28.09.2026
Community partnerships are in place across many of our sites as part of our Green Lights commitment to have a positive impact on children and young people. At Beckers Sweden in Märsta, that commitment takes the form of a long-term relationship with a local school.
Beckers Sweden is mentor company to Centralskolan, a school in the community. They meet the same students three times as they move through school: in grade 2, again in grade 5, and again in grade 7. Over the past few years, those students have become familiar faces at the local site.
The partnership responds to a problem in Swedish society. Some young people leave school and end up unemployed, or do not go on to study further, often because they have had little chance early on to see what working life looks like or to discover which paths are open to them. Introducing children to companies and different jobs before they start making decisions about their education is a simple response, and we are convinced it makes a difference.
What the partnership looks like
Colleagues plan each visit with the teachers so that it connects to what the students are learning. The students are introduced to Beckers in the classroom first, then they come to the Märsta site and tour it in small groups, with activities chosen for their age.
They have tried on safety equipment, spotted unsafe behavior in illustrated scenes, discussed sustainability, and interviewed employees for a school assignment. Under-18s cannot enter the laboratory or production areas, so we found other ways to show them what happens there, including a photo exhibition on how paint is made. Younger students get simpler, hands-on activities. Older ones look at career paths and the range of roles you can do at Beckers, from paint development to sales, finance and HR.
Being a mentor company to Centralskolan is fully aligned with how we at Beckers want to contribute as a positive force for children and young people. Our meetings with the students are truly inspiring. They are intelligent, thoughtful, and courageous. It is up to us to provide young people with the right opportunities and to help them make the most of their potential.
Through practical activities and discussions, students gain insight into workplace safety and the many roles within Beckers Sweden.
Widening how students think about work
The aim is to widen how students think about education and employment, and to show them that there are many routes into different careers. Teachers value the link to real jobs: when a student asks why mathematics matters, someone from the Beckers team can show where it is used.
There are early signs that it’s having a positive effect. Colleagues have been recognized and greeted by students out in the community after a visit. The longer-term benefits are harder to measure. What the team can say is that the exchange runs both ways, and that they are learning from these students as much as the students are learning from them. The partnership grows with each new group.
This is a long-term commitment rather than a one-off. The partnership will continue in the years ahead, growing with each new group of students at Centralskolan. What the partnership looks like elsewhere will depend on the community, but the principle is the same: sustained relationships rather than single visits.