Purpose: To ensure and encourage diversity in the workforce in Bergen municipality, by supporting and facilitating career development for people with a minority background.
Stimulus/Rationale: The city of Bergen was concerned to learn the findings of a survey which revealed that the ethnic background of public employees only reflected the composition of the city's population at the lower echelons. In 2013, the City Council passed an action plan called The Future Workplace which aimed to tackle this issue, paying special attention to the role of the municipality of Bergen as an employer for minorities.
Process: Non-nationals are encouraged to seek employment in the local public administration, and the city encourages intercultural mixing and competences in private sector enterprises. Different initiatives are promoted in this field, such as the project Bergen Opportunity, a mentoring and leadership development program for talents in Vestland County with an immigrant background.
The goal of Bergen Opportunity is to support and highlight role models with a multicultural background and strengthen Western Norway’s position as international and inclusive. The program runs over one year with regular high-quality meetings and mentoring sessions. Mentors are recruited from leading positions in both the public and private sectors. The program is a collaboration between the Bergen Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vestland County Council, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration division of Vestland County, and the municipality of Bergen.
Impact:
Key reference documents: Bergen Opportunity website: https://www.bergen-chamber.no/bergenopportunity/
