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-
- providing one-to-one consultation and advice on a variety of day-to-day living issues such as renting and buying a home, healthcare registration, schools, etc through programmes and events such as our Welcome to Agder meetings and Drop-In sessions amongst others
- equipping internationals and/or their spouses with the necessary tools to secure a job through our career focused Talent Hub Agder programme
- 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
- 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