Guy Adams on working for Oilinfo AS:
"I have been working with Oilinfo here in the Northeast for over a year now and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I travel frequently to Stavanger for work where our head office is based there and have become a convert to the Norwegian way of life and the country itself."
"Had NEVacancies not found me this fantastic opportunity to work for a Norwegian company I would never have visited the country and had an opportunity to enjoy all it has to offer. Norway is only an hour away form Newcastle but it feels like a world away and I look forward to every visit."
Phil Munroe on working for Inbusiness AS:
"I throughly enjoy working for InBusiness AS. From arriving in Norway for our training, Aruna and myself were made to feel welcome and part of the team immediately. The people are hard working, but enjoy a good social life, a relaxed work environment and are highly valued as members of staff.
Since returning to the UK, we maintain an excellent working relationship with other members of staff through email, and weekly web-conference meetings. It's only an hour flight from Norway to the UK, which is perfect when we need to meet up with other members of the team from Norway .
The support that we have received from NEVacancies has been excellent. From the initial interviews for the position, we were well informed on what the role would involve, and any differences in the Norwegian culture. Since returning to the UK, NE Vacancies have been very supportive to ensure we have settled in, offering any help and advice where they can."
Mark McClean on his placement for Metafocus AS
A student at Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University, Mark was offered a placement position with a Norwegian IT company called Metafocus AS. With the support from the Norwegian Collaboration Centre, Mark has setup the UK branch of the company, handling every aspect of the business including sales, administration and marketing .
"Not many students on a placement year get to start up an SME, nor only that, especially not an SME from a country such as Norway. In my first few weeks of working with the Norwegian Collaboration Centre I took my first trip to Norway to visit the company I would be setting up in Newcastle upon Tyne. This was an amazing experience; I met many new and interesting people and explored a culture I knew very little about."
"The help and guidance I have received from Mike Pedersen, founder of the Norwegian Collaboration Centre, has been invaluable. I have greatly enjoyed working alongside Mike in establishing Metafocus AS here in Newcastle upon Tyne. This has been the opportunity of a lifetime and I have enjoyed every moment of it. I look forward to writing my most recent CV as now with everything I have experienced/achieved on my work placement, I feel I now have a CV that would impress any organisation without fail."
Mark started in September 2007, and will finish his assignment in the summer before he returns to student life for his final degree year.