America finally decided after more than three days of uncertainty while election ballots were counted.

In his first speech since being named US president-elect, Joe Biden promised to "unify" the country and heal deep divisions. But what more do we know about the 77-year-old, who, after his inauguration on 20 January, will officially become the next US commander-in-chief?

When he formally announced his entry into the 2020 presidential race, Joe Biden declared that he stood for two things - workers who "built this country", and values that can bridge its divisions.

As the US faces challenges from coronavirus to racial inequity, his pitch is to create new economic opportunities for workers, restore environmental protections and healthcare rights, and international alliances.

Approach to tackling coronavirus

Mr. Biden, who has served in public life for around a half-century, is emphasizing his government experience, seeking to cast himself as a steady, seasoned hand in a dangerous and uncertain world.

As the coronavirus crisis has unfolded, he has looked for ways to help voters picture him as commander in chief, formulating recommendations rooted in advice from health care and economics experts.

Mr Biden's approach to tackling coronavirus is to provide free testing for all and hire 100,000 people to set up a national contact-tracing programme.

Mr Biden plans to establish at least 10 testing centres in every state, call upon federal agencies to deploy resources and give firmer national guidance through federal experts. He says all governors should mandate wearing masks.

To address the immediate impact of the coronavirus crisis, Mr Biden has vowed to spend "whatever it takes" to extend loans to small businesses and increase direct money payments to families.

Criminal Justice reform

In the wake of the race protests that have gripped the US this year, he said he believes that racism exists in the US and must be dealt with through broad economic and social programmes to support minorities. A pillar of his "build back" programme is to create business support for minorities through a $30bn investment fund.

Global climate change

Mr Biden has called climate change an existential threat, and says he will rally the rest of the world to act more quickly on curbing emissions by rejoining the Paris Climate Accord. The agreement, which Donald Trump withdrew from, committed the US to cutting greenhouse gases up to 28% by 2025, based on 2005 levels.

Undo Trump’s policies

In his first 100 days in office, Mr Biden promises to reverse Trump policies that separate parents from their children at the US-Mexican border, rescind limits on the number of applications for asylum and end the bans on travel from several majority-Muslim countries. He also promises to protect the "Dreamers" - people brought illegally to the US as children who were permitted to stay under an Obama-era policy - as well as ensure they are eligible for federal student aid

The Health Secretary Matt Handcock announced today that the NHS should become ready for deployment of coronavirus vaccine from the start of December 2020.

The Covid-19 vaccine has been developed by Pfizer and BioNTech and is found to be 90 % effective against the virus.

The Health Secretary called the development a "promising news" however warned that it was only one step of many the country needs to tackle the pandemic once and for all.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed a "huge thanks" to Kate Bingham, the head of the UK's vaccine taskforce, for securing 40 million doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine.

According to the British Medical Association Covid-19 vaccines could be available from GPs and large drive-through sites 12 hours a day and seven days a week.

Doctors should get ready to start giving out jabs as soon as they are available, the medical union said.

GP surgeries were advised to be ready for "rapid delivery" of Covid-19 vaccines as soon as they are approved.

Guidance on a new "directed enhanced service" were given to family doctors, describing that they would work longer hours from 8am to 8pm Monday to Sunday to deliver the vaccination. Patients are set to be given two vaccine doses - either 21 or 28 days apart.

As well as GPs and chemists, vaccines could also be available at mass vaccination centres that will operate "in a similar way to testing centres" There could also be "roving teams" of vaccine nurses who offer jabs to those in care homes or to people who are housebound.

Vaccine availability will be limited at the beginning,  meaning only small numbers of vaccines may be given in December with most vaccinations taking place in early 2021.

"Working together, practices will need to be prepared to offer vaccinations seven days a week so that the vaccine is delivered within its short shelf-life and so patients receive it as soon as possible."Practices will need to work together to decide which one practice (or another appropriate site) is used for the vaccination site, remembering the need for provision to be potentially available 8am to 8pm, seven days a week."

But scientists have expressed concerns about how GPs will store vaccines as they must be kept at -80C. They say many surgeries do not have freezers cold enough for them.

In the recent years Berlin started to spark its reputation by its liberal diversity, cool image and low costs of living becoming more and more an attractive destination for international innovative minds. With a growing supportive infrastructure and innovative culture the city’s entrepreneurial spirit has started flourishing, attracting young and ambitions to join the movement. 

