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.
Operated by Inklusiv Agder AS in collaboration with the Arendal Municipality, 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 these challenges by collaborating with and extending support to local municipalities, businesses and organisations in Agder* to arrange courses, events and networking opportunities.
By doing so, WHA connects newcomers with what they need to know to navigate ‘the system’ in Agder and paves the way for them 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-
- providing one-to-one consultation, advice and info on a variety of day-to-day living issues such as renting and buying a home, healthcare registration, schools, amongst others, through Welcome to Agder meetings, Drop-In sessions and our Settlement Support tip box
- equipping internationals and/or their spouses with the necessary tools to secure a job through our career focused Talent Hub Agder programme and Talent Hub Database
- creating opportunities for newcomers to meet in a warm and welcoming space, make new friends, exchange ideas, share common experiences and challenges on moving to Agder through our weekly Coffee Connections sessions
- organising a variety of networking and social events throughout the year that connect newcomers to leisure activities and organisations
- connecting internationals and Norwegians through enjoyable activities to build social networks and promote long-term residency through Community Hub
- making integrating into Norwegian society smoother through our Norwegian language courses
- supporting businesses and organisations in their efforts to recruit and retain international talent through our many courses, programmes, activities and Talent Hub Database
Our Team
Advisory Committee
Welcome Hub Agder