Norway is facing a major challenge: by 2035, the country will be short of 90,000 skilled tradespeople, while construction activity has been at a record low.
Håndverksgruppen (HG) is now taking active responsibility for helping to solve this challenge and is placing a strong focus on recruitment and training ahead of the Bygg Reis Deg trade fair, which will be held October 15-18, 2025, at Nova Spektrum in Lillestrøm.
Specifically, Håndverksgruppen has joined forces with Cengiz Al to promote vocational education and inspire young people to choose a craft education.
Focus on recruitment and apprenticeship programs
For Håndverksgruppen, recruiting and training the skilled workers of the future is a key focus, and the group has a structured apprenticeship program with the goal of having 12% of its workforce consist of apprentices.
For example, Håndverksgruppen in Innlandet, Norway, has around 400 employees in eight painting and masonry companies, and nearly 12% of the workforce is already participating in the apprenticeship program. The region has a low dropout rate in career paths, and over 90% of apprentices are offered permanent jobs as craftspeople in HG after completing their apprenticeships.
Gjermund Söder Vegge, Managing Director of Håndverksgruppen in Norway, says:
– We want to take responsibility for the skilled tradespeople of the future and help meet the national challenge of a shortage of vocational skills. By offering good apprenticeship programs and collaborating with voices like Cengiz, we hope to motivate young people to choose vocational skills and ensure quality in the construction industry going forward.
Cengiz Al – figurehead for vocational skills
Cengiz Al is at the center of the campaign, which uses short videos and social media content to highlight the value of vocational skills and practical work. He emphasizes how craft education provides exciting and creative tasks and good job opportunities, and shares personally that he himself wishes he had chosen a craft education.
– I know how important it is to show young people the opportunities that exist in vocational education. Through the campaign with Håndverksgruppen, we can inspire young people to see crafts as a creative and meaningful path with secure job opportunities, he says.
Joint effort for recruitment
Through its collaboration with Cengiz Al, Håndverksgruppen wants to generate enthusiasm and inspire young people – and Bygg Reis Deg 2025 will be an important arena for this. Cengiz Al will be present at Håndverksgruppen's stand (Hall E, stand 9) at the trade fair.
Gjermund Söder Vegge states:
– Recruitment to vocational professions is a challenge that requires collaboration across the industry, and a joint effort is crucial to securing the skilled workers of the future. This will also be evident at Bygg Reis Deg, where Håndverksgruppen, together with other companies and organizations — including the Norwegian Painters' Association ("Malermestrenes Landsforbund") — will participate in the Norwegian Championships in Surface Treatment.
Here, Norway's best in painting and flooring will be crowned – among others, Martin Dalen Heggenes from the HG company Malermestrene Indre Østland will participate in the Norwegian Championship in Decorative Painting, and Simen Hegglund, an apprentice at the HG company Sverresborg Malerservice, will participate in the Norwegian Championship in Flooring.
– Competitions like these inspire, raise the profile of the profession, and strengthen both professional pride and professional development among practitioners and the industry as a whole, concludes Gjermund Söder Vegge.
