What Skellefteå municipality is doing

This is how the municipality of Skellefteå has been working since the redundancy notice from Northvolt was issued in September 2024.

Despite the fact that the batteryfactory in Skellefteå is being phased out, the bankruptcy trustee continues to work to find a new owner. This announcement means that the municipality of Skellefteå and many of its residents continue to face major challenges.

Since the announcement of redundancies in September last year, we have deployed numerous resources to support those affected. In these past months, we have done more than a municipality should and have used up all the tools at our disposal.

The municipality's crisis organisation has been operational for some time.

During the fall and winter, Skellefteå municipality has made the following efforts, some of which are ongoing:

• We have created around 100 new jobs, making use of various forms of employment to utilise the skills of those made redundant. These positions are temporary language and introductory roles aimed at EU citizens and third-country nationals. The intention is that those given temporary employment will become employable within Skellefteå municipality or with another employer.
• We have staffed up our Welcome House to be able to guide those who need help to the right actors. Welcome House is a digital and physical meeting place where visitors can get guidance and advice.
• Welcome House arranged Information Days – an Open House – at The Great Northern in Skellefteå where external actors and all Northvolt employees was invited.
• The Business Office of Skellefteå municiplaity has had dialogues with the business community and conducted campaigns to lower the thresholds for hiring English speakers.
• The Business Office has been in contact with many of the local subcontractors affected during the fall and surveyed the effects on them. These activities will continue.
• We have organized "Meet and Match" events for job seekers and employers from all over Sweden. "Meet and Match" has given us a better picture of what skills are in demand and what skills job seekers have. Read more here.
• We will continue to take measures in every way possible. We already have a good and well-functioning cooperation with many different actors.
• A special web page where all relevant information linked to Northvolt is available on the Skellefteå municipality website. The languages are Swedish and English. Welcome house also has an English-language guide aimed directly at those affected. You can find the website here.
  
• The Business Office has increased its availability with open houses for the business community and increased digital presence and spread of information.
• The Business Office has met with all business managers in Västerbotten and Norrbotten and Örnsköldsvik.
• Several meetings with and letters have been made to the government based on the situation in Skellefteå. These meetings and letters are about, among other things, education, the start of construction of the Norrbotniabanan railway and the establishment of a growth cluster for battery manufacturing, electrification and the automotive industry.
  
• All activities within Skellefteå municipality and the municipal companies have reviewed their work on skills supply.
  
• A steering group has been set up that includes Skellefteå Municipality, Västerbotten County Administrative Board, Region Västerbotten, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and the Swedish Public Employment Service. The group works to be able to quickly meet various challenges, both in the short and long term. The steering group also works closely with the Government Offices.
• External and internal communication groups have been created together with the County Administrative Board, Region Västerbotten and the municipality.
• A special organization within Skellefteå municipality has been started to, among other things, get a comprehensive and current view of the situation, improved coordination and collaboration internally and externally and to enable more people to apply for services and be employed in Skellefteå municipality's organization. The special organization also includes Region Västerbotten, Västerbotten County Administrative Board, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and the Swedish Public Employment Service.
• The transformation office has changed its focus and now has meetings several days a week. The transformation office includes Region Västerbotten, Skellefteå municipality, Västerbotten County Administrative Board, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and the Swedish Public Employment Service.