Tag: BUSINESS

The second edition of the Olivia Prize is starting!

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Olivia Prize 2021 – the call for applications for the second edition of our competition is now open! Submit your company or project by 28 February.

The Olivia Prize will be awarded in three categories:

  • Olivia Business – for an economic or business project carried out by a team of Residents.
  • Olivia Pro Bono – for a social project, carried out individually or in a team by the Residents.
  • Olivia Eco – for an ecological project, carried out individually or as a team by the Residents.

In addition, the Olivia Impact special award will be granted for the initiative assessed as the most impactful on the environment, within one of three categories. Projects completed or started in 2021 are eligible for the Olivia Prize 2021 awards.

Who can be nominated for the Olivia Prize?

Any person who works at the Olivia Centre, a company from Olivia and an initiative carried out individually or in groups can be nominated for the Olivia Prize. The age, position, or industry of the nominees doesn’t matter.

Who can apply for the award?

Anyone can submit an entry for the award. It is not necessary to be a Resident of Olivia Centre.

The aim of the Olivia Prize competition is to distinguish the most important implementations and initiatives of Olivia companies. Last year, the jury considered as many as 46 applications. The following were awarded: p-beep – for an innovative communication system in difficult working conditions; EPAM Systems – for the grassroots initiative of employees who, as volunteers, made and delivered personal safety equipment, including face shields, made using 3D printing technology, to Pomeranian hospitals. The main prize went to the Polish company VTS Group. The company’s flagship product, air handling units and air conditioning units, was appreciated. They find recipients all over the world, and their quality is evidenced by the fact that as many as 17 countries decided to use them in their pavilions during the EXPO 2020 exhibition in Dubai, which is coming to an end.

“Last year, we were very impressed by how many important and useful projects were implemented by our Residents in 2020. – says Bogusław Wieczorek from Olivia Business Centre. – Among the applications were activities in the field of ecology, animal protection, support for charitable organizations. They definitely dominated last year’s edition of the Olivia Prize. However, special recognition should be given to business projects, which were often carried out in spite of the difficult, dynamically changing situation on global markets. The thematic scope and scale of the projects submitted after such an exhausting 2020 make us look forward to the summary of the initiatives from 2021 with optimism and impatience. Importantly, the jury is composed of representatives of Olivia companies, so each award is particularly valuable, and the recognition from the business community often comes before the material dimension. –Adds.

This year, we are introducing an additional Olivia Eco category, which will be awarded in partnership with the United Nations Global Compact. UNGC was founded in 2000 and is now the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 12,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories in more than 160 countries.

” Already last year, a significant part of the applications concerned social and ecological projects that our Residents implemented in 2020. We very much hope that the cooperation with UNGC as a partner of the award will additionally contribute to the promotion of such activities. At the same time, we are very pleased that such a significant institution is willing to engage in the project we are organizing to distinguish the valuable initiatives of our Residents. – sums up Bogusław Wieczorek.

Applications are accepted until February 28, 2022, and the results will be announced in mid-March.

Co-create. Co-celebrate. Dog Show in Olivia Star

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On 25 January, an exhibition presenting the idea of Kaunas as the European Capital of Culture 2022 was set up in the lobby of Olivia Star. The exhibition is an invitation to participate in the year-round, largest festival of joint creativity in the history of the city. The opening ceremony was conducted by the Ambassador of Lithuania to Poland, Eduardas Borisovas.




Among the invited guests were Rasa Rimickaitė, Attaché for Lithuanian Culture in Poland, Barbara Frydrych, Director of the Office of the Mayor of Gdańsk for Cultural Affairs. Bogdan Borusewicz, Marshal of the Senate, Magdalena Witkowska, Dean of the District Council of Legal Advisers in Gdańsk, Bożena Kisiel, President of the Society of Friends of Vilnius and the Vilnius Land, Celina Zboromirska-Bieńczak, Deputy General and Artistic Director of the Miniatura Municipal Theatre, Tomasz Snarski, PhD, Artistic Director of the Vilnius Festival in Gdańsk and Andrzej Stelmasiewicz, Councillor of the City of Gdańsk. On behalf of the Olivia Centre, the guests were welcomed by Bogusław Wieczore, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board for PR.