Berlin has become a magnet for young tech talents from all over the world for a number of reasons:

An attractive hub for investors

Creative industries account for 40,000 companies in the Berlin with over 350,000 workers being employed and producing an annual turnover of over 35 billion euros.  According to the recent research, Berlin startups received 1.9 billion euros in funding over the first 6 months in the last year.

Alex Jjung - the cofounder of SoundCloud (a successful Berlin startup) commented about Berlin is that “one of the reasons why it is good for startups is because the whole city is a startup.” In the last three decades the city has evolved a lot and so has its economy.

A place for inspiration for creative minds

Due to its diverse history the German capital embrace this extrinsic mixture of modern and old, which makes it an attractive melting pot for creative minds and innovative businesses as a source of inspiration and generation of cool ideas.

From an interview of a Parisian web developer - Lily, who has recently moved from Brighton to Berlin Lily to work for Brandwatch (one of the world’s leading social intelligence company with offices in the UK, US, Singapore and Berlin) she describes Berlin as the perfect place for innovative ideas to flow with its discussion areas and graffiti covered walls offices.

Lilly said: “It's probably one of the most liberal cities of Europe, you really can be yourself. This city definitely plays by its own rules and because of that it encourages people to be their most creative.”

Amazingly international diversity 

According to the Institute of Strategy and Development (IFSE) Berlin start ups are the major employers of international employees with 620,000 registered internationals in the city, which makes 16,5 % of total population of Berlin with over 186 different nationalities reside in the city.

According to the Global Start Ups Ecosystem report, with 49% of its employees are being internationals Berlin’s start-ups beat Silicon Valley (45% internationals) by its diversity and is only topped up by London.

The highest pay for Software developers

Software developers and managers are the most highly paid jobs in Berlin with an average starting salary of 2,900 euros for a software developer rising to an average of 5,000 euros for an experienced developer (10+ years).

The happiest employees in the IT industry

The first comprehensive start-up salary survey in Germany shows that Berliners earn higher salaries and experience more job satisfaction.  Additionally, the report showed that those who work in start-ups are happier than those who don’t.

1. Strong employment rights

Employment rights in Sweden are one of the cornerstones of the modern Swedish labour market. Swedish Labour unions have a lot of power with the development of an environment where the health and safety of employees come first. In addition to union support, a government agency, the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket), ensures employees’ well-being at work.

2. Equality comes first

Sweden’s anti-discrimination legislation guarantees that everyone has the right to be treated equally regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation or functional disabilities.

3. Work permits for your family

Family-focused policies extend to migration regulations; when you apply for a work permit, you can also apply for residence permits for your spouse (including common-law and registered partners) and unmarried children under 21. Your family members can start to work or study right away when you get to Sweden.

4. Innovation is highly supported

Sweden encourages innovation. Companies in fields from ICT to energy are at the cutting edge of sustainable development and technological advancement. Swedish companies like IKEA, Ericsson and Spotify have fundamentally changed their fields – and continue to do so. International rankings like the Global Innovation Index confirm that Sweden is an innovation leader. If you work in Sweden, you could be a part of taking your field to the next level.

5. Generous welfare system

In addition to a career where you’re encouraged to develop as an individual, the tax-financed social benefits mean you don’t have to worry about the cost of healthcare, childcare or your children’s education. State subsidies make these and other aspects of life affordable. Eighteen months of paid parental leave – based on income – are offered per child, with job security when you return to work, and sick leave benefit means that you can focus on your health when you need to.

Information for UK nationals moving to or living in Sweden, including guidance on residency, healthcare, passports, and the Withdrawal Agreement.

What you should do

• Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip
• Register as a resident in Sweden
• Exchange your UK driving licence for a Swedish one

Visas, Residency and Entry Requirements

Residency

 There will be no change in residency rules or registration procedures if you arrive in Sweden before or on 31 December 2020. If you are resident in Sweden before or on 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay.

