The Link No.364

LINK

Meet SCC Humber Chapter

Chair Camilla Carlbom Flinn, along with the Swedish businesses making a mark in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Dedicated to the Swedish-British business community since 1906.

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The local ports of Grimsby, Immingham and Hull have always been a gateway to trade across the North Sea to Scandinavia.

ABOUT THE SCC

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the United Kingdom is the ultimate platform for entrepreneurs and businesses within the Swedish-British business community. Founded in 1906 – by business and for business – we have represented, inspired and promoted our members, extended commercial relations between our countries, and delivered first-class services and events for over a century.

THE SCC TEAM

Fredrik Warneryd Chief Executive

EVENTS AND PROGRAMMES

Charlotte Hazén Events & Programmes Manager

Axel Paulsson

Scholarship Fund for Swedish Youth Abroad

Andreas Tysk Sparbanksstiftelsen Finn Scholar

Kirti Lickfett

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Jonas Eklund

Head of department

Saga Palmér

Marketing Executive

Annabel Daisley

Gull & Stellan Ljungberg Foundation Scholar

MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNITY

Christoffer Waldemarsson

Membership & Community Manager

Molly Mortimore

BUSINESS SERVICES

Anna Crona Head of department

Hannah Carlsson

Sten A. Olsson Foundation for Research and Culture Scholar

Linnea Ström

Elof Hansson Foundation Scholar

Beata Ankarcrona

CONTACT US

Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK

Sweden House, 5 Upper Montagu Street, London W1H 2AG +44 (0)20 7224 8001, info@scc.org.uk

Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK

SCCUK

A year of consolidation

2022 was a year of disruption and change. After one disastrous mini-budget, two monarchs, three Prime Ministers, and four Chancellors, the UK’s volatile political climate has hit its peak and will now hopefully be replaced by a period of stabilisation. After the market has been holding off for quite some time, we can already see indications that the UK will be choosing a middle-road for its domestic affairs, where there is potential for long-standing, multi-year reforms across parties that would be beneficial for the business climate.

We can also see signs that the UK is regaining its respectability in Europe, and that the dialogue between the UK and the EU has improved. Sweden and the UK have always been very close partners, and hopefully Sweden can be part of leading this conversation on behalf of the rest of the EU.

For the Chamber, 2023 will be a year of consolidation. In London, our events offering will be keeping its position on the world-stage – a position that my predecessor, previous Chief Executive Peter Sandberg, and the Chamber team have strived to reach over the past five years. You will be recognising the established menu of flagship events, including Tech Forum, Impact, and Outer Thinking, which revolve around Swedish strengths in tech and innovation, sustainability, leadership, and people culture. But you will see that the ingredients, topics, speakers, and collaboration partners, will constantly be updated to keep the discussion fresh and up to date.

We will also expand our reach outside of the capital region too. The SCC and Embassy of Sweden’s recent study examining the Swedish business footprint in the UK, shows that 84% of the people employed by Swedish businesses in the UK are based outside of London. Therefore, it’s only natural that we are active across the UK. At the time of writing, my team members have just returned from Gateshead in the North East of England, where we organised a successful event looking into the investments and positive impact Swedish businesses have in the region. Our recent visit in Yorkshire and the Humber region, where we met with members and peers of the network is another example of what we will be doing over the year. Read all about it on pages 8-21.

In your hand, you are holding the first issue of the new and improved Link magazine that will be published quarterly. With an extended pagination, format, and layout, we are making room for more stories from members and patrons, as well as in-depth content covering topics of interest for the Swedish-British business community.

We would like to welcome our newest members Altor, Alumni, Anyone, Aswar Sports Agency, Avenir Holdings, EnterpriseAlumni, Global WealthMAP, Murphy Solution, Pareto Securities, Poow The Food Hero, Position Green, Propel, Scalefront, Skolon, Skrym, Sprints, The Right Kind of Loud, and Vilja to the community. The membership comes with many perks, benefits, and a lot of exciting activities over the year. If you haven’t joined us already, make sure to do so in 2023.

Fredrik Warneryd Chief Executive Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK

Content

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Karin Ehnbom-Palmquist: Extraordinary Member 2022

After 24 years abroad, Swedish diplomat and SCC Extraordinary Member 2022, Karin EhnbomPalmquist, knows the value of international experience. Having worked in many different countries, from Mexico to Australia, she describes herself as “partly Swedish and partly everything else”. Through her role as Chair for the Scholarship Fund for Swedish Youth Abroad, she hopes to give similar opportunities to the younger generations.

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How to create a happier presence, here and now

Returning to work at a time of the year when motivation is lacking and keeping up with routines seems tough, it can be helpful to find keys to keep our mindset intact. Erik Fernholm, founder of personal growth platforms 29k.org and the Inner Development Goals, told us how we, through some simple steps, can improve our happiness and motivational levels, both at work and in our private life.

10

Carlbom Shipping: The family business working for Swedish interests

Stena Line: How the Swedish shipping giant is future-proofing the Humber

Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce: On a mission for a cleaner region 18

Handelsbanken: The bank with the community at heart

Grim Falfest: UK’s new Viking festival is a salute to Scandinavia

Fredrik Warneryd: Meet the SCC’s new Chief Executive

Emma Severinsson, Doctor of History: The state of society is written in lipstick

Nexer Insight: How to create value of data

THE LINK 364

EDITORS: Jonas Eklund, Saga Palmér, Annabel Daisley

COVER: Camilla Carlbom Flinn, Director, Carlbom Shipping

PHOTO: Chris Frear

MEET THE PATRONS

The patronship of the Chamber consists of a core group of member businesses, all committed to the long-term support of the Swedish-British business community. The patrons are advocates for the members of the Chamber and in return, the patronship comes with a range of added benefits, exclusive access and invites as well as extended marketing and networking opportunities.

Founded in 1992, the patronship has grown steadily and consists today of a vast number of member businesses that represent a wide range of industries, from the financial sector and manufacturing, to retail and tech. The patrons reflect the strength of the Chamber’s business platform and represent some of the largest brands in Swedish-British business.

SWEDISH BUSINESS FOOTPRINT in

YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER

TEXT: JONAS EKLUND

Swedish businesses have a positive outlook for their presence in the UK and are making long-term commitments to their footprint in the country. A recent study shows that 21 Swedish businesses alone, employ close to 4,500 people in Yorkshire and the Humber, and will be investing in hundreds of new jobs within the next five years. The Link travelled to Immingham to meet with some of the businesses and stakeholders that are making a mark in the region.

Yorkshire and the Humber covers more than 15,000km2 and is the fifth largest region in England. Its population of almost 5.5 million (2019) makes it the third most populated region in England.

North Yorkshire stands for nearly half of the region’s agricultural production, while manufacturing is a significant industry in the sub-regions of Eastern Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

The region has long and strong links with the Nordic countries, not the least with its many historically important seaports. The Port of Immingham is the UK’s largest port by tonnage, handling around 46 million tonnes of cargo every year.

4,500 jobs in the region…

In a recent study, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden, asked Swedish

businesses how they contribute to the regional growth of the UK. Where are job opportunities created, and what investments are Swedish businesses making in the UK?

The study shows that 87 Swedish businesses alone, employ almost 80,000 people across the UK. Although London might have a denser concentration of head offices, 84% of jobs are distributed outside of the Greater London region. In fact, 21 of the participating businesses with operations in Yorkshire and the Humber, stated that they employ almost 4,500 people in the region.

…and almost 550 new jobs within five years

81% of the businesses participating in the study plan to expand their teams within the next 5 years – creating close to 9,000 new jobs. Almost 550 of these jobs will be going to Yorkshire and the Humber, which is an addition of 12.5% to the current employment base, indicating a significant investment.

Read more about the Swedish investments and initiatives that are contributing to the development of the region, on pages 10-23.

 4,500  +12.5%

REGIONAL FACTS SHEET

Population: 5.5 million

Major cities: Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield, and York

Key industries: Shipping, agriculture, manufacturing

Universities: 12 universities in the region, including University of Leeds, University of York, and University of Sheffield.

