What unikum as does

Unikum AS is a Norwegian social inclusion enterprise headquartered at Waldemar Thranes gate 98A in Oslo, co-owned by Stiftelsen Kirkens Bymisjon and Oslo Kommune. Founded in 1958 (originally as 'Sosialbyggets pakke- og distribusjonsverksted') and merged with Indico in 2010, Unikum operates as a NAV-approved tiltaksarrangør (labour market measures provider) delivering AFT (Arbeidsforberedende trening) and VTA (Varig tilrettelagt arbeid) programmes for individuals with reduced work capacity. The company runs seven work arenas — Håndlag (handicraft), Jobbfrukt (fruit packing/delivery), UniMat (food rescue catering), Kongsgården (horticulture at Bygdø Kongsgård), Vedlikeholdsteamet (maintenance services), Plan (mail distribution for Plan Norge), and Transport — providing structured work training, adapted employment, and qualification pathways for participants outside the ordinary labour market.

Revenue is generated primarily through public funding contracts with NAV (The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) for AFT/VTA programme delivery, supplemented by commercial product and service sales across the work arenas: 800+ weekly fruit basket deliveries to enterprise and government customers (DNB, Sykehuspartner, KLP, Forsvaret) in partnership with BAMA; handicraft products sold at Unikum's showroom and via Kirkens Bymisjon's online store; maintenance services for Vestre AS outdoor furniture; and catering operations using surplus food from Matsentralen. The go-to-market is institutional and relationship-driven — NAV framework contracts for inclusion services, direct enterprise outreach for commercial products, and long-term partnerships (notably 20+ years with Plan Norge) for operational contracts. There is no proprietary technology platform; the operating model is labour-intensive and mission-driven, leveraging EQUASS Assurance certification (since 2009), Miljøfyrtårn environmental certification, and Erasmus accreditation (2021-2027) as quality credentials. Customers include DNB, Sykehuspartner, KLP, Forsvaret, BAMA, Plan Norge, Stiftelsen Norsk Folkemuseum, Vestre AS, Matsentralen, and ByBi.

Name

unikum as

Legal name

Unikum AS

Website

https://unikum.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Unikum AS is an Oslo-based, NAV-approved social inclusion enterprise co-owned by Stiftelsen Kirkens Bymisjon and Oslo Kommune, delivering AFT and VTA labour market programmes through seven work arenas (handicraft, fruit, food, horticulture, maintenance, mail, transport) for people with reduced work capacity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Other Services (except Public Administration) (81)

akta.pro primary industry

Vendor/Subcontractor & SLA Management (BPABAAAJ)

Keywords

• Social inclusion services
• Vocational rehabilitation programmes
• Adapted employment services
• Welfare-to-work programmes
• Labour market measures

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. NAV-funded programme contracts: Unikum generates revenue primarily through public funding agreements with NAV (The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration). As a certified tiltaksarrangør (approved measure provider), Unikum is paid to deliver AFT (Arbeidsforberedende trening) and VTA (Varig tilrettelagt arbeid) programmes for people with reduced work capacity. Revenue is contract-based, tied to programme participation and outcomes.
2. Product and service sales: Unikum generates commercial revenue from product sales through its various arenas: fruit basket delivery (Jobbfrukt) to corporate customers in the Oslo area, handicraft products (Håndlag) sold via Kirkens Bymisjon's online store and its own showroom, and food catering. These revenue streams support the social mission while providing real-work training.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Unikum AS is a Norwegian social inclusion enterprise operating seven work arenas (handicraft workshop, fruit packing, food production and canteen, horticulture, maintenance, mail distribution, and transport) that deliver NAV-funded AFT (Arbeidsforberedende trening / work preparation training) and VTA (Varig tilrettelagt arbeid / permanent adapted work) programmes for people with reduced work capacity. It generates commercial revenue alongside public funding through Jobbfrukt fruit basket deliveries to corporate customers in Oslo (DNB, Sykehuspartner, KLP, Forsvaret), Håndlag handicraft products, UniMat catering, Vedlikeholdsteamet maintenance services, and Plan Norge mail handling.

