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Norilsk is Being Changed by Those who are Strong and Brave

Norilsk's key projects to make it an attractive city are comparable in scope to federal programs. Other projects are less visible, but they are important due to the initiative of local people. New opportunities, convenient infrastructure and environmental improvement are central to the attractions northern city moving into the future.
On 13 March, the ninth Social Technologies Forum “The City is Us!” was held in Norilsk. Nornickel’s executives, representatives of Norilsk’s administration and business community, discussed with citizens of the city how to make the North more attractive for living and working. The forum paid special attention to the prospects for the young people who develop the harsh land through their hard work and talent.

The Results of the Ten Years: the Best Projects

The forum started with a business breakfast “Dialogue with Stakeholders”. During the breakfast, representatives of Norilsk’s administration, business community and citizens named projects which influenced employees' decisions to choose the city and Nornikel.

These are the top 5 projects of the last 10 years that made Norilsk more attractive:

  1. advent of broadband Internet;
  2. closure of the Nickel factory;
  3. renovation of the runway and the airport;
  4. World of New Opportunities program;
  5. the Clean Norilsk program.

In 2023, Norilsk was included in the list of strongholds of the Russian Arctic Zone. This means that government will provide systemic support for Norilsk’s economic and infrastructure projects until 2035.

Current Projects and Opportunities

Professional Development. Every year, the people of the northern territories get more and more opportunities for self-realization, competence development and career growth. This is also true for the rapidly developing Nornickel.
ANASTASIA PERFILEVA,
Deputy Director of Nornickel’s Polar Division for Human Resources and Social Policy:

“The large-scale projects being implemented in Norilsk permit me to state with confidence that this is a city of the strong and brave. The example is the “Sulfur Program”, which is carried out in the Arctic Circle, in the tundra, in harsh conditions. Therefore, if you want to take on a challenge and get involved in something big, go to Norilsk.”
The city's development is progressing at a fast pace. Rehabilitation of the public space “Tower” and improvement of the pedestrian Mira street are approaching completion, and recreation areas are appearing. Citizens are witnessing positive changes and are participating in them by offering their ideas and projects.

The impact of cities' attractiveness on the ESG agenda

At the business breakfast, Nornickel employees collected feedback and wishes from experts, representatives of regional and local authorities, businesses, and non-profit organizations. The information will be useful for preparing Sustainable Development reporting.
INESSA CHERNOVA,
Head of Sustainable Development Reporting at Nornickel’s Sustainable Development Department:

“For 20 years now, we have regularly provided to our stakeholders sustainability reports with information about our production operations, performance, social programs for employees and the public, and about the status of our ESG agenda. We attach great significance to feedback on the quality and sufficiency of information about our company. Therefore, we strive to build an open dialogue, including at today’s event.”

On the way to the future with a cup of coffee in hand

The dialogue about the development of the northern territories continued in the show “Transformation of the city: who, if not us?” Experts set the direction of the discussion, and city residents and guests shared their ideas and confessed how much they love their home. It turned out that what they appreciate most is hot coffee that they can drink on the way to work, the warm-heartedness and responsiveness of people, changeable weather, and the leadership character of the North.
These values do not need to be transformed, but the image of Norilsk’s future has yet to be shaped. Alexey Firsov, the founder of the Platforma Centre for Social Design, believes that this cannot be done without a common vision. When all the ideas and projects come together and form a whole picture of the city in 10–15 years, the result will be a beautiful and understandable perspective for everyone.

The expert called for changing the idea of Norilsk as an Arctic single-industry city lost on the edge of the Earth. Unlike many other settlements of the North, Norilsk is young, flexible, and not tied to the historical past. It is free from conservatism that could impede its development. The main thing is to rely on people. Construction and social projects are important, but people with their energy and passion are more important.
IRINA ZHUYKOVA,
Director of the Social Policy Department at Nornickel.

«Every forum becomes a driver of change in the city. Each year we see new faces. The newcomers find like-minded people here, and in September, they become participants in the contest of social projects “World of New Opportunities” and bring their ideas there. The forum helps us to raise local experts who understand the specifics of the northern city like no one else.»

Technologies, Personal Experience and Startups

“A Temporary Trend or a New Reality: Neural Networks and Digitization for NPOs” is a platform of the forum where Anna Rykova, Vice-Rector for Digital Education at the Norilsk Nickel Corporate University, presented an overview of digital products. She covered the solutions that make life in the North easier and more comfortable. Among them are an electronic translator from the indigenous languages of Taimyr, and projects of media artists at the intersection of IT and art.
The “Norilsk Vibe: Scenarios for Youth Development in the City” platform was dedicated to the true stories of young people who realized themselves and impacted development of the northern territories. In slang, vibe means the atmosphere, the energy of a place or environment.

The format of the event was “road movie”, which is the name of the film genre in which the relationship between the main characters unfolds on a road trip. Here, too, young people were telling their stories during an imaginary taxi ride.
The moderators acted as a driver and a visiting expert, and the participants took turns sitting next to them, answering questions and talking about themselves. An industrial tourism and ecotourism entrepreneur Semyon Bogdanov, welder Ilya Volkov, volunteer Yuliya Shekhina, bulldozer operator Svyatoslav Ichetkin and scientist Sergey Plotnikov spoke about their life in Norilsk.

Participants of the Nornickel acceleration program, social projects contest and IMAKE engineering marathon presented their startups in the business game “Crash Test: From Idea to Startup.” A total of 7 projects were presented. Each upstart entrepreneur received expert advice.

For example, Mikhail Kargin makes home interior items using CNC milling and laser machines. He believes that the North lacks bright colors, and his products improve the mood and create a relaxing atmosphere in the house. Mikhail hopes that at the April demo day of the GR-accelerator program his ideas will receive grant support from Nornickel. These hopes are not groundless as the number of successful startups supported by the company is growing.
NATALIA DUNAEVA,
Head of the Charity Programs Department of the Nornickel’s Polar Division:

“It was for the first time that at the forum we established a crash test site to show to potential investors and partners what young entrepreneurs and young social teams offer. This is an excellent format that shapes a culture of openness and dialogue of both sides, giving the guys an opportunity to launch their project.”
Dmitry Bogdanov, Vice-President of the business school of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Head of the Acceleration Program, said that previously the participants of this program were established entrepreneurs. This year, Nornickel decided to try an experiment and attract young people between the ages of 15 and 25. The guys are already preparing to defend their projects. The most successful ones will receive grants.

The event concluded with a performance of the play, “Good People”. The theatrical production is based on true events and dedicated to volunteers who have turned philanthropy into their trade.
IRINA ZHUYKOVA,

“The company is committed to the development of the territory, which gives impetus to implementing interesting endeavors. Thus, the “World of New Opportunities” program was once initiated in the same way, then the Norilsk Development Agency and the “Our Norilsk” endowment came into being, which now supports socially sustainable development projects. Social stability is important for us, and for this end, we need to have all parties share our responsibility for improving life in the city.”
Photos by Nornickel
April, 2024
2024-05-02 15:33