Newsletter

Words of a
Board Member

LABOUR MARKET IN A CHANGE

As many annual reports write…. “human capital is the biggest asset of a company” .. But the labour market is in a change and are we acting properly to safeguard our biggest asset? What will be the effects of fundamental changes in the labour markets of some Dutch , European or global developments?

It’s clear that the total population is “greying” – is feminizing – is “colouring” – and differs in different regions of The Netherlands. Statistical analysis show that the balance difference between unemployment and job openings will be in 2014 the same as in the booming economy years 2007/2008 - how do we get vacancies filled? And, provided we stay at a reasonable economic growth, the labour market can very well become problematic
in 2017 already – just 6 years from now. If we do not act properly already now, we might endanger the continuity of our organizations. The trend will be from …. “I am looking for a job” towards “I am looking for an employee”.

What is also clear that the “character” of the working population/habits changes – there is more emancipation, a greater demand for more flexible working hours, a demand for working from distance with IT help, problems with lower mobility due to 2 partners working, issues with traveling time from home to work, other levels of education, demand for faster career development, etc. etc., etc.

This demands also adapting the HR policies and ways how to “cope” with this for different age categories. For the younger employees from 25 - 35 years to stay an attractive –challenging workplace, to educate via traineeships, an organisation which has good education- / career development plans, requirement for multi-skilling, children’s care policies, systematic introduction – performance- and career discussions. For the employees from 50 – 65 to keep them on board in good health, permanent education, how to prepare for retirement, how to stay working above 60 years in good health – possibly in an other working regime, but foremost how to maintain the know-how in combination with new technologies/innovations developing.

In short – a major challenge ahead of us in which we have to act now together with different parties as Unions, works councils, all levels of educational institutes, but also to work together with the government on for example the “pension dossier” and other social security arrangements. After all – human capital will make the difference on sustainability and continuity of organizations in a highly competitive global economy. Abraham Lincoln said years ago: “We will plan for the future because people who stay in the present will remain in the past”

I believe that communicating and exchanging know-how on similar issues between trends , preferably solutions, in Sweden and The Netherlands in a globalizing – Europeanizing world is a must.

And – I am convinced that membership of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands with his networks in many European countries can be of help for this. In the board I will raise this issue, with possibly good programs dedicated to this subject in the years to come.

Henk Lingbeek
SCA Packaging de Hoop

6 June, The Swedish National Day

Since 1916, June 6 has been celebrated as Swedish Flag Day. This finally also became Sweden’s National Day in 1983 and a public holiday from 2005. The date was chosen for two reasons: the election of Gustav Vasa as Sweden’s king on June 6, 1523, laid the foundation of Sweden as an independent state; and on the same date in 1809, Sweden adopted a new constitution that included the establishment of civil rights and liberties.
For more information please visit: http://www.sweden.se

The Swedish National Day was celebrated on June 5, 2011 at the Swedish Church together with all Swedish organisations in the Netherlands. We would like to thank Mikael Jönsson and Lena Ottosson for hosting this beautiful day and for generously welcome all guests to the fantastic garden of the Swedish Church to celebrate the National Day togehter!

Coming up next at the Swedish Church is the traditional Swedish Midsummer Celebration June 18, 2011

The Swedish Church in invites to traditional Swedish Midsummer Celebration Saturday June 18, 2011 starting at 13.00. Welcome to bring flowers for the Midsummer pole. On the program music and dancing, hot dogs, cake and drinks for sale. Pre-registration is not necessary and no entrance fee but you can by consumption tickets at the entrance 7 euro for grown-ups and 4 euro for children. Welcome!
Click here for more information

Master Class Dinner at Rotterdam School of Management

On Wednesday April 27, Rotterdam School of Management invited the members of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce to a Master Class Network Dinner with the Keynote Speaker: Prof.dr.ir. Eric van Heck Professor of Information Management and Markets Department of Decision and Information Science Rotterdam School of Management.