Travel: Main airport in Leeds-Bradford. From London to Leeds by train takes 2.5 hours. The 2,2 km long Humber Bridge connects Kingston upon Hull with Northern Lincolnshire, supporting 33,000 crossings per day.

With 46 million tonnes of cargo passing through every year, the Port of Immingham is the UK’s largest port by tonnage.

4,500 SWEDISH JOBS IN THE REGION

21 Swedish businesses alone, employ today 4,500 people in Yorkshire and the Humber.

+12.5% NEW JOBS WITHIN 5 YEARS

Within the next 5 years, these businesses plan to invest in almost 550 new jobs in the region, an addition of 12.5% to the current employment base.

CAR LBOM SHIPPING

FOUR GENERATIONS OF SWEDISH CON SULS

For more than a century, Carlbom Shipping Ltd has been representing Sweden in the Humber. Present in the region since 1897, both the business and the Carlbom family have played an important role for the Swedish community, and continue to do so up to this day. The Link travelled to Grimsby to meet with SCC Humber Chapter Chair Camilla Carlbom Flinn, to learn more about the business and her family’s fascinating story.

TEXT: SAGA PALMÉR | PHOTO: CHRIS FREAR

M“y great-grandfather, John Carlbom grew up in Sweden, then emigrated to Grimsby and set-up John Carlbom & Co in 1897. Much of the business focused on the trade between Sweden and the UK, which involved the export of coal and import of timber products.”

Having spent his youth working in the shipping industry in Sweden, John was well-equipped with both experience and connections when he decided to set up a shipping company in Grimsby. Camilla describes her greatgrandfather as very ambitious, and closely tied to his country of birth.

“John Carlbom was very dynamic, he built his business from scratch – as a ship broker, a ships agent and eventually a ship owner, with a focus on Scandinavia. His Swedish roots had a huge influence on both his business activities and his family.”

When the Swedish Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1906, John was one of the founding members through John Carlbom & Co, and his commitment to the Swedish community was as wide as it was deep. In 1906, John was named Honorary Consul for Sweden in Grimsby and Immingham, a role that has stayed in the Carlbom family through generations.

“The role of Honorary Consuls is a historic one, representing the interests of a nation in the local region. I am the fourth generation of the family to be an Honorary Consul for Sweden, and although the role has changed over time, we’re still here to help Swedes in distress, to offer administrative assistance, and moreover to promote trade, business interests, cultural events, and tourism whenever possible.”

In 1998 when Camilla’s father, Anthony Carlbom, founded the SCC’s Humber Chapter, the Swedish connection to the region grew even stronger.

“My father was also passionate about promoting Sweden, through business, cultural and educational initiatives. Working with Pia Helena Ormerod at the SCC, he established the Humber Chapter of the SCC to promote Swedish interests on the Humber. “

The region has important historical ties to Sweden and the rest of the Nordic countries, which have, through the years, managed to build up a good reputation among local businesses.

“The local ports of Grimsby, Immingham and Hull have always been a gateway to trade across the North Sea to mainland Europe and Scandinavia – to Gothenburg, Esbjerg and the Baltic Sea. The Swedish brand has a lot of respect here, so it’s no surprise that Nordic businesses continue to flourish here – companies like Finnlines, DFDS and of course Stena Line.”

Just like the role as Honorary Consul stayed within the Carlbom family, so did the shipping company. Today, Camilla is Chairman and Director of Carlbom Shipping Ltd, which has grown to include a wide range of operations and services.

“Expanding from our roots in ship broking, we now provide a range of shipping services including ships agency, logistics and transport, warehousing and customs services for the offshore wind sector, the tanker trade, liner services and dry bulk cargo.”

Last summer, Carlbom Shipping Ltd was acquired by Pentagon Freight Services Ltd, one of the world’s leading privately owned logistics providers to the energy sector. Camilla believes the deal will open up new possibilities for the business.

“It’s been a really exciting time, as our new partnership means we can combine our specialisations and offer an enhanced service to all our clients, from traditional ships agency to logistics, warehousing, customs brokerage, project management and procurement – all under one roof. “

And even after the turmoil seen in the UK in the last year, Camilla is optimistic about the future. She believes that the latest initiatives taking place in the Humber will create exciting opportunities, both for Carlbom Shipping, and for the region at large.

“Locally, there are so many incredible new projects developing – from the Humber Freeport to the development of the Gigastack Renewable Hydrogen project, and likewise with the Zero Carbon Humber initiative. Our region is at the forefront in developing world-leading partnerships to build the world's first net zero industrial region; so we have much to look forward to and much to be proud of.”

FROM COAL TO CLEAN HOW THE HUMBER IS SHIFTING FOCUS

TEXT: SAGA PALMÉR | PHOTOS: CHRIS FREAR

As the largest port in the UK by volume of tonnage, the Port of Immingham is not only crucial for the growth and development of the Humber region, but for the whole country. Already handling 46 million tonnes of cargo every year, the port will continue to expand, and become an increasingly important gateway to Europe. The Link spoke with Dafydd Williams, Regional Head of Communications, Humber, at Associated British Ports (ABP), about the ambitious plans for the ports of the Humber, and the growing importance of Swedish businesses.

The Port of Immingham is the largest port in the UK by volume of tonnage, handling more than 46 tonnes every year. Originally built for the export of coal from the Derbyshire and Yorkshire coalfields, it officially opened in 1912, and celebrated 110 years of presence last year.

“Historically coal was the big story of Immingham. But of course, in very recent years, coal has dropped off in quantity as the UK moves away from burning fossil fuels. Today, oil is probably the biggest product, about a quarter of all UK refined oil is handled here. Then we have biomass, containers, steel, and so on.”

Dafydd says that many of the products handled in the ports are coming in from Sweden, and other Scandinavian countries. “Scandinavia is one of our most important markets. About a third of all the UK’s imports of forest products, predominantly timber, comes into the Humber, most of it from Scandinavia. The pandemic has been a real driver on that market, as many people decided to refurbish while working from home.”

The Humber port complex, made up by the ports of Immingham, Grimsby, Hull and Goole, is the biggest port complex in the UK. Handling about 17% of the UK freight, it is one of the most important parts of ABP’s operations.”

Founded in 1983, following the privatisation of British Transport Docks Board, the Associated British Ports (ABP) is the biggest port operator in the UK today. Managing around 25% of the UK’s sea-borne trade, the 21 ports included in the network are spread out around England, Wales and Scotland.

“The Humber is comfortably the biggest part of the ABP empire. Although it consists of only 4 out of the 21 ports included in the ABP, it is representing about 60% of the company's revenue, and about 55% of the company's staff. In other words, more than half of the company is concentrated within these four ports.”

Due to the large number of operations in the region, it ranks high on the list of polluting areas within the UK. Instead of focusing on the challenges this brings, Dafydd highlights the number of opportunities opening up for businesses working within green technology and sustainable energy solutions.

“The Humber is the most carbon polluting part of the UK, but the good news is that it's also the biggest opportunity for decarbonisation. We want to be ground-breaking and lead the way for other, similar places who wants to transition into greener operations.”

This makes the Humber a crucial area in the Government’s aim to reach Net Zero by 2050, creating opportunities especially for businesses facilitating the green transition. The so-called Humber 2030 Vision includes several projects aiming to turn the area greener, cleaner and more sustainable.

“The strategy includes 18 different projects, which combined represents £15bn of private sector investment in green energy and decarbonisation. The most exciting thing for us, from a port perspective, is that the only one thing that all these 18 projects have in common is that they’re all customers of ABP.”

One of the most important businesses operating in the Port of Immingham is SCC patron Stena Line. The Swedish freight and ferry giant is making a £100m

investment to build a new ferry terminal and sign a 50-years lease in the port. The terminal will allow for a new type of vessel to enter the port, and increase business opportunities not only for Stena Line, but for the port as a whole.

“Stena Line’s 50-year deal is really exciting. Ultimately, it means that we lock in a partnership that ensures continuous trade flowing between Sweden, other parts Scandinavia, and the UK for a very long time.”

STENA LINE IMMINGHAM FUTURE-PROOFING THE PORTS

With a £100m investment and a 50-year lease, Stena Line Immingham’s latest project is playing a major role for the region. By building a new terminal at the Port of Immingham, Stena Line will not only create opportunities for its own business, but for many businesses present in the port and its surroundings. The Link visited Stena Line’s premises to speak with Marcel van der Vlugt, Project Manager at Stena Line Immingham, about the impressive plans and their impact on the Humber.

