Just Transition Platform case study : transformation of the former Odense Steel Shipyard

The closure of the steelworks has meant the loss of an important employer in the region. The repurposing and retraining activities that followed can be seen as a showcase example of a successful redevelopment project with a strong reskilling perspective. When the Odense Steel Shipyard closed down, a concept was jointly developed (between the company, the city and the workers' union) on how to reskill the laid-off workers and get them back into employment again. The aim was to keep the labour force in the region - which was in line with the workers' wishes. With the help of the local unions, individual plans to reskill the workers were created. These ensured that every worker received bespoke training. To achieve this, not only the workers needed to be retrained but also, new employment opportunities needed to be created as the shipyard's closing signified the demise of the largest regional employer. With government initiatives aimed at establishing different sectors in the region, it was ensured that economic diversification could be kickstarted. A couple of years after the closure, more jobs were created than the number of jobs lost, and more people were employed at the old site than when the steel shipyard was still running. The shipyard was transformed into a large industrial area, housing many different companies. Now, the industrial area around the port is driven by the port company. Odense Havn (the Danish name of the port company) has evolved into a key player in the region, housing not only a wide range of innovative companies but also hosting the new centre (Large Structure Production) of the robotics cluster that has evolved around the University of Southern Denmark (SDU).