Kaunas has prepared more than a thousand cultural events, including more than 40 festivals, 60 exhibitions, 250 theatrical performances and the same number of concerts. On behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania and the Olivia Centre, we cordially invite you to see the exhibition, learn about the planned initiatives and discover a unique place on the map of Europe and the world, which is only a few hours away. See you in Kaunas!

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2021 – the year of the Olivian Community. Look how much we’ve done together!

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2021 was a year of many challenges. For us, it was first and foremost the year of the Olivian Community. We have tried to create plenty of opportunities for the employees of our center to develop here personally and professionally, share their passions and interests, take care of mutual relationships, health and well-being. It was our Residents, their comfort and safety that we focused on.

 

We are very happy that so many companies have trusted us in this demanding and difficult time. Existing Residents are developing in Olivia and planning their future here. New companies have also joined the group of our tenants. Thank you and welcome you to Olivia Centre!

 

Download our report and see how much we have achieved together.

 

 

 

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
PL version

 

 

 

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
EN version

 

Just Join IT in Olivia

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Only a few years ago, they were just a harmonious duo, which in an apartment in Gdańsk’s Żabianka district formed the foundations of a company that currently employs over 200 people. Their promotional campaigns, thanks to their high creativity, are causing a stir in the entire advertising industry. Now Just Join IT is moving to Olivia Centre, where it has rented the 13th floor of the newest Olivia Prime building.

 

The company was founded in 2017 by two friends, Piotr Nowosielski and Tomasz Gański. From the very beginning, they were distinguished by their unconventional approach, high creativity and search for solutions that would change the recruitment portal market. They focused on ease, openness and efficiency. Today, their portfolio consists of the Just Join IT, RocketJobs.pl and HelloHR brands and they are among the largest recruitment portals, which are visited by a total of nearly one million people per month.

 

Just Join IT is the most popular portal with job offers for the IT industry in Poland. It has built its position on the market in just five years, completely without the support of investors. It is visited every month by over 0.5 million Polish programmers, who at the same time view the ads more than 4 million times. Global companies such as Nokia, Ericsson, Google, Netguru, InPost, Tiktok, GSK Tech, Wakacje.pl, Samsung, Volvo, WP.pl, Orange Polska, Nike, T-Mobile, Empik and Allegro published their job offers on the justjoin.it.

 

RocketJobs.pl is the job portal of the future for candidates from marketing, sales, finance, engineering, HR, BI & Data and many others. Behind RocketJobs.pl is a community of more than 170,000 active members, gathered in a few Facebook groups, and the job portal itself is already visited by more than 400,000 white-collar workers per month.

 

Hello HR is the first job board for the HR industry in Poland, which started its operations in 2019. So far, more than 2,000 companies have used the portal, and it is visited by over 20,000 users from the industry every month. The company also owns projects such as Just Geek IT, RocketSpace, and Oh My Dev. In addition, since 2021, they have also been recruiting among employees with the Ukrainian language.

 

The three most recognizable signs of a company are an informal atmosphere, creativity, and diligence. Already in the first year of operation, Piotr and Tomek thought about organizing a unique event for the IT industry. He implemented this idea on September 26, 2019 and turned into the Just Join Games Developer Olympiad, in which 350 participants participated. Competitors tested their strength in hard disk throwing, monitor push, 1024-meter run, Olympic scrum, laptop sprint, deploy twisting, work-life balance, firewall jump or timed keyboard folding. The next edition of the event is scheduled for September this year, and tickets for it are still available.

 

In the spring of this year, their promotional campaign Conversation about Work was widely acclaimed, as part of which the needs and expectations of the young generation towards work and employers were presented, which for the older generation provide both knowledge about the expectations of the generation entering the labour market and about changes in the approach to work-life balance.

 

“We chose Olivia because of the dynamic growth we are recording year on year and the simultaneous need for quality space in the very center of Gdańsk’s business district,” says Piotr Nowosielski, CEO of Just Join IT. – In addition, the layout of Olivia Business Centre allows us to integrate teams despite the ubiquitous remote work. We are convinced that the new workplace will be the next element of our professionalization as early as January 2023.

