Diversity in Strawberry

Strawberry has partnered with UNICEF in various ways for nearly 20 years. Today, the partnership has two clear strands: Key to the Future, our long-term initiative focused on supporting children and young people who have fled war and conflict, and 50FORLIFE, which can be activated during humanitarian emergencies.

With Key to the Future, Strawberry is building on this long-standing partnership with a particular focus on helping children and young people who have been forced to flee war and conflict. Strawberry employees helped choose this as the company’s core cause.

“At Strawberry, we have colleagues from all over the world. Some were born and raised in the Nordics, while others have fled conflict-torn areas and been given the opportunity for a new start here. We will support where we can, and our doors will be open to people who need a second chance,” says Torgeir Silseth, CEO of Strawberry.

Photo: Malik/UNICEF

Strawberry is dedicated to fostering a culture that values and respects every individual. We know that diversity is our superpower. Through our integrated initiatives for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), we strive to create a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. With more than 175 nationalities represented, DEI is at the heart of our organisation, as we believe that embracing different perspectives and experiences enriches our culture and strengthens decision-making.

To ensure that our DEI efforts are effective and reflective of our employees and communities, we established the DEI Advisory Board in 2023. Comprising eight dedicated members from across departments and backgrounds, this board brings a range of perspectives and experiences to support Strawberry’s commitment to inclusivity. The DEI Advisory Board’s purpose is to shape policies and initiatives that create a sense of belonging for everyone – employees and guests alike.

Strawberry is committed to creating a more inclusive workplace. Through our partners, we help people who, for various reasons, have fallen outside the job market find their way back to work. In Oslo, we collaborate with OsloKollega, and together we’ve created “The World’s Most Important Hotel” at Comfort Hotel™ Børsparken. Here, work training is part of a structured system: OsloKollega provides the professional framework and follow-up, while the hotel offers hands-on training. With strong expertise and clear guidance, participants are given a safe path back into employment.

Through OsloKollega’s network, we’ve established a similar hub at Quality Hotel™ Waterfront in Ålesund. In collaboration with Brisk, the hotel offers work training and a secure route back into working life. The initiatives in Oslo and Ålesund are based on the same model, allowing Strawberry to explore how we can expand this concept to more locations. We are continuously working to see how we can establish work and inclusion hubs in more cities across Norway.

We are also engaged at a national level as a proud signatory to the Norwegian government's 'Ungdomsløftet' – a national initiative aiming to help 30,000 young people into work by 2030. Strawberry actively contributes to this collective goal by offering inclusive work training and lowering barriers to employment. Our ongoing dedication to inclusion has earned us several awards – most recently the 'Ringer i Vannet' Award 2024 and the IMDi Diversity Award 2023.

At Strawberry, we believe in building an inclusive workplace where every voice matters and diversity is celebrated. We’re always looking for passionate individuals who want to make a difference and contribute to a culture of belonging and equality.

At Strawberry, it’s important to us that all employees feel good at work, can be open about their mental health, and find balance between work and private life. We don’t just want our people to cope with everyday challenges – we want them to have the space to truly thrive.

In this article, you can read the powerful story of Marius, one of our employees, who found new hope after an honest conversation with his manager – following a stay at a psychiatric hospital.