The new Immingham river terminal will bring a substantial boost to the region’s economy in terms of jobs and revenue,” says Marcel van der Vlugt, Senior Manager Port Development - BR North Sea, as the Link meets him at the Stena Line office at the Port of Immingham.

“As freight volumes continue to increase, we also need to increase terminal capacity. This is the next step in a long-term strategic vision for our routes between the UK and Continental Europe.”

The addition of a new river terminal will not only allow for more vessels to enter the port; its placement will make it accessible to vessels that currently aren’t able to enter the port due to their size.

“The new river terminal will make it possible to deploy larger vessels on the route between Immingham and Rotterdam. Consequentially, we will be able to meet the important business needs of our customers and potentially grow our route network in the future.“

Changing demands

Stena Line first started its operations in the Humber in 2000, with a service running between Killingholme and the Hook

of Holland. 14 years later, the company added a second service, running between Killingholme and Rotterdam, which was moved to the Port of Immingham in 2022.

“This region is extremely important for Stena Line, and it has a lot of potential for the future,” Marcel says and explains: “The Humber South Bank is ideally situated to link the port into the UK motorway network; most major conurbations can be reached with 3-4 hours by truck, allowing drivers to roundtrip back to the area on a daily basis.“

According to Marcel, the demand for Stena Line’s services has increased significantly in the last decade, with unaccompanied freight growing the fastest in numbers.

“Between 2010 and 2021, the total shortsea demand on the Humber Ports increased by 38.9%. Unaccompanied Ro-Ro freight is by far the most important category, accounting for 57.7% of the Humber shortsea import volumes. It’s apparent that the Humber area represents a vital national gateway for the Ro-Ro sector.”

He believes that the pandemic played a certain role in the development, as it made businesses rethink the way they operate.

TEXT: SAGA PALMÉR | PHOTOS: CHRIS FREAR

“This region is extremely important for Stena Line, and it has a lot of potential for the future.”

OUR MANY JOURNEYS HAVE ONE Shared Direction

To ensure sustained progress, we are accelerating our commitment to create a more sustainable future for aviation by investing in sustainable solutions and supporting innovation.

SAS has been at the forefront of driving sustainable aviation for decades and it remains a top priority for us. Lowering CO2 emissions is our first priority, and we are working hard to reduce our climate impact. One goal is to reduce our total CO2 emissions by 25 percent by 2025 and for all domestic SAS flights to be fossil free by 2030.

“During the pandemic, many manufacturers and traders were reassessing their supply chains which, in many cases, lead to increased inventory, and, as a consequence, less demand for accompanied units and increased demand for unaccompanied.”

This change in demand equally affected the regions and routes used for freight. “In the logistics industry, the upshot has seen volumes switch from the short straits such as Calais/Dover, which is heavily concentrating on driver accompanied freight.”

Investing in Immingham

Marcel is confident that the trend will continue, and that the ports of the Humber will continue to play a key role for the UK shipping industry. He believes that the £100m deal, and the 50 year-lease signed between Stena Line and Associated British Ports, ABP, sends an signal about the company’s intention to invest in the region.

“The length of the agreement is important as it sends a message to our current and future customers, showing that we are a trusted partner and that we are here to stay. In turn, this enables them to develop their own logistics solutions locally, including warehousing, distribution and so on.”

In order to progress the project, a Development Consent Order (DCO) has to be obtained through the Planning Inspectorate and once signed off by The Secretary of State for Transport, the team will start working full speed with completing the terminal on time. Once up and running, the workforce is expected to grow significantly, adding up to 100 people.

“The main focus of our efforts until mid-2025 will be to deliver and set up the new river terminal, along with its landside operations. These will be located within the port, and operated by Stena Line staff, as we want to make sure that our customers continue to receive the level of service they have come to expect on a Stena Line route.”

HOW THE HUMBER IS CLEANING UP ITS PORTS

TEXT: SAGA PALMÉR

With an impressive number of almost 2,000 members and affiliates, the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is uniting both businesses and interests from all around the region. Combining the area’s investments in renewable energy with the ports’ new Freeport status, the activity is expected to increase and the network to expand even more. “This will be a huge opportunity for the region,” says Mike Whitehead, President for the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.

Historically focused on coal and oil, the Humber is crucial to the UK economy. But the large number of local operations leads to equally large CO2 emissions, making the industrial powerhouse crucial in the Government’s plan to reach Net Zero by 2050. Consequentially, the Humber region is putting large investments into turning itself greener and more sustainable. According to Mike, renewable energy, such as offshore wind, is a growing industry offering major opportunities for businesses and investments.

“The Government wants the Humber to be the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy. If the UK is to meet the 2050 Net Zero target, this region is crucial, which is why there are lots of new industries flooding into the area. Carbon capture is just one of them, another one is the transformation of waste into jet fuel. Locally, we produce almost 20,000 tons of jet fuel a year, which is distributed to British Airways.”

Another key strategy to turn the area greener is through developing carbon capture usage and storage, and by investing in low-carbon fuel hydrogen technology.

The port at the heart of the Chamber

Dating all the way back to 1837, the Chamber was originally established to tackle problems with pirates attacking the port. Today, centuries later, the port is still at the heart of its work, as well as the driver of the region.

On 3 March 2021, then-chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that eight UK ports would be gaining Freeport status, including the ports of the Humber. This means that the area, and businesses operating within it, will have access to simpler planning, cheaper customs, tariffs VAT and duties, as well as certain tax breaks to encourage construction, private investment, and creation of new jobs.

”Turning the area into a freeport will allow local businesses to operate outside of customs and tax rates. This creates great opportunities for the region, and will increase local activity and attract external investors.”

In other words, the ports of the Humber will continue to serve as a gateway for global trade, connecting businesses across the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world.

THE BANK WITH THE COMMUNITY AT HEART

Being one of the biggest banks in Sweden, Handelsbanken’s Grimsby branch is using a different approach than your everyday UK high-street bank. Instead of focusing on product campaigns, sales targets and bonus incentives, the team is driven by their sustainable values, building long-term relationships with their customers and delivering a service that is truly bespoke. The Link visited the office at Handelsbanken Grimsby to learn how they keep their customers and community close.

We’re rooted in the local community and work to a ‘church spire’ principle, meaning that ideally, we should be able to see all our customers from the top of the local church spire. This means our customers are located close by geographically. In our case, from Grimsby to Louth and surrounding parts of North East Lincolnshire. This way, we keep our customers close and know what’s going on in the area.“ says Julie Williamson, Branch Manager at Handelsbanken Grimsby.

Several of the nine team members have a background in working for High Street banks, and they think that Handelsbanken’s strategy differs significantly.

“At many High Street banks, if a customer wants a relationship service with a dedicated manager, they may have to meet a certain criteria, this may be turnover, income or a certain level of deposits. They often view their business from a transactional perspective, and meet with clients for specific reasons, such as them needing a loan or a mortgage. Handelsbanken is very different from that.” Julie says and explains:

“Handelsbanken’s priority is to build and nurture long-term relationships with our customers; by staying and growing with them through their financial lifecycles. We see ourselves as a ‘relationship bank’,

TEXT: SAGA PALMÉR | PHOTO: CHRIS FREAR

we speak to our customers regularly, educate them and review their finances together on a yearly basis.”

The team organises discussions and seminars on a regular basis, where customers and local professionals can meet and discuss current issues. “It could be a seminar or a breakfast discussion where we invite local professionals to chat with us about the local economy, current and upcoming trends, or educational seminars for our customers about inheritance tax planning.”

Other events are of a more festive nature. The team especially enjoys showing their Swedish identity by inviting customers to enjoy Swedish traditions and celebrations. “We just had a St Lucia event in December, where we invited customers to come in for snacks, drinks and to catch up with the team and other customers.”

The Swedish heritage is not only visible in the open events, but also in the office and internal organisation. “We try to work by and live the Swedish culture. Colleagues from the UK go to a conference in Sweden every year, and when you first start a leadership role you get to go

to Sweden as part of your introduction. We also have a fika every Friday with mandatory IKEA cinnamon buns.”