 

The company will occupy a very representative 13th floor in the Olivia Prime office building. It is the newest building of the largest business centre in Poland, whose leading stylistic motif is biophilia: its interiors are filled with plants, the main finishing material in the common areas is wood, and most of the offices have extensive terraces and loggias, often filled with plants. The interior design of the Just Join IT office will be the responsibility of the award-winning
Design Anatomy
 studio, whose portfolio includes the development of over 100,000m2 of office space, including Sii’s offices, the interiors of the observation deck and the conference center at the top of Olivia Star.

 

“Olivia’s ecosystem has been creating a number of innovative companies for years, and the entry of Just Join IT will complement our tenant portfolio with a new, exceptionally creative team ,” he says Bogusław Wieczorek, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board of Olivia Centre. – Their activity is noticeable on the market, their positive energy is contagious to everyone they come into contact with, so it is also an added value for us in terms of building our community.

 

 

Olivia with a maximum WELL score for an encore!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Olivia Centre has maintained the world’s first maximum score in the international WELL certification. For the second time, it has been recognized as a completely safe, friendly and responsible place to work, receiving confirmation from the International Well Building Institute (IWBI) in New York. A year after the first certification, it maintained a maximum score of 25 points out of a possible 25 in all categories analyzed. The safety of building users was checked, as well as solutions improving the quality of life in the business centre. It received this rating in 22 basic categories and in 3 additional categories related to the innovations implemented in its area.

 

A year ago, Olivia achieved such a high result as the first business centre in the world, which confirms that Gdańsk’s buildings are among the world’s top business leaders. Olivia has confirmed its class for the second time – says Marcin Gawroński , Director of the Green Building Department at SWECO, the company responsible for carrying out the recertification in Olivia. – Safety, employee well-being, and high indoor water and air quality are the hallmarks of WELL Health-Safety Rating facilities. Last year, Olivia Centre achieved the maximum score in all analysed categories and this year it repeated this achievement. This is a huge success and a confirmation of the safety conditions and responsible approach to the management of the Olivia building complex – adds Marcin Gawroński.

 

The WELL Health-Safety Rating is a data-driven, third-party verified assessment for buildings, focusing on the analysis of operating policies, use and maintenance standards, stakeholder engagement and contingency plans to ensure maximum safety and comfort for their occupants. The certification is based on insights from nearly 600 government officials, scientists, business leaders, virologists, architects, designers, construction scientists, and real estate professionals, as well as the WELL building standard – the world’s leading platform for the development of healthy buildings and spaces. Many famous people from around the world have been involved in the extensive campaign for safety certification and restoring trust in public spaces, including Jennifer Lopez, Lady GaGa, Venus Williams, Robert DeNiro, Michael Jordan and many more.

 

You can view a campaign video on this page.

 

Proving actions through external validation confirms the commitment and concern for people’s well-being in every aspect. The assessment shows that Olivia Centre prioritises health and wellbeing, instilling confidence in frequent visitors and the wider community around it – wrote in a congratulatory letter Rachel Gordon, CEO of the International Well Building Institute in New York.

 

In addition to the well-being of building occupants, WELL certification includes a precise assessment of extensive infrastructure that improves safety and quality of life and work. A number of solutions have been noticed in Olivia Centre, which position it as a leader in the implementation of technologies that protect the health and life of employees in an imperceptible way. Olivia was one of the first office centers in the world to implement ion air purification technology in its buildings, previously used in the world’s most prestigious facilities, including the White House, the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, as well as in Gulfstream’s private jets. The installed devices saturate all rental areas with ions that have the ability to destroy viruses, bacteria and other pathogens in the ventilated air. The air purification process takes place continuously while people are in the room, so the fight against the pathogen begins from the moment it appears in the room.

 

In addition, the air filtration level has been increased from G4 to F7 in air handling units, which is one of the highest filtration levels currently available. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) sensors were installed. Thanks to this, it is possible to monitor air purity and, as a result, eliminate harmful compounds from the fresh air drawn in from the outside and forced inside the buildings. Systems for controlling the intensity of air exchange based on the knowledge of current CO2 measurement results have also been installed, which contributes to a significant increase in the comfort of staying in the workplace.

