The City of Solna chooses Obeya to increase diversity in the construction industry

The City of Solna is enlisting Obeya's help for the project Sverige bygger ut (Sweden is Expanding) to increase diversity within the construction industry. The three-year project aims, among other things, to attract more women and newcomers to adult education programs.

– To successfully build our way out of the current housing shortage, we must become better at attracting new target groups to the construction industry. Obeya's breadth of knowledge and commitment to diversity appealed to us immediately, says Zandra Lövgren, Project Manager for Sverige bygger ut.

The collaboration began last autumn, with Obeya serving as the strategic communication partner for the project. The City of Solna leads the initiative alongside the municipalities of Nacka, Värmdö, and Sundbyberg, as well as the Construction Industry's Vocational Training Board (BYN). The project is funded by the European Social Fund.

– The challenges that Sverige bygger ut seeks to address are incredibly important for both Stockholm and the rest of the country, which is why we are very pleased with this assignment. We look forward to being part of this development, says Maria Hazard, CEO of Obeya.

The labor shortage is partly due to a lack of awareness regarding the various types of roles available in the construction industry, as well as an increasing trend toward academic education. Furthermore, many avoid the industry due to concerns regarding safety and a lack of equality in the workplace. The project group behind Sverige bygger ut emphasizes that these issues must be addressed urgently to reach the goal of 600,000 new homes by 2025.