Wibax Academy

Trainee programme for immigrants

WIBAX WORKS TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE workplace and diversity is necessary for development. One step towards creating such diversity is Wibax Academy – Good Chemistry For More of Us, a trainee programme geared towards immigrants. The project was carried out in collaboration with Piteå Council and the Swedish Public Employment Service, and gave twelve candidates the opportunity to try working in various areas at Wibax, such as production, maintenance, mechanics, lab work, purchasing, marketing and finance, while receiving mentoring. The project was carried out between in the period January-May 2020, and is an initiative to keep employees in Piteå, while also taking social responsibility. As Wibax grows, there is a need for skills across several different sectors, and the company sees many benefits in establishing better contact with this particular target group. The Wibax trainee programe gave six people with an immigrant background the opportunity to enter the labour market. Out of those who completed the programme, all have found work, 66% of them at Wibax and the others with other employees. All programme participants have remained in Piteå, and have managed to enter fields that they previously had no access to.

LUMA FOUAD WHO PARTICIPATED in the project found permanent employment as a lab technician at Wibax. She is part of the Wibax Technology division and now spends much of her days in Wibax' large, newly-built laboratory. Luma is from Iraq and came to Sweden with her family in 2015. In her home country, she was an engineer at the University of Mosul, where she worked with environmental monitoring of water and construction materials.

At Wibax, Luma works as a lab technician, analysing the products purchased and sold by Wibax. She also does environmental analysis within the company. What does a typical day at work look like? "Every day is a new challenge for me, as there are rarely two alike, and that is what makes work exciting. I have been working at Wibax for about a year now, and I still learn something new every day." What is the best thing about working at Wibax? "The best thing about it is to work at a large, growing company where the colleagues are friendly, helpful and treat each other with respect." What did you think about the Wibax Academy trainee programme? "The trainee programme was an important step for me, leading to a whole new life here in Sweden. It taught me how a job works, and gave me valuable experiences." Do you have any word of advice for other immigrants when it comes to getting into the labour market? "My best advice is to never give up, always look for a job, even if it is something simple, it will teach you how the system works here in Sweden. It will feel difficult and stressful at the beginning, but over time it will just get better and better", Luma Foad concludes.

WIBAX ACADEMY

Driver's training

TOGETHER WITH ARBETSFÖRMEDLINGEN, the Swedish Public Employment Agency, Wibax has developed a tailored training programme that can, upon completion, lead to employment, as Wibax has a considerable recruitment needs. The training programme is aimed at those who are interested in working in the field, and currently looking for a job.

Yrkesakademin i Luleå will be responsible for the training programme, and Wibax will provide practical training of the programme’s participants, during their work placement period. Wibax will also provide training on subjects specifically related to tanker trucks.

“Wibax sees many benefits with this training programme, as it allows us to better connect with our target group during their trainee period. The programme lets us get to know the trainees, whilst they get to know us. Hopefully, this will mean that we can retain them as part of our workforce”, explains Annica Pettersson, HR Manager Wibax.

The driver's training programme began in October 2021 and will continue into spring of 2021. Participants selected by Wibax will be offered employment with a six-month probationary period in Piteå or Skellefteå.