 

The certification also includes initiatives implemented in the field of employee well-being. Projects organized on Olivia’s patio, sports sections, exhibitions of paintings, photographs and sculptures, as well as a publicly accessible, year-round exotic garden, in which there are nearly 4 thousand plants reaching up to 11 meters in height, were noticed. All these events and amenities can be used by Olivia’s residents and guests in a safe way, thanks to the solutions used. The sum of the solutions adopted resulted in such a high rating of the IWBI.

 

7 years of O4 Coworking… in numbers!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Our O4 Coworking is celebrating its 7th anniversary! So let’s give the floor to the representatives of O4, who decided to tell us about themselves… Numbers. And there’s a lot to be proud of!

 

THEREFORE… O4 COWORKING ABOUT ITSELF!

 

There are currently 167 of us, even though we are 1 coworking space and we are only 7 years old! How is that possible? The answer can be found in the O4ian satisfaction surveys, which we have been systematically conducting for years, and this is confirmed by the fact that although the pandemic caused a temporary regression in office leasing, in subsequent quarters of 2020 we observed a systematic rebound. On the occasion of the 7. On the occasion of the birthday of O4 Coworking, we had to sum up. Since the end of winter this year, we have been able to celebrate everyday life together at work again, and in July we rented the last, 65th year. office. Take a look at what we got out of these numbers.

 

We’re still growing

During the first half of 2022, 37 companies joined O4 and thus we are approaching a situation in which the O4 Coworking team will be left without an office. However, this is good news for us, the companies that are with us are gradually growing and it also happens that they migrate between spaces – from smaller to larger ones. Since February 2015, almost 500 companies of all sizes have passed through our coworking space. Currently, the O4ian community consists of about 1400 people who meet in an area of about 4000 m2. In the second quarter of 2022, we broke our sales record.

 

 

 

We like to learn

Those who are with us know that O4 Coworking is not only about offices and desks, but also about shared time, integration, networking and workshops – that is Warsztatownia.

 

Since 2018, two years before the creation of O4 Flow – a coworking space for women, 79 per cent of women have been working in the EU. The participants of our workshops were women. Among the most popular topics, chosen by about two-thirds of people, were: project management, personal branding, self-presentation and negotiations. Others willingly participated in trainings in the areas of creativity, communication and e-commerce.

 

The temporary switch to webinars during the pandemic increased the reach of the Workshop. 2020 was a record-breaking year in terms of the number of participants. We still prefer to learn in autumn. Our research shows that it is at this time of the year that the Workshop is most popular.

 

In general, live workshops win over online ones. They are chosen by 59 per cent. Participants. With the passing of the pandemic, there is also less and less interest in webinars – from a few hundred people to 20 during a webinar.

 

We are stationary and … Virtually

It’s been two years since we launched our virtual office service. This year, since August, we have expanded its scope and customers have more options, such as flexible access to desks, conference rooms on preferential terms, as well as the attractions of Olivia Centre – Olivia Garden or the observation deck.

 

After the change of packages, about 70 per cent. of customers have opted for the GOLD option, which, in addition to the registered address and correspondence handling, also provides access to the space and access to the attractions of Olivia Centre.

 

Dynamic changes and crises cause various bumps, but so far the upcoming recession has turned out to be the time of the greatest growth for us.

 

 

 

 

What will the 8th year bring for O4 Coworking? We look at it with great curiosity and we are ready for the next challenges.

 

 

More about O4 COWORKING

 

ZR Trade, Omida and the social project of Energia employees awarded in the Olivia Prize for 2021

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Olivia Prize 2021 is behind us. Awards were presented in the Pro Bono, Business and Eco categories. The Olivia Centre community has also decided to donate a special award, Olivia Impact, to the Regional Volunteer Centre in Gdańsk to support war refugees from Ukraine.

