Hubben keeps track of Lund's best sites
For companies, research facilities and universities, it is important to be able to attract international talent to Lund — and then get them to stay. International Citizen Hub Lund (ICHL) is part of Lund Municipality and was started in 2015 with the motto “Your home away from home”. ICHL targets both international talents who have got a job in Lund and to their partners, and tries to make them feel at home through information about Swedish society and culture, about school systems and social systems and how they can apply for jobs or start businesses. To do this, ICHL organizes events, drop-ins and courses. In 2023, there were 2200 visits to about a hundred events and drop-ins, and there is also the Kick-Start program where a group is seen during a series of meetings.
- We have seen that it is often crucial if the talents want to stay in Lund that the spouse who comes with them also gets a job and a valuable life, says Lisa Andersson at ICHL. Therefore, we have a special job search program where we go through, among other things, what to include in your resume and how to write a cover letter. To get a job in Sweden, it is good to know that it is often not only important what you are capable of but also who you are in order for you to fit into a team. This is not everyone is used to. We also prepare them for the fact that they may, for example, be asked about what they do in their spare time and about their downsides during the job interview, which is not always what they expect.
Over the past year, ICHL has expanded its operations — now it is not only about getting the talent to stay, it is also helping companies to attract more people to apply to Lund.
- Lund has so many advantages, says Lisa Andersson at ICHL. In recent years, we have noticed that many people think that Sweden's balance between work and leisure is especially important because it gives the opportunity to have a life outside work and to be with one's family.
International Citizen Hub Lund is run by Lund Municipality with the support of Region Skåne.
10 arguments for Lund — as International Citizen Hub Lund sees it
* Sweden has systems that provide opportunities to combine career with family life. For many, the balance between work and leisure is attractive, and here there are plenty of leisure activities to choose from.
* Close to knowledge. In Lund there are science parks, universities, large companies, life science clusters, deep tech and more.
* Many in Lund know each other and are open to getting to know even more and create collaborations.
* Close to the international airport in Denmark, train direct from Lund.
* Several smaller places to live in the perimeter around Lund for those who want it.
* Close to nature.
* Sweden is not so hierarchical and it is not difficult to reach leaders and decision-makers.
* English is spoken by many.
* For families there is the possibility of an international or Swedish school where the children receive free lunch. Lund University is on the top 100 list in the QS World University Ranking and is free to attend.
* Sweden has a good health system and there may be an opportunity to be on parental leave.
Pictured: Martina Åkerlund, Maria Petit and Lisa Andersson at International Citizen Hub Lund. Photo: Vidhi Sharma Photography