October 2024 marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is “Secure Our World.” This month, individuals and organizations around the world are encouraged to raise awareness about cybersecurity and take steps to protect themselves and their digital environment.

In today’s increasingly digitalized society, cybersecurity is more important than ever. From protecting personal data to securing critical business information, the threat landscape is ever-present. By following a few simple steps, we can all help secure our world – both online and offline.

Tips to improve your cybersecurity:

1. Use strong passwords: One of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself is to use strong, unique passwords for each service. Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Use a password manager to keep track of them.
2. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to confirm your identity via a second method, like an SMS code or an app.
3. Be careful with emails and links: Phishing attacks, where malicious links or fake emails are used to trick users into giving up sensitive information, are a common method of cybercrime. Never click on links from unknown sources and be skeptical of emails that seem suspicious.
4. Update regularly: Make sure your devices, operating systems, and applications are always up to date. Security updates patch known vulnerabilities and help protect your devices from attacks.
5. Back up your data: Make regular backups of important files. If your computer is ever attacked by a cyberattack, such as ransomware, you can restore your information from your backups.

By following these simple tips, you can help create a safer digital world. Whether you are an individual or represent a business, it is important to prioritize cybersecurity and protect what is valuable online.

On October 1, 2022, new rules in the Temporary Employment Act came into force, which will be applied from October 1, 2024, and although many companies are approaching this date with concern, surprisingly few have taken action. According to the new law, consultants who have been temporary employed by the same client company for 24 months out of a 36-month period are entitled to permanent employment with the client company. This could have major consequences for many companies.

According to the Swedish Skills Companies, the staffing industry employs around 170,000 consultants in Sweden, and within the IT consulting industry, it is estimated that there are between 70,000 and 80,000 consultants. According to industry analyses, 10–15% of these consultants are hired out long-term in a way that makes them eligible for the new law. This means that 27,000–45,000 consultants may be affected, and it will not be possible to ignore it when it affects your own business.

What does this mean for you and your company?

Many companies have not yet set a strategy for how they will handle consultants who may be subject to the new law. At Upgraded, we have been talking to clients in both the public and private sectors over the past year to help them understand what the law means and how to act based on their long-term goals. Strategic planning is crucial, whether you choose to continue with your consultants or replace them after 24 months.

Consequences for consulting companies

At the same time, consulting companies are facing major challenges. They have invested time and resources in developing their consultants and building businesses around their expertise, but with the new law, these companies could risk losing their key people if client companies hire the consultants instead. This creates an imbalance. Many consultants do not want to be employed by client companies, but the law could force changes that entail high costs for both companies and society at large. Several consultants face an uncertain future where they risk losing their assignments and being replaced, not because they lack expertise, but because companies are taking the safe option before the unsafe option and terminating consultants as a result of vague legislation.

What can you do?

At Upgraded, we are equipped to help companies navigate the new reality we face. We have solutions to replace consultants who need to be rotated out, and we help consultants who are unable to continue their assignments find new opportunities.

The question is: How are you preparing for this change? Have you started to analyze how the new law will affect your company and your consultants? It is high time to act. The law is here and the companies that act now will be the ones that will survive this upheaval the best.

Upgraded has won a framework agreement procurement for consulting brokerage services with Almi AB. The agreement extends over four years with a ceiling volume of 400 MSEK.

-It is fantastic to welcome Almi AB as a new customer and that we continue to win procurements in both the private and public sectors, says Birgitta Hedegård, CEO of Upgraded People AB.

Within the framework of the agreement, Upgraded will bring together competent consultants with Almi’s needs for qualified services in organizational analysis and development, change management, process development, strategic management and follow-up, operational review and development, and project management with regard to organizational changes.

We have a fantastically diverse team of consultant brokers and are experts in sourcing consultants based on each client’s unique requirements and needs. We are already one of Sweden’s largest consultant brokers and through this deal we continue our growth journey and strengthen our position in the market both in Stockholm and the rest of the country, continues Birgitta.