 

The Olivia Prize 2021 in the Pro Bono category went to Energa for the implementation of the project Pier(w)si win! It was awarded for the grassroots initiative of the company’s employees, Natalia Cebula, Magdalena Pakmur and Ewa Opiela. The ladies carried out the project in cooperation with the Pink Butterfly Association and the Breast Disease Centre, operating at the University Clinical Centre. It was also supported by the ORLEN Foundation, Olivia Centre and Radio Gdańsk. The aim of the Pier(w)si wins campaign was to change the perception of breast cancer. Prevention was promoted and educated. A mobile vehicle was also installed in Olivia Centre. Women aged 50 to 69 could take part in the free tests.

 

Breast cancer is a disease like any other. If detected quickly, it gives a great chance of a complete cure. How to examine the breasts and where to turn for help was discussed, for example,  during the meeting with Elżbieta Senkus-Konefka , PhD– an authority of Polish oncology. The event was combined with professional medical advice, instruction on how to braffiter, but also with sewing pillows, which are of great importance in the postoperative recovery process.  More…

 

The Olivia Prize 2021 in the Business category went to Omida for entering the new intermodal transport market. 

 

New legal norms aimed at unifying the regulations concerning carriers in the European Union make Polish logistics and transport companies much less competitive for their customers. It is estimated that in the near future Poland will lose half of its transport market, thus its share will fall from 50 to 25%. An alternative to the development and maintenance of the market position is intermodal transport. Omida was one of the first companies in Poland to put a strategic emphasis on the development of this form of transport, wanting to slowly replace everything it does in international traffic with road and rail transport. The Omidy project has an ecological dimension. One train is able to carry more than 40 trailers at a time, which brings measurable benefits in the form of reduced traffic on the roads, reduces CO2 emissions and noise, as well as increases the safety of other passengers on the roads. As part of its group of companies, Omida organizes 1500 domestic and international loadings a day, so the planned change will have a significant impact on the environment.

 

It is very important to us that the innovations we introduce are noticed and appreciated,” emphasizes Bartłomiej Glinka, President of the Management Board of Omida S.A. Changing regulations have presented the entire industry with difficult challenges, and the award-winning project is our response to this situation. It is with great satisfaction that I would like to emphasize that the solutions we are introducing are at the same time ecological, beneficial to society, and if the whole project is successful, it will also allow the Polish transport industry to maintain its position in Europe.

 

fot. Prestiż Magazyn Trójmiejski/Karol Kacperski

Olivia Prize 2021 in the Eco category for ZR Trade for the implementation of the #ZeroWasteWorking project

Zero waste initiatives are becoming more and more popular, despite the fact that they require their participants to get involved and change their habits. ZR Trade decided to bring this idea to a new level by integrating and motivating its employees for the sake of ecology. The project #ZeroWasteWorking started innocently, with a complete abandonment of drinks in plastic bottles and a switch to the use of filtered tap water. Over time, it began to take on wider and wider dimensions. In addition to sorting all the trash in the office, using only recycled paper, and a promotional campaign on LinkedIn, employees have implemented an initiative to share surplus food with a short shelf life, borrow equipment they rarely use, and exchange items they no longer need. Only reusable office supplies, such as pens and proofreaders with refillable refills, are used throughout the company. What’s more, employees also most often repair office equipment and small items themselves, which is not only ecological, but also integrative.

Something that needs to be fixed, for us is a chance to break away from mental work and integrate the team – says Tomasz from ZR Trade. – Instead of throwing it away and replacing it with a new one, we make a joint attempt to repair it and only if it fails, we order new ones. Of course, these are minor DIY repairs, not professional repairs to electronic equipment; In this case, we still use the services of experts.

In addition, we have given up 100% of plastic advertising gadgets. What makes us happy is the fact that each subsequent element of this action drives the next ones. Once or twice a year if necessary, we organize a collection of old blankets, etc. for an animal shelter, and if we replace the equipment with a newer one, we give the old one to those in need. For the purpose of the campaign, we have created a company chat, where employees report a problem, and people willing to help sign in with their skills – Karolina adds.