If there are changes to residency registration processes, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.
If you plan to live in Sweden for more than 1 year, you must register with the Swedish Population Register. The Swedish authorities will issue you an ID number (personnummer).
You can only register if you have a right of residence (uppehållsrätt) for a year or more and comprehensive travel insurance. Under the Withdrawal Agreement, you will automatically have this right if you can support yourself, either by work or by other independent means, or you are studying.
You will not be able to register if you are still looking for a job when you come to Sweden and or do not meet other requirements for residency.
If you’re planning to move as a dependent to a family member who lives in Sweden you must apply for a residence permit.

Passports and travel

The rules on travel will stay the same until the transition period ends on 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to travel to countries in the Schengen area or elsewhere in the EU with your UK passport.

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

Passports from 1 January 2021

From 1 January 2021, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Sweden, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra month may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

Entry requirements

Visas

If you hold a British Citizen passport, you do not need a visa to enter Sweden. If you’re planning a stay of longer than 3 months.The rules on travel will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

Visas from 1 January 2021

The rules for travelling or working in Europe will change from 1 January 2021:

• You will be able to travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism. This is a rolling 180-day period.
• Therefore, if you’re travelling to Sweden, previous visits to the Schengen area within the 180 days before your date of travel would count against the 90-day limit.
• If you are travelling visa-free to Sweden and to other countries in the Schengen area, make sure your whole visit is within the limit.
• To stay for longer, to work or study, or for business travel you will need to meet the entry requirements set out by Sweden. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You should check with the Swedish Embassy what type of visa, if any, you will need.
• Periods of stay authorised under a visa or permit will not count against the 90-day limit.

The European Commission has not yet set out how the limit of 90 days in any 180-day period for visa-free travel will be implemented for those who are already travelling in the EU or Schengen Area on 31 December 2020.

If you are travelling to Sweden before 31 December 2020 and will stay until 1 January 2021 or later, you should check with the Swedish Embassy for information on how the 90-day visa-free limit will apply to you. This also applies if your stay includes travel to other Schengen area countries.

At border control for Sweden, you may need to:

• show a return or onward ticket
• show you have enough money for your stay
• use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing
• Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit.

Driving in Sweden

Driving licence rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020. If you are a resident in Sweden, you should exchange your UK licence for a Swedish one. You can still use your Swedish licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

Healthcare

If you are living in Sweden or move there permanently before 31 December 2020, you’ll have life-long healthcare rights in Sweden as you do now, provided you remain resident.

State healthcare: S1

If you live in Sweden and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Sweden, you must not use your EHIC from the UK to access healthcare in Sweden. When you travel to Sweden for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance

There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.
Working and studying in Sweden. If you are registered as a resident in Sweden you have the right to work in Sweden.

If you are resident in Sweden on or before 31 December 2020, your right to work will stay the same, as long as you remain resident. You should check the Swedish Migration Agency website for information on when and how UK nationals can apply for a work permit.

Money and tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Sweden to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Sweden have not changed.

National Insurance

If you are employed or self-employed in the EU and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.

Banking

Most people living in Europe should not see any change to their banking after 31 December 2020. Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. If you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.

Pensions after 31 December 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance.
If you are living in Sweden by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Sweden, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Swedish pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after 31 December 2020. If you are considering moving to Sweden on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change.

If you are considering moving to Sweden on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Tell the Swedish and UK authorities if you are planning to return to the UK permanently.If you get healthcare in Sweden through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to cancel your S1 at the right time.

Original Source: GOV.UK

Since its creation in 1995 Java has been a leading programming language due to its unique features, as Java isn’t confined to any processor or computer, which allows it to be used for cross-platform applications, such as web applications and server-side code. Now Java is the most used language for writing Android apps, as well as its widely used for cloud applications, machine-learning environments and IoT.

To become a professional Java developer a wide range of skills is required with a comprehensive understanding of the basics and latest developments.

Apart the language itself, Java developers also must know how the development process works and how to navigate the environments in which the code runs.

Some of the skills include hibernation, API, eclipse, JPA with very essential skills of Java development tools, primarily Maven and Gradle. Additionally a good Java must have a thorough knowledge of CSS, HTML,  jQuery, and JavaScript, and know how to works with Java development frameworks, such as MVC play, Java Server, etc.

Are Java developers in demand?

Despite of the competition from new languages, Java remains one of the most-in-demand programming languages in the IT industry, including IT industry in Sweden. Apart from the IT industry Java developers are also in high demand in  Automotive industry, Engineering, Banking and Consulting Industries. 

