In March, StS–ISONOR had the pleasure of welcoming representatives from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) to Sandbrekketoppen.
A sporty insight
The purpose of the visit was to gain a holistic understanding of the daily work of our insulation professionals, how our training pathways function in practice, and what measures are needed to ensure strong recruitment and competence development in the years ahead.
Among the NAV participants were Acting Director of Labour and Welfare, Eve Vangsnes Bergli, joined by Beth Stensen, Bjarte Hysing-Olsen, Beate Nesse and Birgitte B. Lygre. From StS–ISONOR, the delegation included Ingrid Solheim, Lasse Øvreås, Jan Cato Larsen, Silje Strand, Johan Kristian Dahl and Linda Berentsen.
See a LinkedIn post from Bjarte Hysing‑Olsen :
Nav-direktøren tok helt av i Bergen 😊
A Growing Industry with High Competence Needs
StS–ISONOR is experiencing strong growth, with around 700 employees across Bergen, Stavanger, Skien, Porsgrunn and Kristiansand. In 2025 alone, the company hired 155 new employees across all disciplines – and the need continues to increase. The company is currently recruiting across the entire ISO spectrum, from engineers to insulators, scaffolders, surface treatment operators and planners.
The shortage of qualified labour is one of the industry’s biggest challenges. Initiatives such as the Workforce Boost (Arbeidskraftløftet) play a key role in strengthening recruitment, visibility, and competence development across regions and professional environments.
Important Discussions on Employment Policy and Future Needs
During the meeting, NAV and StS–ISONOR discussed how the industry can contribute to the government’s goal of increasing employment among people aged 20–64 towards 2030 and 2035. NAV sought input on how today’s programmes and support schemes work in practice, and what changes could improve their effectiveness.
StS–ISONOR highlighted several key needs:
- More industry-specific measures, including the Insulation Initiative
- Greater focus on local youth and work training
- Faster access to transition funding, especially when industrial activity rises
- More introductory training courses, such as insulation, industrial painting and scaffolding
- Improved support schemes for in-company training, with the goal of achieving trade certification
A Sporty Introduction to Working at Height
One of the most memorable elements of the visit came quite spontaneously: the NAV delegation got to try working at height! This is a central aspect of everyday work for many of our professionals – and a perfect way to give visitors an authentic insight into ISO disciplines.
Several participants embraced the challenge enthusiastically and got to experience the height, equipment and methods firsthand. The activity sparked lots of laughter, great questions, and meaningful reflections on safety, training and the demands of the profession.
The experience offered a clearer understanding of the sense of mastery and professionalism involved – while also setting a warm and informal tone for the rest of the visit.
Strong Experience from the Insulation School
The Insulation School aims to address the shortage of qualified insulators in Norway, particularly following the invasion of Ukraine. The programme provides training for both refugees and Norwegian jobseekers, with the goal of equipping participants with the necessary skills to qualify for a trade certificate.
- 11 out of 13 participants received job offers after completing the programme
- 3 of them are currently employed by StS–ISONOR
Read more about the training here:https://www.nav.no/no/lokalt/vestland/kurs/opplaering/opplaering-i-isolatorfaget
Gode erfaringer med AMO kurs
StS–ISONOR har i flere år hatt tett samarbeid med NAV. Resultatene er sterke:
- Nearly 200 participants during the period 2020–2024
- Three months after completing the course, 84% were in employment
Several of our current employees began their journey through these programmes.
Acting Director of Labour and Welfare, Eve Vangsnes Bergli, spoke with participants from the Insulation School who were later employed by StS–ISONOR. Orlianska Maryna and Peretiatko Nataliia both started-on 24 November 2025.
Vika Severin started on 17 February 2026. He did not participate in the visit, as he was working at the Sture/Kollsnes site at the time.
Cezar, who previously worked in finance, now works as a specialist assistant.Benjamin Brandt Falbach began an AMO course at the age of 20, completed his trade certificate, and still works with us today. Marcus Haugland Kleppe started at the age of 17 and is now working towards obtaining his trade certificate.
Stories like these demonstrate how targeted training delivers real results – both for participants and for an industry with a strong need for skilled labour.
Collaboration That Delivers Results
The visit highlighted the importance of strong cooperation between NAV, educational institutions, and the industrial sector. With the Workforce Boost (Arbeidskraftløftet) as a strategic framework, and practical experience from initiatives as a foundation, we are better equipped to meet the growing demand for competence and capacity in the years ahead.
Read more about our work related to the Workforce Boost here:
https://www.stsisonor.com/en/news/the-workforce-pledge/