The purpose of the Olivia Prize awards is to distinguish valuable initiatives undertaken by the residents of Olivia Centre in a given calendar year – says Bogusław Wieczorek from Olivia Centre. “The number of initiatives that come to us in the form of applications fills us with great satisfaction. We are glad that these are not only purely business projects, but also social and ecological initiatives. The Olivia Prize allows us to see valuable projects of companies with offices in Olivia Centre and additionally promote those that the jury considers to be the most noteworthy.

Olivia Impact Special Award

This year’s edition could not be complete without a reference to the current situation in Ukraine. The special prize of the jury, Olivia Impact , was awarded to the Regional Volunteer Centre in Gdańsk. Its equivalent, i.e. ten thousand zlotys will be donated to war refugees from Ukraine. The Regional Volunteer Centre is an organisation that coordinates the care of refugees coming to Gdańsk. Their activities include the organization of a helpline for refugees, the processing of formalities, activities in the field of medical rescue, and psychological support. RCW helps you find a job, school or kindergarten for your children. It also cooperates with the units of the Territorial Defense Forces, which coordinate accommodation. The centre’s volunteers also work at the railway station in Gdansk, coordinating activities for all those arriving by rail from the border to Gdansk.

In addition to the cash prizes, the winners received Olivia Prize statuettes, prepared by prof. Tomasz Sobisz, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk.

Olivia, definitely more than a business!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Surely you have noticed, if you follow our activities, that for years we have been consistently expanding the offer of functions friendly to the employees of our center, residents of the Tri-City and tourists. We regularly introduce new services to make your life and work much better. On the premises of Olivia there is a public botanical garden – Olivia Garden, a very popular observation deck (at a height of 130 meters above the ground), 8 restaurants, a medical center and a pharmacy. We also have a kindergarten and a school. There is a beauty salon, an Energa customer service point and a Talent Development Centre. There are also a car wash and a grocery store. Now, our non-business character will also be emphasized in the name, which from May 2022 is Olivia Centre, and it is complemented by the slogan “More than business”.

 

Olivia Centre, with all its amenities, is increasingly becoming an important part of Gdansk. Over the years of development, 12,000 jobs have been created in our area, to which should be added the employees of co-operating companies. Olivia is home to the offices of over 200 companies, including the world’s largest corporations, such as Amazon, Bayer, Nike and EPAM; medium-sized companies from over a dozen industries, but also small and micro-enterprises, mainly concentrated in the O4 co-working. Olivia’s development policy includes the gradual introduction of new amenities, which make this place an increasingly fashionable location, where it is pleasant to spend time with family and friends not only during the week, but also on weekends. Importantly, the consistently implemented plan of diversifying the functions available in our area allows us to define Olivia Centre as a place not only for business and work, but also for recreation, entertainment and integration.

 

In 2020, the opening of the observation deck on the 32nd floor of Olivia Star was awarded by the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship as the event of the year. The status of a place for meetings and non-professional interactions is also confirmed by concerts in the event center, located on the 34th floor of this building. Such stars as Krzysztof Zalewski and Daria Zawiałow, have already performed on Olivia Star’s stage. In Olivia, there are also active clubs for the development of passions (sailing, volleyball, photography, running) and a choir, bringing together employees of companies with offices here and residents of the Tri-City, who are not professionally related to Olivia.

 

“From the very beginning, Olivia has focused on integration with the city and the development of a lively and active community ,” says Bogusław Wieczorek, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board of Olivia Centre for Urban Development. public relations. We want everyone to feel welcome here. Certainly, the commissioning of Olivia Garden, the observation deck and the restaurant on the top floors of Olivia Star was a milestone in making our space more attractive, but we can assure you that many people will find interesting proposals here on a daily basis, allowing them to feel at home. The slogan “More than business” also emphasizes that the community of employees of companies from Olivia is a collection of wonderful people who combine their strengths and competences to develop their interests. It is also a group of social activists who are actively involved in a number of noble and useful initiatives. During the pandemic, they themselves initiated a collection of computers for children at risk of digital exclusion during the period of remote learning. For years, they have been organizing the Kropelka Energii campaign, which took place last month for the 47th time. They also actively participated in the collection of gifts for Ukrainians in Olivia. During the season, our patio is alive with active events: concerts, chillout zones and other numerous attractions are organized.