The team at Handelsbanken is not only looking after its own customers, but the whole community. Every year, they join forces and spend a day doing charity work. “The Bank encourages all staff to take an annual Corporate Social Responsibility day, which we can use to support a local charity, such as the local foodbank or a homeless shelter. We can also raise money for a charity, and Handelsbanken will match the amount we raised.”

Handelsbanken’s initiatives seem to be a success. According to Julie, the events usually have a great turnout, and the customer circle keeps growing, even without any form of marketing. “I think we have a really good reputation in the marketplace. Instead of relying on marketing campaigns, our business comes from existing customers and local professionals recommending us to their customers. It’s all word of mouth referrals, and these words seem to be in our favor”.

GRIMSBY’S SALUTE TO ITS SCANDINAVIAN ROOTS

At the end of last summer, two longships with 100 Vikings sailed into Grimsby, giving visitors a chance to relive the town’s founding days. Named after Grim, a Scandinavian Viking, Grim Falfest was not only a lesson in local history, but an opportunity to increase tourism and business awareness. The Link spoke with Julia Thompson, chair of VESR CIC, and one of the organisers of Grim Falfest 2022.

Our aim was to grow tourism and support local businesses who struggled to gain attention, not least after the pandemic,“ Julia Thompson, chair of VESR (Visitor Economy Services and Retail Group) CIC, explains. ”We were hoping that the festival would not only generate direct income, but also bring more long-term benefits to the local industries; both through tourism, and through improved perception of the area, which could help increase the likelihood of recruiting skilled workers.”

The idea for the three-day festival sprang out of an initiative to raise awareness of Grimsby. Julia and the rest of the team wanted to increase tourism and local business activity, especially after the critical time of the pandemic. Aware of the success of the Jorvik Viking Festival in York, the largest of its kind, they believed the concept would be perfect for Grimsby – a town with Scandinavian roots.

The story of Grim(sby)

Legend has it that a Viking named Grim once saved a Danish prince called Havelok, married to the English princess Goldeboru. According to the story, Havelok’s and Goldeboru’s fathers, the kings of Denmark and England, passed away, and villains deprived the children of their inheritance. Goldeboru was imprisoned while Havelok was sent off to be drowned by a Viking named Grim. But instead of drowning him, Grim saved the young prince and brought him to England. Landing on the coast of Lincolnshire, Grim settled down and founded what is known today as Grimsby.

Based on this folk tale, the first edition of Grim Falfest took shape, delivered with partners from Heritage Lincolnshire, the county’s history charity. Taking place between the 23 and the 25 September 2022, it included everything from

TEXT: SAGA PALMÉR | PHOTOS: CHRIS FREAR

traditional dancing, crafts and food, to a spectacle teaching the Grimbarians about their Viking heritage.

“We had over 100 Viking re-enactors in costume sailing into Grimsby and bringing the arrival of Grim to life. There were more than 1,000 people watching the long ships arrive, we also had music and entertainment, a market and a stage with folk dancing. We also arranged a Viking reenactment camp with tents, a blacksmith, food and crafts.”

With an impressive turnout of over 22,000 visitors, the first edition of Grimsby FalFest was a success. Julia says

she is optimistic about the future of the festival, hoping that the Vikings and their ships will reappear on the horizon this year.

“As this was the first time organising the Grim Falfest, we weren't sure if anybody would come. Then 22,000 people came. We were completely amazed,” she says and continues: “However, the festival is a joint effort, and we are depending on the support of local business sponsors and volunteers. But after the amazing result last year, I am hoping that interest will continue to grow, and that others are as excited as I am to see the Vikings returning to Grimsby.”

PREVIOUS EVENTS

1 December 2022:

Swedish-British Summit: Outer Thinking at Nobu Hotel in London.

2 December 2022:

Annual Christmas Luncheon at The Landmark in London.

From left to right:

1) The guests could enjoy a traditional St Lucia Procession.

2) Anna Kinberg Batra (Investor & Board Executive) at the Swedish-British Summit 2022: Outer Thinking.

3) Jakob Nordfeldt (Skrym), winner of the pitching competition at Outer Thinking 2022.

4) Magnus Lewis-Olsson (Saab) and Air Chief Marshal The Lord Peach (Stuart) GBE KCB DL.

5) The luncheon featured traditional Swedish Christmas food.

6) Mamma Mia! The Party got the guests warmed up for the after party.

7) Former SCC Chief Executive Peter Sandberg welcoming the audience at the Swedish-British Summit 2022: Outer Thinking.

8) Hélène Barnekow (Ascension), Alex Haddon (IC Design) and Annika Winsth (Nordea).

9) The SCC team celebrating the Swedish-British friendship on stage.

10) Andrew Bowie MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Exports) and Swedish Ambassador H.E. Mikaela Kumlin Granit.

11) SCC’s Fredrik Warneryd, Jan Olsson and Peter Sandberg.

12) Camilla Dewoon (Scania), Antony Froggatt (Chatham House) and Greg Lucas (Ikea) speaking at Outer Thinking 2022.

The SCC’s Extraordinary Member 2022 KARIN EHNBOM-PALMQUIST

TEXT: SAGA PALMÉR | PHOTOS: RADEK DRANIKOWSKI

After 24 years abroad, Swedish diplomat and SCC Extraordinary Member 2022, Karin Ehnbom-Palmquist, knows the value of international experience. Having worked in many different countries, from Mexico to Australia, she describes herself as “partly Swedish and partly everything else”. Through her role as Chair for the Scholarship Fund for Swedish Youth Abroad, she hopes to give similar opportunities to the younger generations.

Ithink everybody should try to widen their horizons and avoid staying in the place they grew up. It's only healthy to try different perspectives, to gain international understanding, and to see how people think in other countries.”

Karin understands the value of international exchange, both from a personal and a professional point of view. During her years as a Swedish diplomat, she has been stationed in many countries and continents, and traces her passion for international affairs back to her student years.

“My international career started at the Student Union, where I was the international ombudsman, and took care of foreign students. Later on, I was accepted to the Foreign Service, and I’ve been a diplomat ever since, posted abroad for 24 years, living in many different countries.”

Through the years, Karin has held a number of diplomatic positions, and represented Sweden all around the world. She has been Swedish Ambassador in several countries, such as Mexico and Australia, and later, Secretary General for the NGO Swedes Worldwide. She believes the many years of representing Sweden abroad has made her both more and less Swedish.

“In this type of life, you have your heart in different places. While the further away from Sweden you live, the closer you feel to the Swedish culture. Reversely,

when you work close to Sweden, you'll feel more international. I feel as if I am partly Swedish, and partly everything else.“

Passing it on to the next generation

Having spent most of her life abroad, Karin deeply believes in the value of international exchange, especially at an early point in life. Through the years, she has worked actively to provide young people with opportunities worldwide, and been both a mentor and promoter for students.

“I have always liked working with young people – it gives me a lot of inspiration, new ideas and helps me to keep up to date. It is extremely beneficial to work together across generations, as each generation will bring something different to the table.”

Since 2018, she holds the position as Chair for the Scholarship Fund for Swedish Youth Abroad, a foundation that grants scholarships for young people seeking to gain work experience abroad. It was through this role that she first got involved with the Swedish Chambers.

“We have collaborations with several chambers of commerce around the world, so when I was elected Chair, I got in contact with the SCC UK through the previous Chief Executive Peter Sandberg. Ever since, the SCC and I have had an excellent relationship, working together with the same agenda – to provide young people with an invaluable, international platform. “

“ It is extremely beneficial to work together across generations, as each generation will bring something different to the table.”

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And according to Karin, these types of exchanges can be just as beneficial for Sweden as a country, as they are for the young participants.

“All countries are competing for talent, and for Sweden, it can be quite challenging to attract talented people from abroad and have them settling down, for example, in northern Sweden. But when these young people go abroad, they acquire new perspectives and knowledge, and when they come back, Sweden can leverage their experiences.”

Building a global network Karin looks forward to continuing her work with the Scholarship Fund for Swedish Youth Abroad, hoping to expand it even more in the upcoming years. She wants to see a broader range of opportunities offered to the youths, as well as a longer list of possible destinations.

