International IT Organisation’s Initiative Helps Firms in Sweden Gain Skilled Workers
By: Microsoft /
Tags: entrepreneurs, EUGA, funding, SMEs, start-up
Technology firms in Sweden were struggling to find skilled workers. With help from European Union Grants Advisor (EUGA) Sweden, the national employment agency and an association of Microsoft® partners organised a “matchmaking” event where employers could interview and hire suitable candidates. Companies hired qualified IT workers on the spot and nine out of 10 participating employers rated the event as being “highly satisfactory.”
| Fast Facts |
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Customer: International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners—Sweden
Web Site: www.iamcp.org
Number of Member Organizations: 177
Number of Board Members: 10
Country: Sweden
Industry: Not-for-profit—Membership organisations
Customer Profile: IAMCP Sweden, consisting of 315 members from 177 organisations, helps Microsoft partners maximise business opportunities. A not-for-profit organisation, it is funded through membership fees and sponsor grants.
EUGA: Microsoft is working in partnership with technology companies, banks, consulting agencies, and other organisations to help more SMEs obtain government funding through its European Union Grants Advisor (EUGA) programme. Through this programme, SMEs and local and regional governments increase their awareness and understanding of EU funds as well as take advantage of a facilitated application process.
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Business Needs
Services from the IT industry are in high demand in Sweden. But organisations in this field are unable to realise their growth potential—a key reason being shortage of skilled employees. Mostly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), these firms cannot employ large human resource departments. Moreover, the Swedish Employment Service—a national employment agency—have to invest a lot of effort in finding suitable workers for them, partly because the IT jargon in job advertisements makes it difficult for staff to match candidates to jobs.
In 2007, a solution was provided by European Union Grants Advisor (EUGA) Sweden. EUGA is a program initiated by Microsoft, Intel and SEB to support Swedish SMEs to grow their business through better coordination with government agencies and organisations.
Solution
Working with the Employment Service, EUGA developed a concept for a matchmaking event where technology companies looking for new employees could meet and interview job candidates. For the first event held in May 2007 in Stockholm, the Employment Service offered grants worth €14,000 (U.S.$ 21,808) to provide training to job candidates who needed additional skills to be employed. As a result, companies hired three people on the spot and utilised the training grants.
Another event was organised in February 2008. To ensure greater participation from employers, this time there was involvement from the International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners (IAMCP) in Sweden—a not-for-profit organisation working towards maximising business opportunities for Microsoft partners. The event was attended by 10 IAMCP members and 70 potential candidates.
Within two weeks of the event, four candidates were hired. In addition:
- IAMCP helped the Employment Service interpret job ads.
- The Employment Service invited the most suitable candidates.
- Members interviewed and selected four applicants at the event.
Benefits
- Technology firms looking for skilled workers could find suitable candidates instantly and also utilise training grants of €14,000.
- Out of 10 companies that participated, nine reported the event as “highly satisfactory.”
- EUGA Sweden, IAMCP, and the Employment Service plan to develop this concept further and organize similar events across Sweden.
- IAMCP expects to employ up to 15 highly skilled workers during the event in September 2008 in Stockholm, Goteborg, and Malmo—the three largest cities of Sweden.
- IT companies do not have to spend any time or money to participate.
- The Employment Service can collaborate with SMEs more closely and improve its services.
“A key reason for the event’s success was EUGA’s help in bringing the different parties together to contribute resources. We plan to keep working with EUGA and organise similar event across the country.” - Valentino Berti, Chairman, IAMCP,Sweden