Qualified Professionals expand internationally to meet future workforce needs

Agder county, located in southeast Norway, is currently undergoing a significant industrial development, with major investments in battery technology, offshore wind power, and hydrogen. Thousands of new jobs will be created in the coming years. This represents a tremendous opportunity for Agder, but the challenge is clear: How do we ensure we have enough professionals to meet future demands? To meet this challenge, Qualified Professionals has established a new company that actively works to recruit the necessary manpower and expertise from outside Norway.

Today, the labour market in Agder is already under pressure, with low unemployment and many vacancies. The upcoming industrial projects will require even more skilled workers. This creates opportunities for people from other parts of the world who are interested in building a career and a life in the southern part of Norway. This is the backdrop for Qualified Professionals stepping up to meet the demand, having launched a new initiative to secure the necessary expertise. With a coordinated effort, the region can meet the challenge and continue to build momentum.

Photo from left: EVP Thomas Seljevoll, CEO of Qualified Professionals International Gjermund Nesland, and CEO of Qualified Professionals Rolf Michaelsen.

New leader with international business experience

To lead the international expansion, we have appointed Gjermund Nesland as CEO of Qualified Professionals International. Gjermund brings with him a unique combination of experience from both business and elite sports. In recent years, he has led Olympiatoppen Sør, a regional department of the Norwegian Olympic Organization.  Here, he had overall responsibility for elite sports in Agder county. His team worked on performance development of young talents and top international elite athletes, as well as their coaches and teams. He has also had international leadership roles in the business world, including ITS Learning AS and Aker Solutions/MHWirth (now HMH), where he led large projects and international teams.

With his combination of experience in leadership and international work, Gjermund is well suited to lead Qualified Professionals’ international efforts and ensure that Agder secures the talents the region needs to realize its industrial potential.

I look forward to leading the international venture. With experience from both elite sports and international business, I have seen how crucial it is to have the right skills in place to achieve results. I am excited to work with our partners to ensure that Agder has access to the expertise required to drive the region’s industrial development forward.

Gjermund Nesland, CEO Qualified Professionals International

Agder’s future as an industrial powerhouse

In recent decades, Agder has been a leading region internationally in offshore drilling technology and equipment. Going forward, industries within renewable energy, together with other emerging industries, will boost its position in further developing the region.

To meet a growing demand, Qualified Professionals aim to play a key role in ensuring that the region has a qualified workforce, both locally and internationally, able to build the industry of the future. Our subsidiary, Qualified Professionals International, will focus on recruiting talents from abroad to fill positions and meet workforce demands that cannot be met locally. Simultaneously, we are working closely with regional stakeholders to map future needs, ensuring that the right skills are brought in on time.