The framework agreement will enter into force on 2024-07-01 and Upgraded is one of two suppliers that have been awarded.

For further information, please contact:

Birgitta Hedegård, CEO, Upgraded People AB, Birgitta.hedegard@upgraded.se,

About Almi AB

Almi AB is 100 percent owned by the Swedish state. In addition to the parent company Almi AB, the group consists of 16 regional subsidiaries.

The regional subsidiaries are 51 percent owned by the parent company and 49 percent by regional owners. This part of the group mainly conducts advisory and lending activities.

Almi also includes the wholly owned subsidiary Almi Invest AB, with eleven wholly and partly owned subsidiaries that conduct venture capital activities.

Upgraded People AB are experts in the placement of consultants with a specialization in the IT area. Upgraded was started in 2010 and is currently established in 5 locations and has over 1,000 consultants engaged in assignments across the Nordic market. Sales for 2023 amounted to just under SEK 1.1 billion.

Upgraded continues its strong growth journey during the second quarter of this year and has a turnover of 840 million sek during the first 6 months of the year, which means a growth of 79.2%. We can also proudly announce that during the second quarter of this year we have been identified by Upsales as one of Sweden’s fastest growing B2B companies.

New business and assignments

During the first half of the year, we have been awarded several new exciting assignments in both the public and private sectors. If we look at the private sector, it is primarily in the banking, finance and insurance, energy and automotive segments that there is the most activity. In the public sector, we have continued to gain market share with increased trust from government agencies, municipalities and regions. Among other things, we have welcomed the municipalities of Landskrona and Eslöv, PTS and Södertörn as new customers during the year. If we look at technology areas, AI and IT security are the areas that have had the strongest growth in inquiry volumes.

We are seeing the effects of an increasingly strong brand in that we are continuously receiving more exciting inquiries from the market where people are reaching out for an initiated collaboration. We are also seeing a general increase in demand, especially from the private side, while the public side continues to struggle with its budget space, even though some authorities are indicating some additional funding in the second half of the year.

Upgraded’s position in the market continues to strengthen and we have high ambitions for the future. We ensure continued strong growth by attracting new customers while gaining increased trust from our existing customer base. In today’s competitive market, it is important to continuously update the service portfolio so that we can offer the market a refined delivery at any given time and need. I would like to express my gratitude to all our employees, customers and partners who make this fantastic growth journey possible and look forward to the rest of 2024 with great confidence, says Birgitta Hedegård, CEO of Upgraded People AB.

About Upgraded

Upgraded offers the market tailor-made solutions to meet its clients’ unique needs and desires and has a focus on services that lead the digital transformation forward to sleeplessly take on the challenges and opportunities of the future. Upgraded’s clients are found in both the public and private sectors with resource deliveries in Sweden, Norway and Denmark with over 1000 consultants on assignment. We provide the right resource at the right time to enable our clients’ goals and visions for the benefit of the individual, organizations and society.

For more information:

www.upgraded.se

CEO, Birgitta Hedegård

birgitta.hedegard@upgraded.se

Upgraded People AB is one of Sweden’s fastest growing B2B companies. This is evident when Upsales in its Revenue Ranking Journal 2024 again lists the B2B companies with a turnover of over 100 million SEK with the best growth.

Upgraded People AB is one of 112 companies, out of a total of over 48,000 B2B companies in Sweden with at least 10 employees, that qualified for the list and passed the strict requirements regarding turnover and growth. Companies that have shown rapid growth (>30%) in 2022 and positive turnover growth in the last three-year period qualify for the Growth List.

