The HIT business development program is aimed at companies that want to become more sustainable and innovative, simply better equipped for the future. Marianne Färlin is the program manager for HIT. She notes that many companies can find it difficult to keep up with strategic development issues in their day-to-day work.
- But in HIT, participants look up and things happen. Or as one former participant described it: "before we talked, now we do".
Does our business model need to be adjusted? What is the next step in our digitalization journey? How can we continue to be an attractive employer? These are some of the questions that HIT participants work on during the 6-8 month program.
- Participating in HIT is much like having a personal trainer at the gym. We coaches encourage and challenge, but you do the work. Together, we increase the chances of you reaching your goals," says Marianne.
Concrete results
The acronym HIT stands for sustainable, innovative transition and growth. Last year was the first time the programme was implemented. Round two has been running since May and in less than a month, on November 17, round three will start.
Both workshops and individual coaching are included, while the content is adapted to the companies' current situation.
Marianne says the long duration of the program is a great advantage. It gives participants the chance to work through strategic decisions and finish with concrete plans and actions.
- With HIT, you get our support all the way to take the time to rethink, innovate, grow and sometimes refocus.
The importance of communication
Res Ola Persson is the CEO of the long-established joinery and interior design company Björbo Snickeri AB, with the brand Björbo Badrum. He participated in the first round of HIT and is very pleased with what he and the company got out.
- Even before joining the HIT, we were already quite far along with a new strategic plan and how to develop our offer. HIT allowed us to "pressure test" the thinking before moving forward with concrete actions.
In recent years, Björbo Badrum has taken several steps towards a more sustainable business. Partly in terms of energy use and machinery, and partly in terms of phasing out solvents.
- HIT has also made us realize how important it is to get to the bottom of decisions and to communicate them. Here, the individual coaching has been worth its weight in gold.
Participant mix
The industry association Byggdialog Dalarna works to develop construction and real estate companies towards more sustainable construction. The association has about a hundred member companies and for them, HIT is a great opportunity to move forward in the sustainability work, says Annica Granberg, Deputy Director.
- The industry is currently focused on rising material and energy costs, but we need to do more. With all the uncertainty in the world, strengthening your business for the future has perhaps never been more important," she says.
Marianne and her colleagues are happy to welcome more construction and real estate companies in the next HIT, while wanting to see a mix of participants from many different industries.
- This has been the case so far and it is positive both for the participants who broaden their networks and for the quality of the program. We have also seen some collaborations and business between participating companies, so it is of course great fun.
Facts
HIT - a business development program for sustainable innovative transition and growth
Program duration: 6-8 months
Content: Workshops and knowledge enhancement seminars about once a month and individual coaching in between.
For whom: SMEs that want to increase their readiness for change, create tangible business benefits and boost innovation through access to expertise and networks.
Next program start: 17 November 2022
