Representatives from Ungt Entreprenørskap, Cargill, NHH and NCE Seafood outside Marinehallen in Bergen, where three high schools gathered for an innovation camp on September 6. Photo: Tiril Kvalsvik
Helps to highlight the seafood industry
The students were faced with some difficult problems when Young Entrepreneurship, in collaboration with NCE Seafood, organized innovation camps at high schools in August and September. The students were asked to present a solution to a problem related to increased seafood consumption, increased value creation, or reduction of plastic consumption in the aquaculture industry.
The innovation camps have been an important platform for highlighting the potential of the seafood industry for students.
– Conducting innovation camps at high schools that are not necessarily located on the coast is valuable in raising awareness among young people across the country about the importance of the fisheries and aquaculture industry in Norway today and, not least, in the future. Therefore, this is an important contribution to creating curiosity and interest among a target group that will define what our common future will be like.
This is what Frank Norbeck, general manager of Ungt Entreprenørskap Trøndelag, says in connection with the camp at Byåsen Upper Secondary School in Trondheim.
Students from Sotra, Metis and BPG gathered in Marinehallen on September 6. Photo: Tiril Kvalsvik
In addition to Ungt Entreprenørskap and NCE Seafood, various companies in the seafood industry and representatives from NHH's Case Club participated as supervisors and judges. The latter consists of students who compete in case solving, and they were therefore popular supervisors among the students. Edvard Sævild from Case Club was at the camp in Trondheim.
– It was a pleasure to be able to guide the students at Byåsen VGS. They saw creative and unique solutions to a difficult problem. I am particularly impressed by all groups' ability to see the big picture and how social development, innovation and business go hand in hand, says Sævild.
– Ideas we haven't dared to think of ourselves
From the industry, Nutrimar, Cargill, Grieg Seafood, Patogen and Lerøy contributed their expertise, and the companies possibly gained ideas they could take back to the office.
– It's exciting to contribute to innovation camps and listen to solutions to the industry's challenges from young people. I'm impressed by the knowledge and creativity, and we've been presented with ideas that we wouldn't have dared to think of ourselves. For us at Nutrimar, focusing on long-term recruitment is very important, and we're therefore happy to be here and promote the great opportunities that lie within our industry .
This is what Ida-Marie Andersen, HR manager at Nutrimar, says after the camp at Heimdal High School.
Future competence
In other words, it has also been a source of inspiration for companies and an opportunity for them to showcase themselves to the employees of the future.
– It's really fun to see and gain insight into how they think about the industry and how creative they are , says Liv Marit Aarseth, community relations officer at Grieg Seafood Rogaland, who participated in the camp at Vardafjell High School.
Martha Kristin Sandtorv, senior consultant in the communications and marketing section at NHH, was at the innovation camp at Nordahl Grieg and in Marinehallen. She also highlights the students' commitment.
– It has been very nice for NHH to contribute to the innovation camp. We have seen how well the students work with demanding problems and how skilled they have been in presenting their solutions, says Sandtorv.
The importance of highlighting the opportunities that exist for students after high school was also pointed out by one of the teachers along the way.
– It has awakened and raised awareness that we have so many marine resources here in Trøndelag, and that the fishing industry can be developed both along the coast and inland, says Nina S. Andersen, Entrepreneurship teacher at Byåsen Upper Secondary School.
Fride Iversen, senior project manager in the cluster and project manager for the innovation camps, also highlights the camps as an important arena for highlighting the industry.
– Meeting young people at innovation camps is incredibly exciting and an important perspective on future competence and talent attraction. Showing off the opportunities in the industry and what lies ahead is important to us, she says.