Salaries for Java developers in Sweden

The salary of a Java Developer usually depends on experience, skills, seniority and location. However, on average a Java Developers in Sweden earns around 50,600 SEK per month. Salaries range from 23,800 SEK (lowest) to 80,000 SEK (highest). While, contract rates can vary from 550 SEK to 900 SEK per hour.

If you are an experieced Java Developer looking for a contract job in Sweden feel free to share with us your CV by registering it on our website.

You might also be interested in checking our latest Java Developer openings, please find links below:

Software Python Developer C++ Java Contract Job Sweden 

Senior Java Developer Contract Job Gothenburg

Android Software Developer Contract Job Sweden 

Boris Johnson announced the plan for the uk to become the world’s leader in clean wind energy, which will also result in creating more jobs, slashing carbon emissions and boosting exports.

£160 million will be made available to upgrade ports and infrastructure across communities like in teesside and humber in northern england, scotland and wales to hugely increase our offshore wind capacity, which is already the largest in the world and currently meets 10 per cent of our electricity demand.

This new investment will see around 2,000 construction jobs rapidly created and will enable the sector to support up to 60,000 jobs directly and indirectly by 2030 in ports, factories and the supply chains, manufacturing the next-generation of offshore wind turbines and delivering clean energy to the uk.

Through this, uk businesses including smaller suppliers will be well-placed to win orders and further investment from energy companies around the world and increase their competitive standing on the global stage, as well as supporting low-carbon supply chains.

The prime minister has also set out further commitments to ensure that, within the decade, the uk will be at the forefront of the green industrial revolution as we accelerate our progress towards net zero emissions by 2050.

These include:

• Confirming offshore wind will produce more than enough electricity to power every home in the country by 2030, based on current electricity usage, boosting the government’s previous 30gw target to 40gw.
• Creating a new target for floating offshore wind to deliver 1gw of energy by 2030, which is over 15 times the current volumes worldwide. building on the strengths of our north sea, this brand new technology allows wind farms to be built further out to sea in deeper waters, boosting capacity even further where winds are strongest and ensuring the uk remains at the forefront of the next generation of clean energy.
• Setting a target to support up to double the capacity of renewable energy in the next contracts for difference auction, which will open in late 2021 - providing enough clean, low cost energy to power up to 10 million homesThese commitments are the first stage outlined as part of the prime minister’s ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution, which will be set out fully later this year. this is expected to include ambitious targets and major investment into industries, innovation and infrastructure that will accelerate the uk’s path to net zero by 2050.

Prime Minister said:

Our seas hold immense potential to power our homes and communities with low-cost green energy and we are already leading the way in harnessing its strengths.

Now, as we build back better we must build back greener. so we are committing to new ambitious targets and investment into wind power to accelerate our progress towards net zero emissions by 2050.

This sets us on our path towards a green industrial revolution, which will provide tens of thousands of highly-skilled jobs.

Together with planned stringent requirements on supporting uk manufacturers in government-backed renewables projects, these measures will mean the industry can reach its target of 60% of offshore wind farm content coming from the uk.

Business and energy secretary Alok Sharma said:

The offshore wind sector is a major british success story, providing cheap, green electricity while supporting thousands of good-quality jobs.

Powering every home in the country through offshore wind is hugely ambitious, but it’s exactly this kind of ambition which will mean we can build back greener and reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Today’s announcement marks the latest stage of the government’s support for renewable energy. last september the third round of the contracts for difference renewable energy auction delivered record-low prices on enough clean energy to power 7 million homes. earlier this year the government announced the next round would be open to onshore wind and solar projects for the first time since 2015.

The UK has the largest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world, with around 10gw in operation off its coasts.

The government’s plan for renewable energy forms part of wider efforts to ensure the uk meets its legally binding target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and build back greener from coronavirus.

Over the past decade, the uk has cut carbon emissions by more than any similar developed country. in 2019, uk emissions were 42 per cent lower than in 1990, while our economy over the same period grew by 72 per cent.

