How OneCo opens up more pathways to the workforce
In Norway, we have a shortage of skilled workers. At the same time, many people are outside the workforce. Aars has therefore established Aarsverk, a consulting firm that provides Aars-owned companies with the expertise and support they need to recruit from a broader pool of candidates.
OneCo Medvind is one of the initiatives in this effort, demonstrating how inclusion and a willingness to think differently have become part of everyday life in a large industrial group.
When Kateryna had to flee Ukraine, she experienced firsthand how challenging it can be for a refugee to find a relevant job. It wasn’t impossible, however. At OneCo, she has gone from an internship to a permanent position as a sustainability advisor, and today she helps shape the company’s efforts toward a better world.
“The war completely changed my life, and it’s not easy for refugees to find a job in their own field in a new country. Fortunately, this opportunity came along, where my experience can contribute something useful,” says Kateryna
Electricians Katrine and Kjell are two other examples of somewhat unconventional paths into the profession—namely, as adult apprentices. Katrine had long dreamed of becoming an electrician, but chose a general education track because she doubted she could master it. After a few years in various jobs, she nevertheless contacted OneCo and secured a spot.
Kjell, for his part, found that the doors to the electrical industry were harder to open than he had thought, even though he knew he had the determination. At OneCo, he was first given an opportunity to show what he could do before he, too, was accepted as an apprentice. Since then, he has passed his certification exam as an electrician.
“I’m grateful that OneCo took a chance on hiring me, even though my formal background was unconventional,” says Katrine.
Although the stories are different, they’re really all about the same thing. OneCo looks for determination and a desire to learn, and tries to make the path into the workforce a little less narrow than it often is. That means more creative solutions and a work environment that both welcomes and supports people as they progress through the program.
This approach didn’t happen overnight. It has been built step by step, ever since we began our work on workplace inclusion in 2018, and this is now being carried forward into Aars-owned companies through Aarsverk. The results so far speak for themselves: When more people are given a real chance to contribute, it’s not just the individuals who benefit. The companies that hire them—and the surrounding community—benefit as well.
For us, workforce inclusion isn’t a side project, but a natural part of how we approach development and operations.