“Our goal is to widen the scholarship; to give more opportunities for students to go and work abroad, but also to expand it to more countries. We have a strong presence in Europe and Asia, but we could increase the number of countries in both continents, as well as put more focus on Africa and South America.”

She would also like to create a platform where the scholars could connect with each other, both during and after their year abroad.

“I want to follow the example of SCC UK and start an alumni group, for current and previous scholars. I imagine they could really help each other, with everything from connections and job opportunities to cross-cultural advice. As we work with between 15 and 20 international chambers, and have scholars all over the world, I believe we could create an invaluable platform together.”

IN OTHER NEWS

London ranked as the world’s most AI-driven city

According to recent research by the Business Name Generator, London leads the way as the world’s most AIdriven city, followed by New York City and Singapore. The study analysed different metrics, such as AI venture capital investment and the number of AI initiatives, as well as career and education opportunities. The results showed that London is boasting 2,645 AI events for those looking to learn more about the technology and a healthy investment total of more than £20,5m to date.

AJ Products launches new storage solution perfect for the modern office

SCC member and workplace furniture supplier AJ products has presented its new QBUS range, offering comprehensive flexible storage for the modern workplace. The series features classic storage furniture such as bookcases, cabinets and practical mail sorting units; as well as innovative new options such as storage combined with a comfortable seating area and lockable personal storage, suitable for communal and reception areas.

docStribute partners with Penrith Building Society

Penrith Building Society is joining forces with SCC member and regtech startup docStribute, to turn its paperwork more sustainable and more secure. By switching from physical to digital documentation, the UK building society will reduce its carbon emissions by 98% compared to current processes. docStribute's services will allow the members to upload and access their documents digitally, as well as to transfer and verify them online, in a secure manner.

No.1 Wine & Spirits now available in the UK

SCC member, and wine and spirits company, No.1 Wine & Spirits has launched its UK website, making its products available for online purchase in the UK. No.1 Wine & Spirits was established in 2007 and comes from the Swedish town Vänersborg, producing renowned beverages such as Swedish Vodka, Gin, Rum and Punsch, on the shores of Lake Vänern.

DUG launches at CLF in the UK

SCC member Veg of Lund's plant-based drink DUG is now available at UK's leading health food wholesaler CLF for distribution to the UK's health-conscious retailers. "The agreement with CLF is the start of an exciting phase of growth and outreach for Veg of Lund,” says Fredrik Carling, CEO of Veg of Lund.

Svenska kyrkan i London

- en kyrka för svenskar i Storbritannien och på Irland.

Uppdraget för Svenska kyrkans församlingar utomlands är detsamma som för en församling i Sverige; att fira gudstjänst, bedriva diakoni, mission och undervisning.

I Svenska kyrkan förrättas dop, vigslar och begravningar, du erbjuds en gemenskap och, om du vill, ett engagemang i någon del av verksamheten.

I Svenska kyrkan finns många verksamheter, en del riktade till olika målgrupper, andra öppna för alla.

När livet inte blir som du ha tänkt dig, du hamnar i kris eller livets hjul snurrar för fort, kan Svenska kyrkan erbjuda samtalsstöd.

READY FOR THE WORLD STAGE

TEXT: JONAS EKLUND | PHOTO: RADEK DRANIKOWSKI

A few months into his role as Chief Executive for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK, the Link sat down with Fredrik Warneryd to learn more about his background, vision, how Swedish business has been at the forefront in sustainability, tech and management for decades – and why the Chamber now is ready for the world stage.

Icame straight from university in Sweden to London as a 23-year-old, when I was offered a role at the French Banque Paribas,” Fredrik recalls.

Since then, he has worked on his track record in the City of London with leading positions within the Nordic teams of UBS and Credit Suisse. “I have worked with many different cultures and many different international management styles, but the common denominator through those banks has always been Swedish and Scandinavian customers. So, how they view the world has been reflected to me. And you can say that many of my clients have been my mentors as well.”

Swedish values

Speaking from his own experience, Fredrik says that the Swedish pension and fund companies have for decades been leading within sustainability, with focus on technology and innovation, management, and people culture. “These things are very much the pillars of what the Chamber is about as well.”

When it comes to sustainability, he has seen that the Swedish pension and fund companies have for a long time put pressure on the Swedish and Scandinavian companies in general, to come up with a multi-decade plan to tackle those global risks that now are on the international agenda. “I think that we see the results of that mentality, the way Swedish companies are now developing.”

A good fit

After having spent 28 years in London, Fredrik describes how he came to a point in his career where he, for the last two years, had been helping businesses in their growth stage to scale up. “I always hoped that in the later part of my career, I could be doing something much more valuable for a broader group of stakeholders. As the

opportunity came about with the Chamber, I looked at my track record, my network, and I saw a lot of the commonalities and that there was a good fit.”

Ready for the world stage

Fredrik believes that the Chamber has earned a lot of respect over the years. “The Chamber has been around for 117 years, and we can go back further than that when it comes to the relations between the UK and Sweden. And many of the companies that have been at the forefront of the technological evolution, have been members from the very start.”

In recent years, the Chamber has built a business platform that is ready for the world stage, according to Fredrik. “The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK has really taken a step up when it comes to professionalising the platform, taking initiatives, expanding the staff, and by that, advanced to a bigger stage. The vision forward is to continue bringing the Swedish solutions to those big issues, to the world stage. London is one of the top cities – if not the top city – to showcase what we can do in Sweden.”

“But when it comes to the London stage, we can be even braver and work with international media to make sure we are spreading the message out in the world via London with the platform we have today.”

Swedish businesses across the UK

With numerous Swedish multi-million-pound investments coming into the UK, Sweden is today the UK’s 8th largest foreign investor. And the majority of these investments go to regions outside of London. “We see what the UK government is trying to do in terms of ‘levelling up’. There are a lot of incentives to look at the rest of the UK, with a multiple number of cities with

millions of inhabitants. That is a big market, and most of our members are based very much outside of London.”

“That is also in our ambition, to really work with our network across the UK, and to reflect the Swedish investments that are taking place, back to Sweden and to London.”

Concrete evidence

Fredrik says that there are many examples of how the Chamber is helping develop businesses by connecting people with the right peers in the network, not least through the business services team that helps Swedish companies establish in the UK, once graduated from the Nordic or Swedish markets. “But we can be even more powerful when it comes to concrete evidence of what we try to do on a day-to-day basis of promoting business –and giving business a platform to promote itself.”

The vision forward is to continue bringing the Swedish solutions to the big issues, to the world stage.

“

PREVIOUS EVENTS

Over the year, the SCC hosts a wide range of different events such as Business Breakfasts, Rountable Discussions and Business Insights for our Young Professionals community. Here are some of the events hosted in the previous months.

1) Jan Olsson (SCC), Börje Ekholm (Ericsson) and Fredrik Warneryd (SCC) at a Business Breakfast hosted by Deutsche Bank.

2) Sam Cassidy (Invest Newcastle) and Brian Aitken (Journalist) discussing the possibilities of the North East at the Swedish Business Footprint in the North East event.

3) Kristian Elvefors (Volvo Car UK) and Christoffer Waldemarsson (SCC) discussing the automotive industry.

4) The audience listening to Börje Ekholm (Ericsson) speaking about the importance of connectivity in today’s society as well as taking a leap into what the future holds.

5) Sally Blake (Silent Games), speaking at our Swedish Business Footprint in the North East event, about how the investment made by Swedish Embracer Group has enabled the studio to grow at rapid pace and plan for the longer term.

6) The Evening Talk with Kristian Elvefors (Volvo Car UK) sparking conversations among the Young Professionals community.

7) Börje Ekholm (Ericsson) and Nik Gowing (Thinking the Unthinkable).

8) The Evening Talk with Kristian Elvefors (Volvo Car UK) was filled with great enthusiasm and high participation in the conversation.

9) Anna Crona (SCC) welcoming the businesses at our Swedish Business Footprint in the North East event.

10) Networking after the Business Breakfast with Börje Ekholm (Ericsson).

