Annual Report | 2020 6 932 4 600 Turnover (MNOK) Employees MNOK 7 000 2020 4 600 6 000 2019 4 300 2018 3 800 5 000 2017 3 200 4 000 2016 3 050 3 000 2 000 1 000 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 438 Operating result (MNOK) MNOK 500 400 300 200 100 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020* *Because of conversion to one share class and establish- ment of a salary bonus scheme at Norconsult AS in 2020, the operating profit was reduced by approximately NOK 128 million. Underlying improvement versus the previous year is NOK 74 million. 2 Contents A word from the CEO .....................................4 This is Norconsult ........................................6 The Edge ...............................................10 Heads for tomorrow #headsforcareer ......................................15 #headsforrecruitment. .20 Sustainability at Norconsult ...............................22 Social responsibility ....................................30 Selected projects ........................................32 Our market areas ........................................42 Focus: Schools ..........................................50 Board of Directors’ Report for 2020 ........................54 Consolidated financial statements .......................70 Cover: The new Eastern High Court courthouse in Copenhagen has been granted a gold certification in sustainability. Norconsult is assisting with engineering design in many disciplines in this ambitious building project. Illustration: Henning Larsen Architects Lindholmen Technical Upper Secondary School in Gothenburg is a modern upper secondary school in which varying ceiling heights, visible installations and choices of materials reflect the students’ future workplaces. Norconsult’s acousticians are responsible for acoustical requirements for the school. Illustration: Tomorrow AB 3 A word from the CEO: 2020 was a year we will not soon forget When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in March 2020, we had little idea about the consequences and the measures that would come. Now, a year later, we still do not know how the pandemic will change us as a company and the society round us. We are incredibly proud that Norconsult welcomed 400 new employees and delivered a number of impressive projects together with our clients even during the Covid-19 period. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Norconsult delivered solid the market could still function. We also owe our clients and Important climate initiative and mileposts growth in both turnover and profits. Turnover ended at close to business partners our gratitude. They have shown flexibility The building, construction and property industry is Norway’s NOK 7 billion, about NOK 600 million more than in 2019. These and extended themselves far to maintain continuity. largest mainland industry and is responsible for a substantial are very good results, especially in light of tough competition, part of greenhouse gas emissions. With a value creation of pressure on prices and, not least, Covid-19. Throughout the year We are particularly proud that despite such a year, we can close to NOK 400 billion and 350,000 employees, this is an we have won and worked on more than 20,000 interesting and present solid results. Our employees handled the transition to industry that is absolutely essential for the creation of value challenging projects, both large and small. At the end of the home offices well, and thanks to good, close collaboration both locally and nationally. Norconsult has worked in 2020 year, we had become 4,600 colleagues in all. with our clients and business partners, we have succeeded in with clients and employees to contribute to a more sustain- keeping the wheels in motion. During the past year, we have able society through our projects. It is here we have the New to the job in the midst of the pandemic had employees on leave in several countries, and architec- strongest impact, but Norconsult has also set specific goals for When I started on the job as CEO of Norconsult ture has particularly noted a reduced level of activity in the improving our own operations. on 1 December 2020, we had put behind us a period in market. However, we are very pleased that virtually all which we were required to solve entirely new challenges. employees on leave are now back at work. Norconsult participates in the industry initiative Sammen 2020 All employees, both managers and staff and line employees, (Together 2020), where we undertake to contribute to a have made a formidable effort to complete assignments in The Covid-19 pandemic has tested us as individuals, as a substantial greenhouse gas reduction for an industry which is new ways. It is easy to forget the uncertainty we experienced company and as a society. It has challenged our way of currently responsible for a large part of the greenhouse gas when Norway and the rest of the world shut down at the thinking, not least in the areas of digitalisation and collabora- emissions. In 2020, we joined the UN Global Compact, the beginning of 2020, and many employees in several countries tion. We have taken quicker digital steps than we would have world’s largest sustainability initiative for firms. We are also a had to move into home offices. done without the pandemic. We all are looking forward to member of Skift – a climate initiative sponsored by the being able to meet in person again, but we will take with us business community with the purpose of leading the way and Many have forsaken social contact and spending time with the lesson that we can also work well and deliver good showing various business opportunities that exist in the colleagues and family, and some have been affected by results with the aid of digital platforms. It is still too early to transition to a zero emissions society. illness. In-person meetings and being present at the office predict how the new normal will be and how the pandemic have for most people been replaced by digital meetings and has affected us as a company and the building, construction In 2020, Norconsult drew attention as a company in various new forms of collaboration. I am impressed and grateful for and property industry as a sector. areas. We won the AEC Excellence Awards for digital the effort. We feared the worst, but fortunately the reality was innovation in the New Roads project E39 Kristiansand West much better, primarily because projects could continue and – Mandal East, a collaboration with AF Gruppen. This was the 4 «I am impressed and grateful for the effort. We feared the worst, but fortunately the reality was much better, primarily because projects could continue and the market could still function.» – Egil Hogna, Group CEO first entirely digital transport project in the industry, which shows that Norconsult is very far ahead in digitalisation. Working engineers selected Norconsult in November 2019 as Norway’s second-most attractive employer in the annual survey Universum Professional Survey and best in the category consulting engineers. It is both pleasant and important to see we are constantly strengthening our ability to attract talented employees. Strong Nordic footprint characterised by digitalisation, sustainability and collaboration Norconsult is in the last year of its current strategy period, and the work on the next strategy period is well under way. This is an exciting process with wide involvement among our employees. The three current strategic topics: digitalisation, sustainability and collaboration will continue to be essential in our work to succeed in creating client value in the future, and I look forward to leading the company through new and exciting challenges in the years to come. Although I am relatively new in the CEO position, I have been here long enough to see that we have a very good basis for succeeding in the future. Throughout 2020 we have strengthened our presence across the Nordic region, and we are well positioned and equipped for further growth and development in the years to come. Group Chief Executive Officer Egil Hogna. Photo: Johnny Syversen 5 This is Norconsult Hammerfest Vadsø Lakselv Kirkenes Alta Tromsø Harstad Narvik At Norconsult, every day is an opportunity to deliver the Bodø little extra for our clients. Through invention and innovation Fauske we constantly search for better and more sustainable, effective and socially-useful solutions. The society of Mo i Rana Mosjøen tomorrow will endure for a long time, and our advice is Reykjavik Luleå important for the type of society we will have. Kópavogur Piteå Namsos Norconsult is Norway’s largest, and one of the Nordic Steinkjer Skellefteå Trondheim Verdal region’s leading, interdisciplinary consultancy firms in Kristiansund Levanger Molde Stjørdal Umeå community planning, engineering design and architecture. Ulsteinvik Ålesund Oppdal Sollefteå Örnsköldsvik The company is owned by its employees and our head office Førde Os Östersund Flekke Sandane is located in Sandvika, outside Oslo. Sundsvall Sogndal Årdal Otta Voss Hudiksvall Bergen Eidfjord Gol Lillehammer Business concept: Norconsult ensures the quality Rosendal Odda Gjøvik Hamar Oslo Lysaker Mora of clients’ planning and building projects by providing Haugesund Sauda Hønefoss Jessheim Lillestrøm Gävle Sand Sandvika Borlänge value-enhancing consulting expertise. Hjelmeland Drammen Älvkarleby Kongsberg Ski Ludvika Stavanger Seljord Horten Askim Uppsala Vision: We create solutions for the most Tau SarpsborgKarlstad Espoo Porsgrunn Fredrikstad Kristinehamn Märsta Tønsberg Västerås Sollentuna challenging projects. Egersund Grimstad Larvik Örebro