenges. With only three months to find new jobs that meet the country's income requirements, the pressure is immense. Additionally, most employers demand Swedish language proficiency, a skill many laid-off workers haven't had the opportunity to acquire, after all Northvolt's primary language is English. To retain this valuable, highly-educated talent, employers must be willing to take risks and explore alternative hiring practices.
Over 1,000 employees at Northvolt in Skellefteå have been given notice of termination. Many want to stay in the region, but the requirements are tough – they need to find a new job with a sufficiently high salary within three months.
Furthermore, policymakers should consider granting exemptions in certain cases to provide these individuals with a fair chance.
As of now, a cloud of uncertainty still hangs over Northvolt. This crisis is also severely impacting local suppliers and partners. The future of the battery maker, competing against Chinese and American companies with vastly different operating conditions, remains uncertain.
Also read: What's stopping Skellefteå leading positive change again?
The political climate has also shifted dramatically. The initial Swedish enthusiasm for saving the world has waned, and many politicians and experts seem more focused on self-promotion. In some of the media, you can even see pure schadenfreude from the southern end of the country, which has enviously looked north since the map of Sweden was turned upside down.
On October 24 and November 4, Skellefteå municipality organized "Meet and Match" events at Sara kulturhus, initiatives aimed at connecting job seekers with potential employers. Over 1,300 people and 63 recruiting organizations participated.
While Skellefteå's future isn't solely tied to Northvolt, the battery factory and its diverse workforce have undoubtedly transformed the city. It's no longer the small, ordinary town I grew up in.
Instead, Skellefteå has become a warm city with an international character where people want to move and where young people want to stay.
Let it continue to be so.
A variety of events have been organized to help integrate new residents of Skellefteå with locals, such as “One Evening, One Country - Pakistan.”
This is a column and the opinion is the writer's own