New jobs for 39 young people in Gottsunda

Trainee program, summer jobs, new stores and visitors are all part of Hemmaplan’s initiative in Uppsala.

Centrumakademin, a new initiative from Swedish property owner Hemmaplan, is now in full swing. The goal is to create jobs for young people in Uppsala’s Gottsunda Centrum neighborhood, using trainee and internship positions, summer jobs and permanent employment.

“We already have 39 young people working in meaningful positions through our trainee program. Right now, we are working to add further positions. Our goal is to help 100 people in 2023,” says Cecilia Safaee, CEO for Hemmaplan.

During the summer, painting of the pavement along the southern sunny side – “Solsidan” – of Gottsunda Centrum was completed. New benches under the trees were added and more public seating along the facade. Furthermore, during the summer months Hemmaplan opened an ice cream stand in a vacant store together with the Swedish ice cream brand Lejonet & Björnen, employing 15 summer workers.

“Young people got their first jobs. At the same time, it allowed us to offer our visitors a reason to stay, a place to meet up and socialize,” says Cecilia Safaee. “We look at profits and the bottom line, what we do should make money. And the young people sold so much ice cream, it covered their salaries!”

At the end of May, Hemmaplan opened the first new store since the company took over Gottsunda Centrum. The store was Normal, which sells beauty products, among other things. Since then, a number of young girls and women have been coming to the Centrum.

“Additional new entrepreneurs are joining and creating job opportunities, including clothing stores and a car wash by the parking area. Plus, a seamstress is opening a shop that offers tailoring. We also have a women’s organization that works a lot with food preparation. The hope is that they can start a company with jobs and sales as a goal,” says Cecilia Safaee.

Bonnier Fastigheter’s subsidiary Hemmplan develops and maintains city-center properties and public spaces in neighborhoods facing socioeconomic challenges, in order to drive positive development of society, with and for people living and working in the area, so everyone can grow up with the same opportunities in a safe environment where they feel at home.