Companies included in the ranking had to meet the following criteria:

• Over 30% revenue growth in 2022.
• Over 100 MSEK in revenue in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
• Positive revenue growth in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
• Have a significant B2B offering in Sweden.
• Headquartered in the Nordics

-We at Upgraded People AB are proud to announce that we are one of Sweden’s fastest growing B2B companies and thus take a place on the Revenue Journal Rankings list. One of the criteria is a growth of at least 30% in 2022 where we managed to achieve no less than 44.44% so it is not only that we are one of the 112 companies in Sweden that meets the criteria, we also do it by a wide margin. This is proof of our strong growth and our commitment to delivering value to our customers, says Birgitta Hedegård, CEO.

In 2022, Upgraded People AB, as mentioned above, achieved growth of 44.44%, which contributed to the qualification for this ranking, but the company is not resting on its laurels. This is how CEO Birgitta Hedegård comments on the award.

-We look forward to continuing our growth journey and building on our successes. This ranking motivates us to continue striving for excellence and to deliver the best possible solutions to our customers. We are grateful for the recognition from Upsales and look forward to further strengthening our position as a leading player in the B2B sector. Our success is a result of our exceptional team and their tireless work. We have consistently strived for innovation, quality and customer satisfaction. Our team has demonstrated an outstanding ability to adapt to market changes and to drive growth through strategic initiatives and strong leadership. We would like to thank our employees, customers and partners who have contributed to this success. Together, we look forward to an even more successful 2024 and beyond.

About Upsales

Upsales is one of the largest CRM companies in the Nordic region with a focus on B2B. Every year they rank Sweden’s fastest growing B2B companies through the Revenue Journal Ranking, where companies must have a turnover of over 100 million SEK. In the 2024 ranking, which includes over 48,000 Swedish B2B companies with more than 10 employees, Upgraded People AB was placed 74th.

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Upgraded People AB are experts in the placement of consultants with a specialization in the IT area. Upgraded was started in 2010 and is currently established in 5 locations and has over 1000 consultants engaged in assignments across the Nordic market. Turnover for 2023 amounted to just under 1.1 billion.

Upgraded People AB continues its strong growth journey and once again delivers a record month in May with a turnover of 156 Msek, which is the highest turnover for a single month in the company’s history. Compared to May 2023, this means that turnover increases by a whopping 77.7%.

New business and assignments

We continue to win exciting tenders and are awarded many new assignments in both the public and private sectors. Looking at the private sector, it is still primarily in the banking, finance and insurance, energy and automotive segments that things are moving the most. Having said that, we are also noticing a dawning optimism in other industry segments. The pattern we can see in the market is a continued great need for niche and new skills, not least linked to AI. There is also a distinctive feature from both the public and private markets where societal benefit creates demand. In the public sector, we continue to take market share through increased trust from government agencies, municipalities and regions. We are proud of how we are continuously strengthening our positions in the Nordic market.

We also see proof that we are doing the right thing in the very high level of loyalty from our existing customer base, where we are consistently met with positive words and increased trust. We also notice the effects of an increasingly strong brand in that we continuously receive more exciting inquiries from the market where customers reach out for an initiated collaboration.

We will continue to work with our conviction that the results of our successes are based on our commitment to building valuable partnerships. By combining the power of execution with brilliant thoughts and groundbreaking ideas, we create value for individuals, organizations and society at large. For us, it is not about facilitating connections but about creating the conditions for growth and digital innovation. I would like to express my deep gratitude to all of our outstanding employees, customers and partners who make this fantastic growth journey possible.

I look forward to the rest of 2024 with great confidence, says Birgitta Hedegård, CEO of Upgraded People AB

For more information:

www.upgraded.se

CEO, Birgitta Hedegård

birgitta.hedegard@upgraded.se

About Upgraded

Upgraded offers the market tailor-made solutions to meet the unique needs and wishes of its clients, we have a focus on services that lead the digital transformation forward to sleeplessly take on the challenges and opportunities of the future. Upgraded’s clients are found in both the public and private sectors with resource deliveries in Sweden, Norway and Denmark with over 1000 consultants on assignment. Turnover for 2023 amounted to just under 1.1 billion sek.