 

Olivia Centre is also an active and engaged neighbour. For 3 years we have been organizing, for example: The Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget, under which we support and finance initiatives that are important to the residents of the Gdańsk Oliwa district (where we operate). We also cooperate with the neighbouring Primary School No. 35 in the organisation of many events and initiatives. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we financed food for hospital employees, medical equipment and protective clothing, as well as two diagnostic centres, which were set up at the hospital in Gdańsk’s Zaspa district and at the campus of the University of Gdańsk.

 

An office with an apartment for IT workers from Ukraine

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

Our resident, Softserve, one of the most dynamically developing IT companies in Gdansk, rented the entire building to help the relocated citizens of Ukraine. It is also recruiting for 100 positions, which can also be filled by people from across the eastern border.

 

Softserve is a company that dates back to 2014, but it appeared in Pomerania only in October 2021, opening a small office in the O4 coworking space. Currently, it has increased its leasable area by 1400% by moving to the most prestigious building in Northern Poland – Olivia Star. At the same time, it is worth noting that the Gdańsk office is currently the company’s 7th local office in Poland. Other branches are located in Łódź, Wrocław, Warsaw, Gliwice, Białystok and Kraków.

 

The expansion of the space is related to the new contracts that the company has won in recent months. The recruited staff will work for Singapore’s largest and most modern bank, which has won numerous awards in recent years, m.in. the titles of the best bank in Singapore and Asia in 2021 according to Global Finance or Euromoney. As Sebastian Drzewiecki, Poland Country Manager at SoftServe, explains, behind the development of the company’s operations in Gdańsk there are competitive advantages that help in the company’s growth: An important motivation in choosing Gdańsk as our next business and recruitment hub was access to the best talents on the market, a well-developed network of universities, as well as an excellent geographical location.

 

The advantages of the Tri-City are already appreciated by the company’s employees: It is a great place to work! – says Anastasiia Smolina, Intermediate Office Infrastructure Specialist at SoftServe. The top floor offers panoramic views of the sea. And on top of that, a beautiful garden where you can get inspired and relax even during your lunch break. I remember when Sebastian Drzewiecki introduced the office to our team, and I said: “If we choose the location of our office in Olivia Star, I’m ready to move to Gdańsk!”

 

Such dynamic development does not take place without the company’s social involvement. SoftServe has leased an entire building in Gdańsk’s Zaspa, to which it is relocating some of its employees and their families from war-torn Ukraine. Interestingly, this building was created in cooperation with the award-winning Design Anatomy design team, which is also responsible for arranging the spaces in Olivia Centre – both office and Olivia Garden or the observation deck at 32. floor of the building. The possibility of renting office space with apartments turned out to be crucial for the company’s development in such a difficult time as the war in Ukraine. As part of the assistance provided, the company offers not only places to stay in Poland, but also comprehensive assistance in the relocation process as well as legal, financial and logistical support. People are the greatest asset of our company – says Sebastian Drzewiecki. As the biggest benefit offered, SoftServe indicates the ability to work with the use of the latest technologies, in interesting and demanding projects. In addition, very transparent career paths and a special program supporting professional promotions, the possibility of changing projects or roles, our own university and numerous educational projects, as well as a unique, non-corporate atmosphere – adds Sebastian Drzewiecki.

 

SoftServe is a company founded in 1993 by students of the Lviv Polytechnic University. Currently, the company employs almost 13,000 people. people around the world (Europe, the United States, South America), and SoftServe Poland is a separate entity with its own customers, finances and infrastructure.

Excellent first half of the year in Olivia. We’re going for a record!

Posted on by Katarzyna Halicka

All the data indicate that Olivia will also go for a record in terms of signed lease agreements this year. In the first 6 months of this year alone, lease agreements covered more than m.kw 22,000, which, in the light of almost 40,000 leased space throughout 2021, allows us to forecast another good result for the whole of 2022. As a reminder, the entire Olivia is 175,000 sqm. GLA – is the largest office project in Poland.