Product overview

Unikum AS is a social inclusion enterprise that provides a portfolio of integrated work arenas and employment programs to help people outside the labor market gain employment. The core offering consists of seven work arenas (Håndlag, Jobbfrukt, UniMat, Kongsgården, Vedlikeholdsteamet, Plan, and Transport) that provide practical work training and adapted employment, complemented by two formal NAV programs: VTA (permanent adapted work) and AFT (work preparation training). Each arena operates independently as a business unit while sharing the unified mission of creating meaningful work opportunities and pathways to sustainable employment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Håndlag: Unikum's workshop for handicraft and handmade products, focusing on reuse and sustainability.
• Jobbfrukt
• UniMat
• Kongsgården
• Vedlikehold
• Plan
• Transport

Products and services

• AFT (Arbeidsforberedende trening)
• VTA (Varig tilrettelagt arbeid)

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ fruit baskets delivered weekly to corporate customers including DNB, Sykehuspartner, KLP, and Forsvaret
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered significant, core and minor.

• Vestre ASsignificantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Vestre AS initiated the Vedlikeholdsteamet as a pilot project in 2018 in collaboration with Kirkens Bymisjon. Unikum's maintenance team specialises in caring for and repairing Vestre's outdoor furniture, including oiling and linseed-based treatment. The partnership includes transport logistics to Vestre's factory in Magnor. The collaboration has developed innovative and sustainable work models combining social inclusion with environmental responsibility.
• NAV (Norsk Arbeids- og Velferdsetat)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnikum is a certified tiltaksarrangør (approved measure provider) contracted by NAV to deliver AFT (Arbeidsforberedende trening) and VTA (Varig tilrettelagt arbeid) programmes. NAV is both a funding partner and the primary referral channel for participants. Unikum operates as a data processor under NAV's data handling requirements. The partnership is governed by formal agreements and quality standards including EQUASS Assurance certification.
• BAMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBAMA is Unikum's supply partner for the Jobbfrukt arena. BAMA supplies fresh produce that Unikum's participants pack into fruit baskets for delivery to corporate customers. The partnership has been described as 'svært godt og fremtidsrettet' (very good and future-oriented) by BAMA's managing director, with over 10 years of collaboration and weekly volumes exceeding 800 baskets.
• Plan NorgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnikum has partnered with Plan Norge for over 20 years. The Plan arena handles mail processing, distribution, and fulfilment of Plan Norge's information materials, reports, letters, and gifts. Peak activity occurs in late autumn, winter, and early spring when Plan Norge runs its most intensive campaigns. Plan Norge's director of Sponsorships describes Unikum as a 'høyt verdsatt samarbeidspartner' (highly valued cooperation partner).
• Stiftelsen Kirkens BymisjoncoreOthersStiftelsen Kirkens Bymisjon (The Church City Mission) is the founding owner of Unikum AS alongside Oslo Kommune. Kirkens Bymisjon provides the organisational mission and values framework (VINK: verdighet, inkludering, nyskaping, kvalitet). Unikum's Håndlag products are sold through Kirkens Bymisjon's online store.
• Oslo KommunecoreOthersOslo Kommune (The City of Oslo) is a co-owner of Unikum AS alongside Stiftelsen Kirkens Bymisjon. Oslo Kommune has been an owner since the 1990s when the VTA (Varig tilrettelagt arbeid) measure was established.
• Stiftelsen Norsk FolkemuseumsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnikum collaborates with Stiftelsen Norsk Folkemuseum to operate and maintain the historic Bygdø Kongsgård estate, including Gartneriet (the greenhouse) and Dronning Mauds skolehage. Unikum contributes essential staffing for horticulture operations and farm management, supporting the museum's sustainable daily operations.
• MatsentralensignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnikum partners with Matsentralen (The Food Bank) to rescue surplus food and prepare meals for UniMat's canteen. This food rescue collaboration supports sustainability goals by reducing food waste while providing ingredients for meals served at Unikum's canteen and prepared by participants in the VTA and AFT programmes.
• ByBiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerByBi is an urban beekeeping organisation. Unikum's Gartneriet team maintains pollinator-friendly gardens at Bygdø Kongsgård, providing bees with diverse nectar sources. The collaboration produced award-winning honey that won top honours at a prestigious London competition in 2019. Honey from the Gartneriet is sold in Unikum's Håndlag shop.
• RoseslottetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoseslottet is a sensory arena project created by artist Vebjørn and Eimund Sand. Unikum's Vedlikeholdsteam was described as 'helelt avgjørende' (absolutely decisive) in completing the Roseslottet project on time. The partnership provides inclusive employment opportunities in nature for Unikum's participants.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unikum-as
• Facebookfacebook.com/unikumoslo

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about unikum as