This Website has a limited use of cookies. By using this website, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions listed in our data protection policy. Read more

Well-attended seminar on ownership assessment in the welfare sector

17 February 2015

Private companies should be tested and then given permission to start operations in the welfare sector, explained the special investigator Christina Eriksson Stephanson when she presented the Ownership Assessment Inquiry's (ägarprövningsutredningen) results. Stephanson presented her conclusions at a seminar organized by the SNS as part of IFN and SNS’ joint research program, From Welfare State to a Welfare Society. Patrik Attemark, CEO Solhagagruppen, Johan Fredriksson, president and CEO Praktikertjänst and Ulla Hamilton, acting CEO National Association of Independent Schools also participated in the ensuing discussion.

Christina Eriksson Stephanson presented the Ownership Assessment Inquiry's (ägarprövningsutredningen) results.


Anyone who starts a private school in the future, according to the  Ägarprövningsutredningen (Ownership assessment study), has to prove that it is "complete and clean" to obtain permission to conduct this kind of business, explained Christina Eriksson Stephanson. She said that the rules are designed for the sake of users, for example students. "They must know that the business is competent and sustainable."

The problem is that we have ended up with a confidence gap between public opinion and us as performers, said Patrik Attemark, Solhagagruppen. He argued that the suggested measures may be necessary in order to restore confidence. But, he said, do not forget that the employers are already working to create ethical platforms, for instance, and strive for more people to be covered by union agreements, etc.

Johan Fredriksson, Praktikertjänst, explained that in terms of self-regulation it would have been a good idea if the industry had been more proactive. But, he explained, it is about a "young, immature industry" which hardly had time to rally around what it does. He pointed out that had the industry been more proactive it would perhaps never have come to the currently proposed regulations.

The big challenge is school quality, said Ulla Hamilton, National Association of Independent Schools. She mentioned that more current and continuing inspections and controls incur the risk that new and different teaching models are not permitted by the state investigative authority.


Ilinca Benson, SNS, introduced the seminar – the joint research programme, IFN and SNS, From welfare state to a welfare society.