GB Workshop and Industrial Goods named Student Favorite of the Year

For CEO Maria Åslin, the award is an acknowledgment of long-term work:
"We believe that we have been nominated because the students who did their internship with us experienced the time as very rewarding and developing. Many probably thought that they would mostly sit next to them and do routine tasks, but they told us that the internship was much more than that," she says.

An overall picture of entrepreneurship

At GB Verkstad och Industrivaror the students not only get an insight into everyday life at a small company, but also a meaningful and strategic assignment. Here, the intern becomes part of the business – with responsibility, influence and real challenges.
"The students felt that we believed in them and that they were entrusted with solving important issues for the company. They became so committed that they continued to think about the solutions even in their spare time," says Maria Åslin.

The fact that the award landed at GB Verkstad is hardly a coincidence. For many years, the company has worked in a structured way with internships, degree projects and mentoring.
"We have an open workplace that is ready to receive students, and we are used to supporting them in the process. In a smaller company, you also get a holistic view of everything from business models to business economics," says Maria Åslin.

Collaboration as a strategy

For GB Verkstad, student contacts are not only a way to contribute to the supply of skills in the region – it is an important part of the company's own development. They actively participate in projects such as Unga Bünsow, where companies and students are matched together for internships and degree projects, and collaborate closely with Mid Sweden University to ensure that the assignments maintain a high scientific level.

Maria Åslin also emphasizes that the students' contributions will be valuable far beyond the internship period itself:
"Receiving students has never been a burden, on the contrary, it always gives more than it costs. They come in with new perspectives and challenge us with fresh ideas. Many people talk about the importance of having older mentors, but I think it is at least as important to have young mentors. They keep track of the latest tools and help me become both more efficient and wiser in my everyday life.

This year's student prize is awarded to the Student Union in Sundsvall.