11) The audience listening to the panels at our Swedish Business Footprint in the Noth East event.

12) David Cox (No Black Book) and Jan Olsson (SCC).

13) The Young Professionals community listening to Kristian Elvefors (Volvo Car UK) discussing the importance of a good work culture.

13) Börje Ekholm (Ericsson) welcoming the guests to the Business Breakfast

From left to right:

THE STATE OF SOCIETY IS WRITTEN IN LIPSTICK

What can fashion and consumption tell us about today’s society? Quite a lot, if you ask Emma Severinsson, Doctor of History and Lecturer in fashion studies at Lund University in Sweden. A surging demand for lipstick, or the return of a historic era on the catwalk, can all be reverberating events in society. We spoke to Emma about current fashion trends, how they are related to the state of the world, and what the history of fashion can teach us about the time we live in.

There is much more to fashion than meets the eye. For example, if you look at it as a social phenomenon, it entails how we perceive each other, including beliefs surrounding status and gender,” Emma says.

A Doctor of History and a Lecturer in fashion studies, Emma is combining her two interests by researching fashion history. In her doctoral thesis, she investigated the iconic ‘modern woman’ of the 1920s and how this phenomenon was perceived in Sweden. “Now I’m continuing my research in a project called ‘Mode i folkhemmet’ (fashion in the Swedish welfare state) spanning from the 1930s to the 1990s.”

Emma explains that by looking at the world through a fashion point-of-view, you can spot different societal changes, including different types of crises, and draw conclusions on how we want to be perceived; if we want to stand out – or not be seen all. “Fashion can even be directly political, for example through the prohibition of wearing certain clothes in different places or nations. My interest in fashion lies in the ‘dressed body’ and what it means in a wider societal structure.”

The lipstick effect

When the Great Depression swept over the world in the late 1920s, the fashion industry saw, quite naturally, sales of fashion items and clothing declining, while the cosmetics industry saw a boost in demand of more affordable products, such as lipstick. “The ‘lipstick effect’

is now an established term in popular history, and it shows how consumption habits can say quite a lot about major events in society.”

Evidently, even when facing a deep recession, we will not stop consuming, but we will change our consumption patterns. “We still have this urge to renew ourselves. The lipstick has become a symbol of renewal by small means, and how a pair of red lips can change an entire outfit.”

Adapting to the times

In her research, Emma has studied fashion magazines through the decades to define the spirit of the times. She can see some of the patterns, that were evident in the 1930s, repeating in today’s fashion trends. “During the crisis in the 1930’s and during the Second World War, fashion magazines didn’t stop putting out fashion news, but called for more modesty and adaptation to the times, by updating an outfit through adding a fabric flower to it. Today, we can see the same trend with attachable fabric flowers and fringes, that allows you to update an outfit instead of buying a new one.”

Escaping reality through fashion

According to Emma, fashion can serve as an escape from the harsh reality. “Many of us can’t afford to buy everything we see on social media or in fashion magazines, but we use these outlets to dream away and to find inspiration. During the Second World War, we could see magazines taking a more humorous approach and

TEXT: JONAS EKLUND | PHOTO: INGEMAR HULTQVIST

told readers to ‘dress like parrots’ and to live a little. This resembles what we witnessed after the pandemic, when we saw a lot of neon colours and patterns.”

Glitter and sequins, or second hand and crochet?

Coming out from the pandemic, Emma noticed somewhat of a historical review on the catwalks, with crinolines and full skirts, similar to Christian Dior’s iconic ‘New Look’ collection from 1947 in the backwaters of the war. “After the pandemic we were longing for some glitter, sequins and a bit of glamour,” Emma says and establishes that with the following war in Europe and increasing cost of living, we are now finding ourselves in another sort of crisis, which possibly could breathe air into do-ityourself fashion, second hand, and crocheted garments.

“Already during the pandemic, we saw a rise in do-ityourself fashion, which could be growing into a trend in 2023, but it is too early to determine the real effects of the ongoing financial crisis, more than perhaps our personal finances requiring us to refrain from consuming or turn to second hand options.”

Difficult to make predictions

Ever so often, Emma is asked to gaze into the future and make fashion predictions. “On those occasions, I point out that I’m a historian. You can look at trends and use history to look ahead, but it is very difficult to predict the effects of the current situation. We don’t even know how big this crisis will be.”

CREATE A HAPPIER PRESENCE HERE AND NOW

Returning to work at a time of the year when motivation is lacking and keeping up with routines seems tough, it can be helpful to find keys to keep our mindset intact. The Link spoke with Erik Fernholm, founder of personal growth platforms 29k.org and the Inner Development Goals, about how we, through some simple steps, can improve our happiness and motivational levels, at work and in our private life.

The Western world’s unrealistic portrayal of success and happiness results in massive amounts of disconnection and suffering.”

Early on, Erik witnessed how deeply one can be affected when ignoring one’s well-being, through a tragic event hitting close to home. “My father was an olympic athlete, and while I was growing up he was a well-known character; everyone knew his name. But behind closed doors, he was quite unhappy and lived unsustainably, which led to his passing when I was 12 years old.” He continues:

This challenging time kindled his interest in cognitive neuroscience, and for the last decade he has been pursuing a career in motivation and happiness. Today, Erik works alongside philanthropists, helping companies on their mission towards a healthy workforce and a more sustainable society. “I’ve more or less been working as a communicator or a bridge-builder, if you will, taking initiatives that use science to drive real change.”

Start reframing

One of Erik’s go-to strategies is changing the reference point for coping with different situations. “Whether you view an event as positive or negative is based on how well the reality reflects your expectations. By not owning the frame of reference, your emotional state and following response are externally determined. People and life events will always affect us, but by learning to reframe our expectations we can be more free in our response and act for what is meaningful.”

Changing the reference point is not the only thing that is important, it is also crucial to reflect on how we approach different situations. “Acceptance, commitment, physical exercise and therapy, are some of the most evidencebased strategies for a happier and more fulfilled life.”

Creativity and psychological safety

According to Erik, our mindset also affects our ability to be productive. “Ask yourself, ‘when do you get ideas?’ Science shows that, almost always, it’s in a safe environment where you feel positive emotions.” Erik explains that innovation and creativity are highly linked to the feeling of psychological safety. Also, research has shown that a big contributor to individuals’ well-being is connected to workplace conditions and personal relationships. “For example, if you feel that you have a sense of control, that your needs are considered, and you feel trust and safety –you will most likely feel better and safer at work.”

Overall, sharing how we feel with others can help us feel more connected. “We’ve been taught that personal development and mental health is something personal, and I think it’s time for us to kill that myth.” Speaking from his own experience, Erik believes dialogues and active listening are key, both to better relationships, as well as increased well-being. “There is nothing that strengthens relationships more than being open, leaning on each other and letting people know that you are having a hard time.”

TEXT: ANNABEL DAISLEY

By learning to reframe we can be more free in our response and act for what is meaningful.

NEW MEMBERS

Founded by businesses for businesses, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the United Kingdom is the ultimate business platform connecting Swedish and British companies and entrepreneurs across the North Sea.

We are a not for profit organisation, and help businesses establish, grow and develop. Our focus is on providing relevant and informative forums and meeting places, on forging new and exciting networks and eco-systems, offering valuable training programmes for personal and professional development and to deliver first-class business services tailored to your business needs.

We bring value to Member businesses across all sectors and industries, from large corporates to SMEs, entrepreneurs and start-ups, in the United Kingdom as well as in Sweden.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP?

CONTACT: CHRISTOFFER.WALDEMARSSON@SCC.ORG.UK

ALUMNI

Alumni is a leading executive search and leadership services firm. Founded in Sweden in 1990, the company has always worked in partnership with a range of progressive and established organisations to support in identifying and developing the right leaders, key competence and skills needed, paving the way for business success.

ALTOR

Since inception, the family of Altor funds has raised EUR 8.3 billion in total commitments. The funds have invested in more than 90 companies. The investments have been made in medium sized predominantly Nordic companies with the aim to create value through growth initiatives and operational improvements.

ANYONE

In 2020 David Orlic and Alfred Malmros founded Anyone, an audio app allowing professionals to connect with users and offer advice over fiveminute audio conversations. Users looking for advice can explore a list of inspiring people that are ready to jump on a call, for an agreed price or for free.

