Partnership with Youth Entrepreneurship

Starting your own business is not without its challenges. That is why the real estate division at Thon has partnered up with the Youth Entrepreneurship organisation.

Published 23. Oct 2024 (updated 29. Apr 2025)

Fem medlemmer av en jury står i messehallen til Ungt Entreprenørskap og får presentasjon fra en ung gründer. — Jury members from Thon judge a presentation by a budding entrepreneur. From right to left are Gro Collett (Ski Storsenter), Per Kristian Trøen (Strømmen Storsenter) and Kathrine Ingerø (Sandvika Storsenter), as well as the other jury members.

"We're extremely pleased with Thon's involvement"

"A shopping centre has plenty of reasons to get involved in startups. It enables closer contact with young people in a potential recruitment process and helps to shape the future of entrepreneurship in Norway," says Petter Skotland,

who is the head of a nationwide organisation called Youth Entrepreneurship (Ungt Entreprenørskap).

"We're extremely pleased with Thon's involvement, from funding and management support to having centre managers serve as jury members. Representatives from Thon have also held professional lectures for students and

the Akershus branch of the organisation has organised regional trade fairs together with the Strømmen, Ski and Sandvika Storsenters, which offer the Thon Eiendom scholarship for 'Best Seller' and generous opportunities for students to showcase their work and sell things at the centre."

Messehall på Strømmen Storsenter med unge mennesker som viser frem ulike utstillinger. — The Strømmen Storsenter hosts the annual Akershus Youth Entrepreneurship Championships. This picture was taken during the 2017 edition.

Supporting budding entrepreneurs for over 20 years

Several of the shopping centres participate in local activities, such as Idol-style competitions for entrepreneurs.
The centre managers serve as mentors for student and youth companies and also participate as judges in regional competitions and national championships.
Mentor programmes are offered at both schools and shopping centres.
The centres act as a sales channel for youth companies.

The real estate division of the Olav Thon Group has been working together with Youth Entrepreneurship since 2001.

Per Kristian from Strømmen Storsenter receives honorary award

When the Akershus Youth Entrepreneurship Championships was once again held at the Strømmen Storsenter on 28 February 2024, the centres very own manager, Per Kristian Trøen, received an honorary award for his 20 years of effort.

"The level of involvement and creativity fostered by youth companies bodes well for future developments in Norwegian commercial and organisational settings in the years ahead," said a surprised by grateful centre manager.

Why does Thon support budding entrepreneurs?

The Youth Entrepreneurship organisation promotes such values as future orientation, interaction and creative enthusiasm – which are also important at Thon.

Several of our shopping centres work together with the Youth Entrepreneurship organisation. Thon contributes by organising different activities in order to promote collaboration between schools and the business community.

The Ski, Sandvika and Strømmen Storsenters in particular have enjoyed a close working relationship with Youth Entrepreneurship. Both centre managers and store managers have served on juries tasked with judging several hundred youth companies.

Possibility to showcase work

Budding entrepreneurs have been given the opportunity to showcase their products at the shopping centres. They have also had the chance to talk about their work in front of a jury, centre customers and fellow students prior to the GründerExpo county championships.

There has been a high level of enthusiasm among the creative students, which include many potential sales professionals who may very well have their own store in the future.

What is Youth Entrepreneurship?

Youth Entrepreneurship (Ungt Entreprenørskap) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting creative enthusiasm and self-confidence in young people.