Read more and event photos click here

The Saab Challenge Trophy May 24, 2011

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament “The Saab Challenge Trophy” was played at De Hoge Kleij in Leusden on May 24, 2011. The Swedish Chamber of Commerce is looking back on a very successful event with an excellent golf course, nice weather, fantastic venue and good company. We would like to congratulate the winner of the tournament Mr. J.W. Lubbers. He received the Saab Challenge Trophy and a two night stay for two persons in an Executive Room at the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam. Unfortunately the hole-in-one Saab Cabrio was not won this time but you are welcome to download the complete list of the other lucky winners below. The Swedish Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Saab Nederland for the excellent co-operation, all the companies contributing to the exclusive prize list and and Golf Club De Hoge Kleij for hosting the event.

For event photos and to download the complete Prizelist click here!

Welcome New Member company:
Swegon B.V.
Contact person: Mr. Hartmans
www.swegon.com

Welcome New Contact Person:
Mr. Harry Lönnqvist
Senior Vice President
Pulp Marketing and Procurement
Stora Enso Amsterdam
www.storaenso.com

Internship at the Swedish Chamber of Commerce

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce has room for two new interns from September 1, 2011 to December 21, 2011. Click here to read more

Sweden - the new culinary nation
Eskil Erlandsson, Minister for Rural Affairs, has a vision about Sweden as the new culinary nation. Long, light spring and summer evenings, diversity of produce and manufacturing methods, unique nature and good chefs - that is why Sweden will become the new culinary nation.

The food industry is Sweden's fourth largest employer. Along with growing tourism, it is of major importance to rural areas. The aim of our vision of Culinary Sweden is to create growth and employment. Statistics from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth show that the turnover in the tourist industry in Sweden amounted to more than SEK 244 billion in 2008, with meals accounting for around one third of this tourist spending. Read more

Are you visiting Sweden this summer?
Why not make it a culinary experience? Read the latest culinary news in the latest issue of Fine Dining. Fine Dining is a culinary magazine with news, interviews, reviews and articles on food and fine dining in Sweden accompanied by wonderful photographs. For the English version see - Fine Dining, Eng

Play Golf in Sweden
Sweden has made a name for itself as a golfing nation with the success of golfing legend Annika Sörenstam and leading PGA Tour players Carl Petterson and Henrik Stenson. This is an achievement made more remarkable given Sweden’s long winters, but unsurprising given the quality of Sweden’s golf courses.
Golf in Sweden, which has more than 300 courses, is booming. Here you will find championship courses such as Kungsängen GC near Stockholm, and Halmstad GC on the west coast. Given Sweden’s geography and topography, it is blessed with golfing landscapes; courses hewn from rugged coastline and others that carve through giant forests with wending streams. Read more at visitsweden.com

JCC Member Survey
To be able to satisfy our members the best possible way we sent a JCC members survey in the end of March. We are very pleased to announce that we have received more than 40 surveys back and we would therefore like to thank you for your contribution and share some of the survey input. Click here to go to the Survey Presentation

May 20, 2011 After Work
Friday the 20th of May JCC arranged a very successful and pleasant company presentation and BBQ evening in co-operation with the Swedish Trade Council. It was a sunny and warm evening in Scheveningen that started with welcome drinks and mingle, followed by an interesting and fruitful presentation by the Swedish Trade Council. After the presentation the 35 participants enjoyed the delicious BBQ while mingling and having lots of fun. The evening ended at “Crazy Piano” where lots of JCC people were seen dancing until late night.
JCC would like to thank the Swedish Trade Council for the great co-operation and we would also like to thank all the participants who made this to a very successful and fun event. A special thanks to the new people who joined a JCC event for the first time, we hope that this was the first event out of many for you. Welcome to join the JCC and
hope to see you all soon again. For event photos click here!

Upcoming Swedish Chamber of Commece and JCC Events
June 18, 2011
JCC Midsummer Party Amsterdam
September 3, 2011
Swe-Cham & JCC Crayfish Party
November 10, 2011
Master Class Dinner
Rotterdam School of Management

SAVE THE DAY!
Swe-Cham traditional Lucia Celebration December 9, 2011

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce codially thanks the sponsors of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament "The Saab Challenge Trophy 2011":