 

In line with Olivia’s policy, the contracts include companies from very diverse sectors of the economy. This allows us to ensure a wide tenant mix, and thus room for cooperation between tenants of this largest business center in Poland. New residents include the finance, IT, consulting, transportation, HR, and even… Agricultural.

 

Among the new tenants of office space there are the largest and most innovative companies in the world, as well as start-ups that have been developing to become leaders in their segments over the years. Olivia’s new resident is Capgemini , a global leader in transformation and business management consulting with a group budget of €18 billion. Ultimately, up to 1000 employees will provide services in the field of operational tasks and data aggregation and analysis systems in its offices.

 

The new tenant of the space is also one of the most innovative companies in the world – the British Graphcore, which develops computing systems for artificial intelligence. The company has designed a processor called the Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU), whose architecture allows researchers to apply new methods and algorithms in the field of machine learning. Graphcore’s R&D center works directly with R&D units, universities, and companies around the world.

 

In the first half of the year, the clothing giant Nike opened its first technology center in Poland and the third in Europe, which will implement projects in Olivia in the areas related to data streaming, data processing and analysis, as well as technological innovations, which the American company will implement in brick-and-mortar stores in the future.

 

Olivia is conducive to the development of many companies from the IT sector, which makes it a real hub of this industry. In the earlier months of this year, companies such as Softserve, Acaisoft, and Sentila opened their offices in Olivia. The first one is one of the most dynamically developing companies in the industry, with headquarters in Austin, Texas and Lviv, Ukraine. They have been operating on the Polish market since 2014, currently employing about 1000 people, and their development is associated with new contracts m.in. FinTechs operating in Southeast Asia. Acaisoft has been on the market since 2015 and has its offices in two locations in Poland and California in the United States. Sentila B.V. is a company specializing in unique software solutions for financial markets and blockchain technology.

 

In Olivia’s newest building, in Olivia Prime, an office with a spectacular roof terrace will be taken over by the most dynamically growing recruitment company in the IT industry, i.e. Just Join IT. The portal created by her is visited by over 0.5 million Polish programmers every month. The same group also includes RocketJobs.pl and HelloHR.pl portals, which focus their recruitment activities in the marketing, sales, finance, engineering, HR, BI & Data and many other industries.

 

New tenants are also companies from the food industry: Polish Agro (member of an international group of 80 companies operating in 80 countries with a turnover of more than 4.4 billion euros) and MIK Food, specialising in the export, trade and import of fish and seafood from countries such as Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Vietnam and Chile.

 

Importantly, more than half of the contracts signed were contract extensions or space selection by Olivia’s existing residents. This confirms the high attractiveness of this office center on the Northern Polish market. O4 Coworking operating in Olivia is also breaking records of popularity. The reservation rate of shared spaces reaches 100% in each of the 4 buildings in which O4 has its offices. In the first half of this year alone, 32 companies joined O4 – traditionally, most of them represent new technologies and software, but among the new Residents there are also businesses related to interior finishing, rental of clothing and hygiene equipment, or energy production.

 

“We are pleased with both the number of new O4ians and the fact that the existing customers not only stay with us, but often grow and develop ,” says Marta Moksa, director of O4 Coworking. Thanks to the strong synergy with Olivia Centre, we have always We can find a much larger area for them – if they are ready for it. We are also very satisfied with the results of recent surveys conducted among our residents, which clearly show that being in O4 is much more than an office. Above all, it’s the people who make every job more bearable!”

 

“The first half of the year allows us to look at the whole of 2022 with optimism ,” says Maciej Kotarski, Commercialization Director at Olivia Centre. The Tri-City has been on everyone’s lips lately, and our partners often emphasize that their employees are very often thinking about moving to the Tri-City. The most frequently mentioned advantages are access to the sea and the beach, high-quality air, the vast Tri-City Landscape Park and extensive infrastructure, which makes the Tri-City simply a good place to live: the moraine hills surrounding the agglomeration allow you to develop your sports passions. The sea is a perfect stimulus for all kinds of water sports, and an extensive network of bicycle paths allows you to choose an eco-friendly way of commuting to work. We also draw from all this and run passion development clubs, perfectly integrating the Olivia community.