An opportunity for employees in all roles to gain skills and ideas from their counterparts in other countries. Sharing working methods, improving professional performance, making connections.
Are you facing a problem in your work, and you are wondering how other people have tackled it? Do you feel you could improve your processes, but you aren’t sure of the best way forward? Would you like to run your ideas by someone who is working on the same issues? Join the Eurhonet Exchange Programme.
The Exchange Programme gives employees at all levels of our member organisations the chance to spend 3-5 days working alongside their counterpart in another member organisation. During this time, they learn different approaches and methods to tackle similar challenges in another cultural context.
We believe that all employees should have access to learning opportunities and be encouraged to grow professionally. To ensure that the participant gets the most out of the experience, we make sure that there is a clear goal and a detailed programme laid out before an exchange takes place.
Employees at all levels of an organisation should have opportunities to learn and grow professionally.
Who can join the Eurhonet Exchange Programme?
Employees at all levels of an organisation and in all roles are eligible to take part in the Exchange Programme. Like all our staff development programmes, the Exchange Programme is only open to Eurhonet member organisations.
Learn from your counterparts
Share knowledge, skills, ideas
The Exchange Programme is a rewarding experience which encourages participants to consider other points of view and challenge current ways of working. So far, 80 exchanges have taken place, and we look forward to organising many more!
“I’m returning to Munich with a big suitcase full of new experiences and insights and I’m looking forward to being able to incorporate what I learnt into our planning and cooperation.”
Q&A
How was your Exchange at Gavlegårdarna in Sweden?
“The experience was a great enrichment for me and the current issues in planning. I noticed that there are many parallels between the housing associations, especially in the challenges regarding well-functioning neighbourhoods or the difficulties with the cost-neutral use of recycled materials. I also noticed that we can certainly learn a lot from Sweden in terms of digitalisation and modern working culture.”
What did you learn about during your Exchange?
“I had the opportunity to look at many different Gavlegårdarna rental properties. The Godisfabriken construction site is particularly impressive. A former confectionery factory site, close to the city centre, is currently being redeveloped here.
Just outside the city centre is Hemlingby, a new district with the construction of a large new building with a school, a retirement home and a kindergarten as well as some residential buildings. Here I particularly liked the mixture of different façade and construction materials and also the idea of social mixing.
When I visited a residential complex for people aged 65 and over, I remembered the lively communal room, where there are daily activities. I also visited older properties, where Gavlegårdarna’s current focus is on activating the inner courtyards. There were also joint activities with the tenants to help decide how the outdoor areas should be redesigned.”
What were some interesting differences you noticed in the housing and neighbourhoods?
“In Sweden, it is customary to provide some of the furniture. The furnishings are included in the rent, as are the heating costs. A temperature of 21°C is set in each flat (centrally controllable). The entire city of Gävle is supplied with district heating from the paper mill, so the heating costs are relatively low.
The entire neighbourhood is car-free, with parking spaces for cars and bicycles in the neighbouring mobility centre. 0.4 car parking spaces must be provided per flat (a lower parking space factor than in Munich, although more people drive by car in Gävle).
Digital boards with the names of all residents and the latest topics from the city were displayed in all buildings. In addition, everyone can see the energy class of the building.”
Mirjam Broich
Architect
Münchner Wohnen GmbH, Germany
Rahaf Abu Shaer
Gavlegårdarna, Sweden
My trip to Bolton at Home was inspiring on both professional and personal levels.
Q&A
How was your exchange at Bolton at Home?
To meet all these people who love their jobs and who fully understand the impact their work is making on the company and on society in general was inspiring.
What did you learn?
Bolton at Home’s thinking outside the box is impressive. They tackle important work and social shortcomings by taking positive action to facilitate employment and wellbeing. They do this by creating meaningful activities and opportunities for employees and communities to reach their full potential.
What will you bring back to Gavlegårdarna?
Much of the work Bolton at Home does to facilitate getting people back to work is done through cooperation between the government, the housing company, as well as many non-profit organisations. Here in Sweden, we as a public housing company can still widen our horizons, adjust, and improve our way of working with employment.
Rahaf Abu Shaer
Gavlegårdarna, Sweden
Ann Fribergs
Stångåstaden, Sweden
If you get a chance to do such a trip, say yes immediately!
Ann Fribergs
Stångåstaden, Sweden
Salah Kabach
Hyresbostäder, Sweden
It was an exciting and fun trip. I learnt a lot at Opal in France: how they work as housing representatives and with repairs. When I cam back to Sweden, I could tell everything to my colleagues.”
Salah Kabach
Hyresbostäder, Sweden
Linda Ganbrant & Anna Andersson
Property Manager & Procurement Strategist
Stångåstaden, Sweden
I wanted to go on the Exchange programme because it was very interesting to meet other companies, especially abroad, and hear how they work in facility management.
Q&A
What did you learn at Bolton at Home?
We learned about how they work. We met their Head of Security and he showed us some buildings which are complex to evacuate. That was very interesting to see how they planned for a fire as they face the same problems that we do.
We learned a lot about how Bolton at Home works with their values. They have very great social skills, and they are working with all the citizens.
Would you recommend the Exchange Programme?
Of course, yes. We hope that more people can go and see how others work.
Linda Ganbrant & Anna Andersson
Property Manager & Procurement Strategist
Stångåstaden, Sweden
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