Handshake for the future of Bergsjön

Just a few months after a broad-based agreement was reached between private and public sector actors to jointly develop Biskopsgården, it is now the Bergsjön district’s turn. This time it is the industrial group Saab and Fastighets AB Balder, which together with the Framtiden Group and Business Region Gothenburg will contribute to a positive development of the area.

“Our new handshake for Bergsjön together with Saab and Balder means that we now have organised collaboration with the business community in half of the city’s six districts, which are or have been particularly disadvantaged. This strong interest from key private sector actors to participate in the city’s development makes me convinced that the work will continue to expand,” says Terje Johansson, President and CEO, Framtiden.

The work is based on the Framtiden Group’s strategy for development areas. And just like in previous collaborations, the actors are in agreement to invest for the long-term in a local presence and in area-specific initiatives. The agreement is about concrete investments in education, leisure activities and work.

“No one should have to feel insecure, therefore it is extra important for us to be able to contribute to the local community and increase security in Bergsjön. Along with the residents, we want to contribute to a positive urban development and create a good basis for the future. At Saab, we are continually working to ensure that people and communities should feel secure, an engagement that we are proud of,” says Markus Borgljung, Head of Saab’s Radar Solutions business unit, which is based in Gothenburg.

The agreement has just been made and the collaboration is now being concretised and resourced. Among the goals are that more people should be self-supporting, that more pupils finish compulsory school with the requirements to enter upper secondary school and that there will be even more holiday jobs. By working together, the parties can help bring about major changes. In Tynnered, where Framtiden collaborates with Volvo Cars and Stena Fastigheter, the number of summer jobs offered doubled between 2021 and 2022, from 150 to 300. This is important, as a summer job is the first contact for most people with the labour market. 

“Ever since Balder entered Bergsjön in 2013, it has been important for us to build relationships and confidence among our tenants. Apart from developing the properties and new construction, we have, for example, increased our local presence, carried out investments in job creation and many other social initiatives. It feels good to now develop this work further together with three such strong actors,” says Martin Hag, Country Manager Sweden at Balder.

The Framtiden Group’s motto is to do all they can to reach the goal of not having any particularly disadvantaged areas in Gothenburg. However, it is obvious that no single actor can reverse this trend alone, it requires efforts from the public sector, the business community and civil society. Therefore these broad-based agreements are important both locally and in principle.

“We have identified a model to support the residents by large companies paving the way through their ability to act. Where all parties act based on their natural roles, and together we can contribute practically and concretely in disadvantaged areas. I believe that we can make a real difference by collaborating like this. Not only in the areas in question but in Gothenburg as a whole,” says Patrik Andersson, CEO of Business Region Gothenburg.

“I can happily state that the work, which was started between the city and the business sector to reverse the trend in Tynnered and that was then followed up in Biskopsgården is now continuing. The increasing engagement, which we see from the business community, to get involved and contribute to the city’s development is a message of strength for Gothenburg,” says Axel Josefson, Chairman of the City Executive Board in Gothenburg.

The intention is that the collaboration on a long-term basis shall result in:

• An additional 110 pupils meeting the requirements to enter upper secondary school
• 575 long-term jobs and increased employability
• 1,000 holiday jobs
• 75 newly established companies 
• Local initiatives

Photo: Kasper Dudzik/Balder

For more information, please contact:
Erik Zaar, Head of Communications, The Framtiden Group
Tel: +46 31 389 75 41
E-mail: erik.zaar@framtiden.se

Eva Jonasson, Media Relations Officer, Balder
Tel: +46 31 10 79 44
E-mail: eva.jonasson@balder.se

Saab Press Centre
Tel: +46 734 180 018
E-mail: presscentre@saabgroup.com

Christian Borg, Head of Media Relations, Business Region Gothenburg
Tel: +46 31 10 61 64
E-mail: christian.borg@businessregion.se

Fastighets AB Balder is a listed property company that owns, manages and develops residential and commercial properties in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany and the United Kingdom. The head office is located in Gothenburg. As of 30 September 2022, the property portfolio had a value of SEK 213.2 billion. The Balder share is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Large Cap.