Living and Working
Norway is the most productive country in Northern Europe, and ranks second in the world. Workers yield an impressive productivity per person for every hour worked. With a skilled workforce, characterized by high competence, independence and efficiency – in combination with a balanced three party cooperation between the government, labour unions and industry confederations. Norwegian industries are condisered competitive across different industries.
The Venture North region has a rich history of manufacturing industries. Process industries, mining, technology, and marine sectors have all been important in the creation of a strong industrial culture. Thus, the industrial culture is embedded into the mindset of the people. We like to call it “our industrial DNA”.
The business culture is based on Norwegian (Scandinavian) work values, and is characterized by flat structures, relatively short distances between management and employees and less pronounced hierarchies. Both the society in general and the workplace are based on trust. We have a culture of cooperating and supporting each other in the workplace. Coworkers are perceived as helpful resources, and not as competitors. Norway is also a world-leader in workers’ rights.
Norway is one of the most well-functioning and transparent democratic societies in the world, with a highly developed health and welfare system. Worth to mention are free public schools, tuition-free higher education, subsidized childcare, and free health care for all.
Work-life balance in the Venture North region is sacred. The people here are renowned for prioritising family life, and although work life is important, a healthy work-life balance is vital. The lifestyle focuses on family values, sports, and outdoor life. Residents have a close relation to nature, and many families have cabins close to the coast or in the mountains.
Explore Norway: Visit Norway | Official travel guide to Norway
Living
Come to a region full of opportunities. We’re located in the heart of Norway, offering the perfect balance between work and leisure. A generous community with everything you need; shopping, schools, and great food, locally harvested. A rich leisure life filled with nature, culture, and sports. The Venture North municipalities is home to more than 33,000 people, and we’re preparing for many more.
Hemnes municipality
Hemnes offers an exceptional quality of life, with peaceful fjords, welcoming villages and dramatic mountains right outside your door. Living here means easy access to year-round outdoor activities; from glacier hikes and summit trips to skiing and fjord life, all within the Okstindan Nature and Culture Park. The community is friendly and well-served, with local schools, kindergartens, sports clubs and cultural activities in each village. Good transport connections make it easy to commute or stay mobile, while still enjoying the calm, scenic lifestyle that defines Hemnes.
Rana municipality
Rana offers a unique blend of industrial heritage, dynamic communities and genuine quality of life. Located just below the Arctic Circle at the mouth of Ranfjorden, the town combines breathtaking nature and a vibrant cultural life including theatres, museums, cafés, and local festivals. Public transport includes trains, buses, airport and road connections give you easy access to the rest of Norway or beyond. There are both centrally located apartments and larger homes in suburbs. Ultimately, the hub Mo i Rana stands out as a “city of opportunity”: a place where work, nature, culture and community come together for a fulfilling everyday life.
Lurøy municipality
Lurøy offers a unique living environment where you can enjoy spectacular natural surroundings and a strong sense of community. With fresh sea air and the option to literally go fishing for your dinner, life here marries the tranquility of nature with everyday practicality. There are homes for sale and opportunities to build , including support for first-time buyers and the municipality actively works to create a living community through initiatives such as the “Liv Laga” program.
Hattfjelldal municipality
Hattfjelldal offers a unique lifestyle where vast wilderness meets tight-knit community living, with Norway’s second-largest lake, Røssvatnet, and access to parts of Børgefjell National Park right in your “backyard.” The cultural heritage runs deep, with a strong presence of Southern Sami language and tradition, a dedicated cultural centre and vibrant local traditions including music, outdoor life and community events. For those who value both nature and modern comforts, there is a local hub, Fjellfolkets Hus, offering museum, accommodation, tourist information, and community services, making everyday life rich in both culture and convenience.
Working
Our greatest strength lies in our industrial culture and the people who create real value. In the Venture North region there are over 24,000 people of working age, in the report you can learn more about how to recruit regional and international talents.
The Venture North region has exciting and varied job opportunities within both the private and public sector. Our process industry is at forefront in developing green solutions for a circular economy, cutting green-house emissions. We have a hydrogen hub coming up and also have a thriving IT and research environment, with businesses and institutions that are constantly in search for the brightest minds.
Jobs in the Venture North region
For information about vacant positions:
NAV.no: Vacant positions in The Venture North region (nav.no)
Heile Helgeland: https://heilehelgeland.no/
Report on career opportunites: Labour-Market-Report.pdf (ru.no)
Regional competence
The Venture North region offers a strong R&D environment where companies can develop, test and refine new solutions in close collaboration with industry, research institutions and public partners. With access to skilled expertise, pilot facilities and supportive innovation networks, the region makes it easy for businesses to drive sustainable innovation and turn new ideas into real value.
- Kystinkubatoren: is a business development program that supports early-stage companies and entrepreneurs working with coastal, marine, and maritime opportunities. The incubator provides guidance, networking, and tailored support to help participants develop sustainable business models, strengthen their competence, and accelerate growth in the blue economy.
- SINTEF Helgeland: collaborates with companies at regional, national, and European levels to enhance the technological competitiveness of businesses and industries in the digital and green transition.
- Nordlandsforskning: is a Northern Norway-based research institute specializing in social science and interdisciplinary studies related to welfare, education, regional development, natural resource management, environment, climate change, and sustainability.
- Center for Industrial Business Development (SIF): focuses on research, education, and innovation at the intersection of industry, business development and innovation, especially with Norwegian industry and the Nordland region. They aim to generate and disseminate knowledge that supports sustainable industrial growth, advances innovation, and strengthens cooperation between academia and business.
- Kunnskapsparken Helgeland: is a regional innovation company in Northern Norway that supports entrepreneurship, business development, and sustainable growth. It connects companies, public authorities, investors, and research institutions, offering guidance, incubator services, and project support to help businesses develop ideas, secure funding, and build strong regional partnership.
- Nemko Norlab: offers a broad range of services, including environmental monitoring, chemical and microbiological analyses, water and wastewater testing, veterinary medicine, sampling services and advisory services. Nemko Norlab serves clients across industry, public sector and private businesses throughout Norway, helping ensure safe environments, product quality, and regulatory compliance
Research and study
Campus Helgeland is a collaborative hub for education and development, offering study programs and courses from Nord University and UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Several regional development actors like Kunnskapsparken Helgeland, Rana Utvikling AS, Innovation Norway, Nordland Research institute, SIF and Arctic Cluster Team are also located here. In addition, Campus Helgeland host several libraries: Rana Library, Nordland County Library and the University Library.
It is one of Norway’s newest campuses, established in 2013, where you find several bachelor’s programs, one-year programs, an MBA, and individual courses across various fields, as well as a wide range of continuing and further education opportunities. The academic and student environment collaborates closely with a dynamic and development-oriented regional business community.
Campus Helgeland is located in the city center of Mo i Rana, close to the theater, cinema, restaurants, fitness centers, water park, shopping centers, and within short distance of major sports and outdoor recreation facilities.
