NorSea Denmark

How do you celebrate successes, big or small, within your company?

Small successes are often celebrated across departments, and it’s not uncommon for cake to be shared when celebrating achievements or colleagues.
We also have our internal communication platform, where a ‘wall’, similar to a Facebook wall, allows employees to post messages of appreciation when a project has gone well, a colleague has done something great, or similar. This is used quite frequently.
We have also had hot dog stands come by to celebrate successes, for example recently when we moved our workshop, on the occasion of colleagues’ anniversaries etc.  

Celebrations come in many forms, but it’s no secret that they often involve cake, soda, or something along those lines. 

What’s the funniest or most unexpected thing that’s ever happened in the office?

One of the biggest things that has happened in recent years, which has really become a symbol of great summer vibes, and also came as a bit of an unexpected turn, is our collaboration with SUSET Festival. Since 2024, we have provided base area for the newly started festival, and so far it has been a huge success.

Of course, there is quite a bit of work involved in moving our entire operation during the weeks around the festival each year, but it has proven to be well worth it. It’s really awesome to see how the city comes together around a festival concept, that is so unique, yet closely connected to our identity as a harbor town. It’s also a perfect place to meet colleagues, as well as new and old friends, family, and acquaintances. So, this is something we are very proud of and something the whole company looks forward to every summer. 

If your company could collaborate with any famous person or organization (alive or dead), who would it be and what would you achieve together?

If we could collaborate with a well-known person, it would be Benjamin Hav. In his song “Esbjerg, Torden og Regn”, we actually think he nails it. 

We know Esbjerg is famous for its “lovely” harbor-weather and the stiff westerly winds, but we see it as awesome raw energy, wind in your hair, and a pride in standing strong even when the weather is rough. Our roots in Esbjerg, Denmark’s largest supply base, go all the way back to 1974. And just like Benjamin Hav and the family, we stand together. For us, every day at work is about looking out for each other. About community. About pulling together, even through thunder and rain. A collaboration with Benjamin Hav would celebrate exactly that: the strength in being stubborn, proud, and united. And a little quirky – in a cool way. 

What advice would you give to students who want to work with your company?

Be curious, proactive, and open-minded – especially early in your working life. At NorSea Denmark, we live by the values of HERO: Helpful, Engaged, Responsible, and Open. Be helpful and wear your “can-do” attitude. Listen to your colleagues, stay engaged, and take initiative in your work. Take care of yourself and your colleagues, and take responsibility for both your own and the company’s goals and ambitions. Be adaptable, ask for help, and respect others’ viewpoints. 

It might sound superficial, but these are values that are essential for a functioning work culture in a company as diverse as ours. At the same time, they are values that can be transferred into a constructive mindset for apprentices, students, and recent graduates, wherever their career paths may take them during their first years of working life. 

… Take the leap! It’s okay to make mistakes. 

What’s the least glamorous part of working at your company?

Fluctuating workload:

There are periods of very high activity, and therefore busyness, and then there are times with fewer projects when the office and operations might seem quieter. It is therefore important to be adaptable and flexible in terms of the workload. 

All the different departments/business areas:

NorSea Denmark is a very complex company because we service so many different parts of the supply chain – across various industries. This can sometimes make it difficult to keep track of what is happening on the other side of the office, out at the base, at the port in Aarhus, and so on. 

Fortunately, we have many initiatives to address this wide spread of business areas. For example, our quarterly meetings where the entire company gathers to hear important updates and ongoing projects – and we also have our communication platform, or “the app” as we call it, where everyone can post updates from their daily work and where important information about successful projects is shared. 

We are also lucky that the sense of community across this broad company is quite strong, supported by various networks, parties, activities, and similar events. 

How do you tackle challenges you meet?

Once again, we can refer to our values and guiding principles: HERO. We approach all tasks, projects, and challenges with a mindset that we are helpful, engaged, responsible, and open to input and perspectives. That’s why our values are so important – because such a mindset can work wonders when facing most challenges. 
… And if that doesn’t work, then more cake.