Wibax has started a trainee programme, initially geared towards immigrants. The project is being carried out in collaboration with Piteå Council and the Swedish Public Employment Service, Arbetsförmedlingen, and will give twelve candidates the opportunity to experience working at Wibax, under mentorship. With the help of Fredrik Blom and Hannah Degerman from Piteå Council, we have now held a mentorship training course, to ensure that Wibax will give the trainees the best possible experience.
Fredrik Blom and Hannah Degerman from Piteå Council explain: “This is the first project of its kind in Piteå, and we hope that it will generate more, similar opportunities”. Generally, it is quite difficult for migrants to make their way into the labour market. Their chances of finding work in the field for which they are trained, will increase considerably through an initiative like this.
One of the partners in the trainee programme is the Urban Planning Department of Piteå Council (Samhällsbyggnadsförvaltningen), where Fredrik Blom works with skills supply and Hannah Degerman with language support. “Our role in this project is to act as a kind of sounding board, on several levels, to help Wibax carry out the project in the best possible manner”, Fredrik and Hannah explain. “We are also well aware of which migrants need these trainee positions, and the company trusts our recommendations.”
Fredrik and Hannah also feel that Wibax unifies the project with a common thread, clear goals, and well conducted recruitment meetings. We have just finished our mentor training, in preparation for the start of the trainee programme on January 20, and we are impressed with the engagement of all our mentors. The focus of today’s training has been how to interact with a trainee whose first language is not Swedish. Going forward, Wibax’ mentors will be having regular network meetings, where evaluations are performed, to find out what has worked well and where there is room for improvement. We are highly enthusiastic about this project and hope that more companies will see this model as a way to recruit employees with the right skills.