ASWAR SPORTS AGENCY

Aswar Sports Agency was established in 2021 by Chief Executive Officer and founder Aswar Ubah Kadiè. The Agency is an international sports agency that represents elite athletes on and off the pitch. Aswar Sports Agency’s vision is to be Europe’s leading sports management.

AVENIR HOLDINGS

Avenir is a global management consultancy focused on leadership development, organisational change management, talent acquisition and development as well as succession-planning. As a highly regarded thirdparty expert, Avenir’s focus is on advising clients on organisational structure, effective change management and the people issues associated with these.

ENTERPRISEALUMNI

EnterpriseAlumni is the market leader in alumni management software, powering the alumni networks of the world’s leading companies to rapidly accelerate recruiting, sales and marketing. Various organisations have selected EnterpriseAlumni to drive community and competitive advantage from maintaining and maximizing relationships with former employees, enabling them to expand talent pools, drive sales and promote their brand.

GLOBAL WEALTHMAP

Global WealthMAP is a boutique wealth planning practice based in London. Providing unbiased, independent fee-based advice to clients who are looking to create, enhance or preserve their wealth.

MURPHY SOLUTION

Murphy Solution offers a global standard for crisis management. Utilising a status-quo-busting software that helps people activate, comprehend, and lead through times of crisis. The software simplifies the entire crisis management experience, by supporting clients through planning, training, incidents and evaluation. Murphy Solution supports all organisations that want to develop or maintain their crisis capability.

PARETO SECURITIES

Pareto Securities is an independent full-service investment bank with a leading position in the Nordic capital markets and a strong international presence and global placing power. Pareto Securities is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with more than 480 employees. The company has offices in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, USA, Singapore and Australia.

POOW THE FOOD HERO

POOW The Food Hero is the tool for all parents out there struggling to get their children to eat. Through gamification, virtual reality and fun games, POOW motivates picky eaters, children with selective eating disorders to eat more food and try new flavors. With POOW at the dinner table a peaceful mealtime-situation is created for the whole family.

POSITION GREEN

Position Green is a leading ESG Powerhouse on a mission to revolutionise how businesses embrace ESG – creating a sustainable, fair and resilient future. Position Green helps companies worldwide transform and accelerate business within the ESG landscape. The offering combines data-driven software with specialised advisory services, e-learning and executive training.

PROPEL

Propel specialises in placing a multitude of hires in Senior, head of and Management levels, particularly in C-Suite, C-1, VPs, Country Managers, to build teams across all avenues of marketing, tech, commercial, product and design.

scalefront

SCALEFRONT

Scalefront’s mission is two-parted as it helps SaaS companies scale through TaaS (Talent as a Service) as well as provide career opportunities. The company’s four focus areas are commercial, customer support, customer success and marketing. By doing this, Scalefront aims to help companies to grow and develop its business.

SKOLON

Skolon is a service for all digital educational tools that help find, access and use all of the educational tools directly from one place and with one password. Skolon helps to easily manage licenses from different distributors, move licenses between classes or individuals, as well as giving tools to manage all teachers and students data.

SKRYM

Skrym works with market leaders and innovators sharing their vision of making logistics more efficient and sustainable by using optimisation algorithms for eliminating excess air in e-commerce, which contributes to minimized waste, emissions, and costs.

SPRINTS

Sprints provides growth capital to category winning, technology enabled companies. Making long-term focused investments in companies that have strong market positions and are managed by excellent teams with a passion to over-deliver to all their stakeholders.

THE RIGHT KIND OF LOUD

Kim is a Communication Expert, TEDx Speaker and Vocal Coach helping professionals increase their impact and influence with the Right Kind of Loud. This method helps people make their mark, connect with others in the room and on the screen. Kim’s gift is to make people glow, leaving the audience hungry for more.

VILJA

Vilja is the leading cloud-native core banking platform vendor in the Nordics. The banking platform covers the entire lifecycle of lending and savings operations in one system. It has the shortest time-to-market for launching new products and services. This enables banks and credit institutions to quickly and easily launch new revenue streams while focusing on creating the best banking experience for their customers.

CREATE VALUE OF DATA

TEXT: ANNABEL DAISLEY

Most organisations have an abundance of data distributed in different cloud-based systems, but how does one use these resources, and what does it mean to work data-driven? The Link spoke with David Österlindh, CEO and Co-founder of Nexer Insight, about how business leaders can work with a more data-driven culture, using the potential that data collection entails.

Founded in 2017, SCC member Nexer Insight is a specialist company within the company Nexer Group, offering a wide range of different services within the areas of strategy, tech, and communication. “We started Nexer Insight to have a clear specialist focus globally within Advanced Analytics, Internet of Things and Business Intelligence,” David Österlindh, CEO and Co-founder of Nexer Insight, explains.

Today, the company operates in fifteen countries, aiming to create value out of the collection of data. David says that there are a lot of misconceptions connected to data driven research, such as the amount of data required to be successful. “We often hear that large volumes of data are needed to create valuable market insights, which is not necessarily true.”

According to David, companies that implement a data strategy from the beginning will most likely use the data collected more efficiently, and avoid the need for larger volumes. “A strategy serves as a starting point, which is why the most important issues today are about putting together an enterprise-wide data strategy, and being committed to a common data governance internally,” David explains.

When used in the right way, David says, effective data governance ensures that data is consistent and trustworthy, as well as not being misused - ultimately, optimising organisations’ operations and driving business decision-making.

A new normal

“As a leader today, you are forced to navigate in a completely new landscape. Considering how volatile and uncertain the world has become, being guided by data is more critical now than ever before.”

Adapting to a new normal is something that most of today’s business leaders have to face, and finding ways of staying ahead is becoming trickier by the minute. David explains how data can help business leaders to identify patterns and important variables that may impact the business.

“It is no longer enough to rely on experience and instincts. Instead, with the correct data, leaders will be able to monitor significant trends, partners, competitors, and the business environment.”

Improve decision-making

“By adopting a data-driven culture when you are about to make a decision, you can replace the gut feeling with actual facts and assumptions.” David explains that this can result in improved customer satisfaction, automated sales and marketing, as well as refined action plans and streamlined operations.

“It improves the collaboration across various departments in the organisation, boosts consistency, and makes it easier to analyse the future market.” Ultimately, a more data-driven culture will help organisations maintain a competitive edge in their field of business. “I would say that the potential is huge, and it goes cross-functional over the entire organisation.”

Svenska Ingenjörssällskapet i Storbritannien (SIS) erbjuder ett stipendium till en ung, motiverad och driven svensk ingenjör, som planerar eller redan studerar i Storbritannien på en doktorand eller på magisternivå (PhD eller Masters).

SIS bildades 1924 för svenska ingenjörer aktiva i Storbritannien. SIS har sedan bildandet delat ut stipendium för att möjliggöra studier och forskning för svenska ingenjörer på brittiska institutioner, inom alla ingenjörsområden inklusive kemi, el, mekanik, arkitektur, data, geologi, medicin och miljöteknik.

Stipendiet

SIS stipendium för 2023 är på £5000 (fem tusen pund).

Ansökan

Din ansökan skickas till Per Olof Emaunelsson på chairman@swedishengineers.org.uk, och skall vara SIS tillhanda senast 30 juni 2023

Ansökan skall inkludera CV, namn på det Universitet/Institution i Storbritannien där sökanden studerar eller kommer att studera vid samt ett personligt brev om hur stipendiet skall nyttjas.

www.swedishengineers.org.uk

The local ports of Grimsby, Immingham and Hull have always been a gateway to trade across the North Sea to Scandinavia.

NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO BUILD A BUSINESS IN THE UK

It has been an eventful few months for Immigration practitioners. New Immigration Rules, new application routes and new processes. These combined have historically, caused the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to slow down the processing of applications as their caseworkers – like us – get used to the new options and where the flexibilities lie in the criteria. This time there is an added and much more serious impact –the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This caused some delays in visa processing as resources were redirected. Those delays appear to now be largely resolved and for the most part, processing levels are back to normal meaning that we can secure work visa approvals in 24 hours – even though the UKVI wants a fee for this level of service.