Hugh Mcneal, CEO of Renewableuk, said:

The government has raised the ambition for offshore wind and renewables, and our industry is ready to meet the challenge. a green recovery with renewables at its heart will be good for consumers and jobs, as well as helping to meet our 2050 net zero emissions target. support for new floating wind projects will ensure the uk stays at the forefront of global innovation in renewables, and provides new opportunities in the low carbon transition.

As data suggests recent Covid-19 has become a driving force behind an increasing demand for Electric Vehicle and an E-Mobility trend.

According to Kersten Heineke, the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility in Europe, “Covid is going to be an accelerator for the transition to more sustainable mobility”.

Government regulations, lower vehicle costs, more expansive charging networks, and an overall superior customer experience are all driving the growth of electric vehicles (EVs).

The supply chain for EVs is much simpler than for gasoline vehicles, using only about 3,000 to 10,000 parts per vehicle, down from the 30,000 needed vehicles with a traditional powertrain. All the major automakers have committed publicly to an electric future. All of this means that a shift away from internal combustion engines and toward EVs will increase the 2 million or so EVs sold in 2018 by a factor of 10 in the coming decade.

Such innovation will have massive impact on technology companies. Electrification is not just about the car and its components but it involves a great number of other parties to be involved, including battery chemistry, the battery makers, the automakers, the charging infrastructure, the smart energy grid and even the very source of power generation.

It is essential to make each part of this chain to be sustainable, environmentally friendly and ethical. For the battery itself, which depends on analog technology to manage battery formation and test, precision battery management, isolation, powertrain inversion and energy storage, this also means ethical practices even for the battery chemistry.

That is the reason why a trend for battery chemistries will raise, such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP), which is not only cheaper and safer than other chemistries, but is zero cobalt, meaning it totally avoids the ethical issues surrounding cobalt mining.

Additionally, 1/3 of the cost of an electric car comes from the battery itself, which means the battery is then not just the determining factor governing the range of the vehicle, it’s actually a valuable asset in the vehicle. What does the industry do with that asset? One approach is to develop technology that leads the battery life cycle “journey” all the way from battery formation through its second life.

For example, the useful life of the battery is defined by several factors that goes beyond of its production. What were the precise conditions during cell formation? How carefully was the cell handled at the warehouse, during transportation and during battery-pack manufacturing and assembly? What were the conditions during its operation in the vehicle and over the road?

Technology is developed to understand the state of health of the battery cell through operation to determine how the battery cell might be used in second-life applications, for instance powering an airport shuttle, a forklift or an electric bike, storing energy from renewable sources like wind and solar or ending up as a cell in the vehicle charging network.

The decision to treat batteries as a quasi-renewable asset means fewer resources end up in landfills. And, during operation, there is the benefit of saving carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

A comprehensive process of digitalization in Sweden has led to a growing need for IT specialists in the country. According to recent statistics a deficit of 70,000 IT engineers is expected in 2022.

To improve the shortage situation in the country four main measures were suggested to be taken by the experts:

• Strengthen general efforts on digitalization
• Raise awareness among schools and institutions on needs for IT specialists
• Accent on continuous education and training during career
• Improve immigration and attract international talents

Let’s look closely at the fourth factor – improvement of immigration and attraction of international talents.  

A globalised economy requires an efficient system for migration and integration.

In Sweden, business in general and a digital sector, in particular, depend on the international talents. In order to remain internationally competitive and the country without doubt should have advanced and straight-forward immigration policies to reassure that the process of relocation to Sweden for international talents runs as smooth as possible. Through the poor management of labour immigration in recent years, Sweden has lost much of its attractiveness and, thereby, many valuable talents.

In order to improve immigration situation in the country the following measures are suggested to be taken:

Develop a national strategy for talent attraction, including a ”onestop-shop” for all case management connected to labour immigration, coordinated by regional ”expat centres”.

Effective collaboration between the authorities responsible for recruitment and establishment of third-country nationals in the Swedish labour market is crucial for Sweden to be able to compete internationally for skills. Our proposal is to set up regional so-called expat centres for the coordination of all contacts with authorities (one-stop-shop19).

A prerequisite is that the Migration Agency is given the task of promoting labour immigration for occupations where there is a lack of supply, clearly differentiated from its by nature restrictive asylum management. We also advocate a review of the regulatory framework for employee stock options and expert tax, in order to make it more profitable and attractive to work in Sweden, as a part of the national strategy.

