Maksym has gone from language intern to production manager
Photo: Astrid Øvstetun
When Maksym came to Årdal from Ukraine, his path into working life began with informal language practice while he attended Norwegian language classes in Årdal municipality.
In the summer of 2024, he spent two hours every day at the Tourist Office, where he got to practice Norwegian through meetings with both tourists and tourist hosts.
– It was the best language practice I could have gotten, and the opportunity was established after a social walk organized by the Immigration Office where I got to know Årdal Turlag and local enthusiasts at the Tourist Office, he says.
Through further language practice at Vivatec with close follow-up from NAV Årdal and Sitep, Maksym was introduced to the startup Baremark in 2025. Baremark creates biological surfaces for playgrounds that cut microplastics, reduce emissions and create safer outdoor spaces.
For Maksym, the job was about much more than production. With a master's degree in financial management and many years of experience from banking and real estate brokerage in Ukraine, he also contributed to planning, finance and business development and is currently employed as operations and production manager in a temporary 50% position.
He is also the project manager for Baremark's participation in the Circular Fast Track program in the Nordic Smart City Network, where the company collaborates with, among others, the cities of Stavanger, Copenhagen and Espoo in Finland.
Former Sitep employee, Cecilie Maria Holst, highlights how important the early references have been.
– The good feedback from the Tourist Office made it easier to invite Maksym to a conversation about the possibilities of getting involved in the Baremark work. We quickly saw that here was competence, willingness to work and motivation, she says.
Maksym was given the opportunity to show what he could do through language practice and work experience, which was crucial. Before he got the chance at Baremark, he had sent out about 30 job applications locally and regionally without much feedback.
This illustrates how collaboration between NAV, Sitep and local organizations can create concrete results. Through targeted efforts and a willingness to work and trust in local communities and employers, Maksym has gone from being a job seeker to having a central role in the development of a new, local growth company.
We wish you continued success!