For the last few years, the UK visa system has had a huge advantage to most other countries. Although somewhat pedantic, the criteria for most UK visa applications were clear. Therefore, applicants submitted with a belief that by giving the UKVI what they ask for and in the required format, they had confidence in receiving the Visa. That element of certainty is not universal as many other countries have visa applications that incorporate large elements of subjectivity. The main attractions of the UK Points Based System are the relatively low thresholds (both in terms of skillset and salary) and the lack of quotas/limits on the number of applications that can be submitted. This is despite a significant argument in the Brexit referendum (sorry to bring this up) was an intention to "take control of our borders". The irony being that it is in fact simpler to secure a work permit now than before Brexit.

As things stand, the work permit process is self-policing with the UKVI not really assessing any application prior to approval. The system works on the basis that the UKVI will audit an employer at some point, and expect the role being undertaken and salary being paid to be in line with the work permit documents issued at the time of the application. This does add a level of compliance and record keeping that is crucial for employers to understand and abide by, but the "light touch" system means that there is genuine commercial benefits for companies that are looking to develop and grow in the UK. So, the current visa process is really attractive for employers, but what can we expect over the next year or so?

A High Potential visa has been introduced and is purely based on having graduated in the last 5 years from one of the world's top universities.

An indication that there needs to be "entrepreneurial" visas as opposed to simply employer/employee relationships. There have been whispers of the return of the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (Tier 1 General). This was closed a few years back as a small number of visa holders were not working in the roles envisaged. Similar to closing the Investor visa because some were Russian oligarchs – the phrase involving ‘sledgehammer and nut’ springs to mind.

There is speculation that lower-skilled occupations could be added to the shortage occupation list making it easier to fill more "blue collar" vacancies as well as withdrawing the English language requirement for more applications.

The UK Immigration policy has for many years tried to balance the need to attract/support high-skilled international workers but recognising that there are many roles that traditionally are low-skilled/low-paid that still need to be filled. Industries such as hospitality and healthcare in particular struggle to recruit – this was compounded during Covid. Covid itself masked the impact of Brexit – and the end of access to a large pool of visa-free workers.

Therefore, a new Government with new officials in key posts presents an opportunity to implement an Immigration policy with fresh ideas that can balance the needs of industry across all sectors. The existing Government is tasked with rebuilding an economy that cannot be funded purely by large public-sector infrastructure projects alone. Companies need to be in a position where they can attract talent and fill roles –irrespective of nationality.

GUEST COLUMN: GAVIN JONES, HEAD OF IMMIGRATION, OSBORNE CLARKE LLP

IN OTHER NEWS

New exhibition highlights Swedish future-friendly fashion

In conjunction with the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Embassy of Sweden in London is presenting a new exhibition on Swedish fashion. Prominent pioneers and innovative solutions from Swedish designers, entrepreneurs and academics shaping a circular fashion industry are presented in the exhibition, called 'Fashion. Forever.'. Located at the 12 Star Gallery in London, doors will be open on weekdays, 10am6pm, from 22 February to 22 March 2023.

New EU law increases producer responsibility for packaging

As of 1 January 2023, producers selling or exporting packaged products to EU countries, including Sweden, are affected by the Extended Producers Responsibility. According to the new regulation, any producer bringing packaging into an EU country is regarded as a packaging producer, and is therefore obliged to see that the packaging is collected and recycled. Affected producers will need to register with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, if they wish to continue putting products on the Swedish market.

World of Volvo opens for meeting and event booking

On 2 February, World of Volvo announced its new and unique meeting experience located in Gothenburg, Sweden. The first visitors are planned to be welcomed during spring 2024, and with space for up to 1,100 people, it can accommodate companies of all sizes in its facilities. “World of Volvo will be a creative meeting place that offers our visitors a unique experience and contributes to new perspectives,” says Magnus Wrahme, CEO of World of Volvo.

Meet the SCC’s new Events and Programmes Manager, Charlotte

Hazén

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am from Stockholm and moved to London about three years ago, having decided to change my career path in travel marketing following the Covid-19 pandemic. My family says I am stubborn, that I cook better food than I think I do, that I hate losing and that I am great with dogs. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Stockholm University and a Diplomat in Project Management form Berghs School of Communication.

What are your favourite things about the UK? Even if London is a fantastic city with many interesting events and experiences, I am finding the opportunity to explore the English countryside more and more interesting.

What do you miss the most about Sweden? Stockholm has better public transport, Wi-Fi and indoor heating than London. Otherwise I am glad to spend some time away from the city. However, I miss family and friends of course.

What made you apply for the role as Events & Programmes manager?

I think I can apply my experience and capabilities in a good way and help arrange great events that create opportunities for our members, build the SCC network and ultimately support the brand of Swedish enterprise in the UK.

What do you look forward to the most with your new role?

I am hoping for strong teamwork that strives to deliver exciting and relevant events where we truly make it possible for people to meet, connect and form important business relationships.

THE SWEDISH SEMLA

What you did not know about the famous Swedish bun.

History

Like many other Swedish traditions, Fettisdagen (Fat Tuesday) originates from the Christian religion, and marks an important milestone in the Easter preparation. The celebration takes place 40 days before Easter, right before the traditional period of fasting. During the fasting period, people had to live a simple life, excluding things such as meat and sweets from their diet. To prepare for the limited lifesyle, people ate excessive amounts of the ‘semla’, which is a sweet bun filled with almond paste and loads of whipped cream.

When is it?

Fettisdagen takes place 40 days before Easter. This year, fettisdagen is celebrated 21 February 2023, which is the same day as the UK Pancake Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday).

Why is it called semla?

The name semla originates from the Latin word ‘simila’ and means ‘fine flour’.

Semla bonanza

Fettisdagen is one of the most celebrated food feasts in Sweden; according to the Association of Swedish bakers and confectioners, approximately 6 million semla’s are sold each year on fettisdagen. This requires 132 tons of almond paste, 211 tons of whipped and 2,6 tons of cardamom to bake these sweet buns. Each year, an average of around 40 million semla’s are sold.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The SCC organises around 90 events each year, ranging from smaller, intimate Business Breakfastests to larger conferences with some 200 participants and speakers from across the Swedish-British community. Visit our event calendar on scc.org.uk to stay up to date.

Business Breakfast with Mats Persson, Partner at EY and former special advisor to the Prime Minister

22 March I SEB, One Carter Lane, London Welcome to a Business Breakfast with Mats Persson, Partner at EY and former special advisor to the Prime Minister, on “the three trilemmas” and how businesses can thrive during severe macro uncertainty.

Ecosystem Exchange: Life Sciences

30-31 March I London and Cambridge

Are you a Nordic health-, med- or biotech scaleup looking to learn more about the UK? Do you want to help turn the life science scene greener and grow your business in one of the world’s most forward striving medical markets? The SCC, British Embassy Stockholm and Department for Business and Trade, are proud to present Ecosystem Exchange: Life Sciences 2023.

Swedish-British Games Connect 2023

30 March I Sweden House, London

On behalf of Invest in Skåne, The Swedish Chamber of Commerce organises Swedish-British Games Connect as part of a delegation visit to London Games Festival 2023, running from 29 March to 9 April 2023. The festival is the world’s largest celebration of games and interactive entertainment with companies, organisations, and stakeholders from over 40 countries.

Tech Forum 2023

24 May I London

Join us at Tech Forum 2023, as we look into applied AI and celebrate the best of Swedish and UK tech, connecting the ecosystems across the North Sea.

Swedish Business Footprint in Scotland

20 April I Edinburgh

World-leading innovation, talent, and a supportive business environment, have all made Scotland a popular destination for businesses to grow. Welcome to an afternoon of sectoral insights, success stories, and high-level networking in Edinburgh, as we look into the Swedish business footprint in Scotland.

Evening

Talk with Stephanie Zakrisson, Foreign News Reporter and Editor for Swedish Broadcasting (SR)

4 April I Sweden House, London

The SCC’s Young Professionals welcomes you to join this Evening Talk with Stephanie Zakrisson, Foreign News Reporter and Editor for Swedish Broadcasting (Sveriges Radio) in the UK and Ireland.