Aim for an increase of at least 10,000 more international top students applying to Swedish universities and, by extension, to the Swedish labour market by more generous public-private funded scholarship programmes and extended deadlines for seeking work in Sweden after graduation. The number of inbound students has decreased by 10,000 since 2011, and fewer than one in ten students from countries outside the EU get into our labour market. Our scholarship programmes, which are today linked to the aid budget and therefore not freely available to students from all over the world, should be both broadened and increased, including by a greater degree of co-financing with private actors. The aim should be that 10,000 more top students are recruited every year, of which at least half should be willing and able to work in Sweden after graduation. Together with better collaboration between colleges and the working life (as proposed in earlier sections) and an extended deadline to at least a year for seeking work after graduation, it can be ensured that these talents will be available for the Swedish labour market.

No-lockdown strategy helped companies in Sweden avoid the worst-case scenario predicted by experts. Despite many debates and scary predictions Sweden seems to choose the correct course with one after another Swedish companies have been beating expectations: from telecoms equipment maker Ericsson to consumer appliances manufacturer Electrolux via lender Handelsbanken and lockmaker Assa Abloy. “I have never seen such a high proportion of companies coming in with better profits than expected. It’s almost every company,” said Esbjorn Lundevall, chief equity strategist at lender SEB.

“Keeping society open, schools open, doesn’t mean that we haven’t been hit. But it does mean that we haven’t suddenly not been able to leave our homes. That has undoubtedly helped companies,” Alrik Danielson, chief executive of Swedish bearings manufacturer SKF.

SKF, whose ball bearings are used in everything from paper machines to cars has kept its offices in Sweden open throughout the crisis and expects workers to come in unless they are ill. Its second-quarter underlying operating profits in the three months to June fell by almost half compared with a year ago but were still a third ahead of analyst expectations. “We have quickly adapted to the new reality, even though we don’t know how it will be going forward,” said Mr Danielson. SKF’s sashed are steadily flat since the start of the year but have increased by more than half since their lowest point in March, when the pandemic started. Sweden’s death rate has been a way higher than neighbouring Norway, Denmark and Finland, causing controversial discussions around the world. But its excess mortality levels have been lower than in many European countries, such as UK, France and Spain, which were under a lockdown.

It is a similar situation terms of the predicted economic impact. Economists and central banks forecast that GDP level in Sweden should decrease by roughly 5 per cent, similar to Norway and Denmark and far better than in Italy, the UK or France. Despite predictions, Swedbank reported pre-tax profit in the second quarter of SKr6bn, down slightly year-on-year but almost 40 per cent ahead of analyst expectations. Jens Henriksson, a Chief executive commented: “I’m not going to say yes or no. We have not been as closed down. And that translates into a positive effect. If you look at the Swedish economy, we’ve seen signs that it’s picking up.”He added that big companies, which had rushed to Swedbank for loans at the start of the coronavirus pandemic have already started repaying, while smaller businesses had not borrowed as much as many had expected.

The housing market has also stayed robust, with SEB’s confidence indicator showing its biggest ever improvement from June to July. Experts highlight that there is a split between Swedish companies into those with a heavy domestic focus, such as retail banks, and the manufactures. The first benefited the most from anti-lockdown approach while the second as large contributors to the export sector were exposed to reduced global demand.

Car manufacturer Volvo Group, industrial groups Alfa-Laval, Trelleborg and SKF, and medical technology company Getinge all have not done much profits in the past quarter but beat experts’ forecasts. Ericsson boosted its operating profit in the quarter while Electrolux almost broke even, showing much more positive results than was estimated.  One possible explanation is simply that experts were too negative about the impact of coronavirus, not just in Sweden but across Europe.

Thechief executive at Volvo, Martin Lundstedt, said the 38% drop in sales in the period was “unprecedented” but due to quickly made deep cost cuts the group was able to make profit despite disruption to the group’s supply chains. However, he has mentioned that the Swedish approach to the lockdown had “rather limited effect” given the disruption to supply chains beyond the country’s borders. “We are too intertwined with other countries,” he said. “It’s more about the fact that a lot of Swedish companies have been working on flexibility.”

All industrial groups were encouraged by signs of recovery in China and a robust early rebound in other countries in Europe, as well as government support to maintain jobs.