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Our Story 

Welcome Hub Agder (WHA) was created as a result of the rapid growth seen from The Battery Coast following the establishment of a groundbreaking battery factory in Arendal municipality in 2021.

Initiated by Impact Hub Agder, Arendal Municipality and Arendal Chamber of Commerce, WHA’s main goal is to support newcomers who have relocated to the area to settle in comfortably, and to overcome the challenges that come with integrating with a new community.

International recruitment companies and businesses hiring international talent also face challenges both in terms of hiring and retaining talent respectively.

WHA’s two-pronged approach aims to address and alleviate the challenges faced by companies, and also newcomers and their family as a whole.

By collaborating with and extending support to local municipalities, businesses and organisations in Agder* to arrange courses, events and networking opportunities, WHA connects newcomers with what they need to know to navigate ‘the system’ in Agder. This paves the way for newcomers to better cope with the stresses that follow a new job in a new country with a different language and culture; traditions and laws. It can also increase the probability that they will choose to make Agder their home for the long run which in turn will enable companies to retain their new talent.

*Agder county is comprised of several municipalities including Arendal, Grimstad, Lillesand and Kristiansand.

What We Do

WHA provides a number of services including -

  • individual consultation and advice to expats on a variety of daily living issues, including finding initial housing, healthcare registration, and school and childcare information amongst other things 
  • supporting organisations in their recruiting efforts of international talent 
  • arranging courses, events and networking opportunities, including seminars and leisure activities
  • job support for accompanying spouses
  • helping to understand cultural differences for a smoother integration into Norwegian life 
  • connecting new individuals/families with others that are well established as part of our “ambassador network”
  • connecting new comers with interest organisations

WHA's Founding Partners

Impact Hub Agder
Arendal municipality
Agder county municipality

Our Team

Megan Elizabeth Strand
WHA Programme Manager
COO, Impact Hub Agder
Elisabeth Wollebæk
CEO, Impact Hub Agder
Brit Maria Marcussen
Business Development Adviser, Arendal Municipality
Marion L Baghdadi 
WHA People & Relationships Exceutive 
Kamachi Ruthramurthi-Nilssen
WHA Project Support Executive 
Rebecka Sandbacka 
WHA Marketing & Events Co-ordinator

Advisory Committee

Brit Maria Marcussen
Arendal Municipality
Linda Sætra
Arendal Municipality
Nishi Asdal
Arendal Municipality
Joanna Derdowska
Agder County Municipality
Megan Strand
Impact Hub Agder
Lisbeth Iversen
MHFA With a Heart For Arendal
Hilde Mjøs
Arendal Adult Learning Center 
Amina Bitar
NAV
Anne Simonsen
NHO Agder
Clare Jortveit
University of Agder
Eugene Guribye
NORCE
Morten Haakestad
Arendal Chamber of Commerce
Welcome Hub Agder was founded by Impact Hub and the Arendal Municipality as an integrated part of the community to welcome international talent and their families to Arendal and Agder.
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