Welcome Hub Haugalandet receives NOK 1.4 million in grant funding

The grant marks an important milestone for the project and highlights the need for good initiatives that help new residents find their place in Haugalandet. The funding will be distributed over two project years.

Erik Løland and Oda Forgaard from Sparebankstiftelsen SR-Bank emphasized the importance of supporting projects that give something back to people and local communities. Photo: Torstein Tysvær Nymoen/Haugaland Vekst.

A softer landing in Haugalandet

Welcome Hub Haugalandet is a regional initiative established to make it easier for both international and Norwegian newcomers to move to, thrive in and settle in at Haugalandet. The project will gather practical information, guidance, and meeting places into a single entry point – developed in close collaboration with businesses, municipalities, and the voluntary sector.

– Many people who move here face a demanding situation: A new language, a new labour market, and often a network that starts from scratch. The fact that highly qualified people struggle to gain a foothold is something we have to take seriously, says Karianne Ellefsen.

Important support at a critical stage

The grant from Sparebankstiftelsen SR-Bank makes it possible to strengthen both the development and operation of Welcome Hub over the next two years. The funding will contribute to:

• further development of digital resources and information services
• coordination of events and meeting places
• strengthening guidance services for newcomers and employers
• communication and visibility of the services

The grant comes at a time when the need for tailored information and support for new residents is high – and as the region is working actively to recruit and retain talent.

Meeting places like Mingel lower the barrier for getting to know people and finding your place in the region, and will be a key activity in Welcome Hub Haugalandet. Photo: Torstein Tysvær Nymoen/Haugaland Vekst.

Launch on 13 January – join the celebration!

Welcome Hub Haugalandet will be officially launched on 13 January with an open event at Haugesund Public Library for businesses, municipalities, voluntary organisations and newcomers.

The evening will be an informal celebration where participants will get an insight into what the Welcome Hub will offer, why the service is important for the region, and how we can work together to ensure that new residents get an even better start to life in Haugalandet.

Registration: Launch Event: Welcome Hub Haugalandet

How Welcome Hub will welcome newcomers

After the launch, Welcome Hub Haugalandet will offer, among other things:

• a digital platform with comprehensive, practical information
• job resources, CV help, and job hunting support
• events and meeting places that make it easier to build a network
• stories, tips, and guidance on living and working in Haugalandet
• close collaboration with local actors who want to strengthen their efforts in talent recruitment and inclusion

– When people move to Haugalandet for work, it’s not necessarily the workplace itself that determines whether they stay – it’s life around them. We see how much it means to have someone to meet, someone to ask, and places to belong, says Veslemøy Heggen.

With the support from Sparebankstiftelsen SR-Bank, Welcome Hub Haugalandet is even better equipped to become an important resource for anyone wishing to settle in Haugalandet. Haugaland Vekst extends a big thank you to Sparebankstiftelsen SR-Bank for the grant.