On Monday, StS-ISONOR was visited by the Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion, Kjersti Stenseng
The Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion visits StS-ISONOR
On Monday, StS-ISONOR was visited by the Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion, Kjersti Stenseng.
Together with NAV Vestland, we discussed how language, skills and practical facilitation can give more immigrants and other job seekers a safe pathway into the industry.
The visit focused on inclusion in working life, language as a key to safety and professional development, and how collaboration between the company and NAV can help more people gain lasting attachment to the labour market.
Background to the visit
The visit took place in connection with the government’s work on the integration strategy and a wish to see examples of companies that work purposefully with language and inclusion in practice.
Based on recommendations from NAV Vestland County Office, StS-ISONOR was chosen. During the tour there was particular interest in how we follow up language challenges—and in meeting employees who have come to Norway from Ukraine.
Why NAV recommended StS-ISONOR
NAV Vestland County Office pointed to StS-ISONOR as a relevant company to visit because over time we have worked practically and purposefully with recruitment and inclusion.
- Experience bringing job seekers into work through collaboration with NAV, including via AMO training programmes and job fairs
- An inclusive working environment and willingness to adapt for different needs
- Dyslexia-friendly practices and a culture where facilitation is seen as a strength
- A diverse workplace with employees from several nations
- Contributing to the effort to educate more insulation workers in Vestland, in collaboration with NAV and Vestland County Municipality—including participants receiving enhanced Norwegian language support
- A clear plan for continued Norwegian language development on the job through varied work tasks over time
This is how we carried out the visit
We organised the visit as a guided tour with conversations along the way:
- Welcome outside the administration building at Sandbrekketoppen 30
- Brief tour of the production facilities
- Walk to the warehouse, workshop and training rooms
- Visit to the workshop and conversation with employees from Ukraine
- Wrap-up in the training centre—with an opportunity to try the “rope ascender”
What we highlighted in the dialogue
Along the way, we shared experiences from competence development in industry—and how language is closely linked to safety, professional development and integration in the workplace.
One topic in the conversations was also the possibility of a trade test for employees who will carry out insulation work in Norway—and the need for the test to be conducted in a language the candidate masters, without compromising requirements for quality and safety.
We also highlighted the importance of public-to-public collaboration in Vestland, and the strong results we see when vocational courses are closely connected to real staffing needs. For us, this is important recruitment—and at the same time an opportunity for young people and others who are outside working life to build a lasting career.
The Minister took time to speak with several of our Ukrainian employees before the visit concluded in the training centre—where there was also time for an informal “taumoped” challenge.
We greatly appreciate the opportunity to share experiences—and to contribute to further work on measures that help more people into employment.
For StS-ISONOR, this is corporate social responsibility in practice: opening doors, building skills and creating safe workplaces where more people can succeed.
