Scan Magazine | Issue 15 | February 2010 by Scan Client Publishing

SCAN

EUROPE’S JOEY TEMPEST – STILL ROCKING! THE GREATEST SCANDINAVIAN POP OF THE NOUGHTIES THE LEGAL CHALLENGES OF CROSS-BORDER TRADE HUMMEL – ON KARMA, BUSINESS AND FABULOUS DESIGN

PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA

ISSUE 15

FEBRUARY 2010

M A G A Z I N E

With support from

Main sponsor for Louisiana

Architectural exhibitions at Louisiana

Louisiana Contemporary

Wassily Kandinsky. Murnau – Kohlgruberstrasse, 1908. Roethel: t. I. n° 252. p. 243. Oil on cardboard, 71 x 97,5 cm. Merzbacher Kunststiftung, Werner & Gabrielle Merzbacher. © Wassily Kandinsky/billedkunst.dk.

Scan Magazine | Contents

Contents 16

FEATURES 8

Europe: The Final Countdown is Reset

TRAVEL 24

Scan Magazine talks to Europe’s singer Joey Tempest about the band’s wild heydays in the 80s, their successful new album Last Look at Eden and the forthcoming UK tour.

A Decade of Scandipop As we are entering a new decade, Scan Magazine’s music fanatic Karl Batterbee takes a look at the greatest Scan pop hits of the nougthies.

Travel Theme: Historic Hotels A weekend off in a Scandinavian fairytale castle or tucked away in forests and parks – it does not get more romantic than that; that is, of course, if you don’t mind a ghost or two sharing the good times with you!

Hotel of the Month: Hotel Örgryte This homely and newly renovated hotel offers a convenient, affordable and personalised stay when in Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden.

DESIGN 18

G.A.D. – Let Gute Art & Design bring out the Scandinavian in you A Swedish furniture company who believe in solid materials, traditional carpentry and custom-made, fully-finished pieces that stand the test of time.

FOOD 30

Hummel – Karma, team spirit and fashion

EDUCATION

Dröm UK – Getting hotter and hotter Dröm UK has reached new luxurious heights as they are to provide saunas and steam rooms for what is possibly the most prestigious development in the UK.

Restaurant of the Month: Bluebird The hunt for the perfect Valentine’s dinner has set in. Scan Magazine visits Bluebird to see what the legendary Chelsea Restaurant has on offer.

Hummel, the oldest sportswear brand in the world, is definitely not resting on its laurels.

Bye, bye fatty Bronte looks into ways of getting rid of that last Christmas weight with the Nordic Diet.

Sorø Academy: New rules, old traditions Sorø Academy is Denmark’s second-oldest boarding school, but time does not stand still in the historic buildings.

REGULARS & COLUMNS 16 58

Scan Business REGULARS & COLUMNS

FEATURES 39

Business Theme: Legal challenges in Anglo-Scandinavian trade Scan Magazine investigates the legal challenges Scandinavian companies may face when bringing their businesses to the UK and the other way round.

What really matters to get us out of the recession. Keynote by Per Troen.

What is Good Posture? To do business it is necessary not only to have a sharp mind but also a fit body which does not disturb your line of thought with aches and pains.

The SMEs – Small and Medium Businesses

Chamber News News from the Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Danish Chambers of Commerce for the UK

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 3

Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note

Dear Reader, Snuggling up indoors with blankets, candle lights and maybe a sweet treat; there is nothing like it after a long cold winter day. In Scandinavia that’s what we call “cosiness”, but sometimes the atmosphere can become even cosier by adding a little spook. So why not find a good pillow to hide behind and turn to page 24 where you will find a couple of historic hotels offering authentic, Scandinavian ghost experiences! Some people who definitely do not look like they are afraid of anything is our cover this month, iconic Swedish rock band Europe. They are back from the 80s, although there is no paranormal activity involved here, and touring the UK with their widely acclaimed last album Last Look at Eden. Our Swedish reporter Emelie had a chance to relive her teenage crush in a chat with front singer Joey Tempest – and apparently he has still got it; he was so sweet and helpful, not scary at all, she confided to me after the interview as I had had my doubts – charming Per from Roxette was more my thing. Starting up your own business abroad can be scary, however, especially if you are not familiar with the regulatory environment of the country. That is why we have talked with some of the experts in Scandinavian and British law to look into where the greatest challenges lie in cross-border trade. It was definitely a very enlightening assignment and I realised that though there are many challenges, there are also many ways and places to

Scan Magazine Issue 15 | Feb. 2010

Copy-editor Mark Rogers

Published 09.02.2010 ISSN 1757-9589

Contributors Signe Hansen Ian Welsh Emelie Krugly Bronte Blomhoj Nia Kajastie Mette Lisby Ray O’Connor Julie Guldbrandsen Karl Batterbee Maria Smedstad Christina Sanderson Sara Schedin

Published by Scan Magazine Limited Design & Print Liquid Graphic Limited Executive Editor Thomas Winther Creative Director Mads E. Petersen Editor Signe Hansen

4 | Issue 15 | February 2010

find help; I hope our legal theme on page 39 will help you locate some. When talking about cross-border trade, Scandinavian pop-music has experienced some of its greatest export successes during the last ten years. We decided to use the turn of the decade as an excuse to revel a bit in our success and look back at some of the greatest hits of the nougthies. Take a look at page 13 you may find both surprises and good memories from the dance floors. Of course there is plenty more that is interesting – food, design, business and culture to keep you entertained when nestling up to get through this last month of winter. So turn up the heater, flip the pages and enjoy; we will see you again in the spring!

Signe Hansen, Editor

SCAN

Sales & Key Account Managers Helene Oxfeldt Lauridsen Cecilia Varricchio Graphic Designer Svetlana Slizova Advertising marketing@scanmagazine.co.uk To receive our newsletter send an email to newsletter@scanmagazine.co.uk To Subscribe subscription@scanmagazine.co.uk Next issue 9 March 2010

M A G A Z I N E

Scan Magazine Limited 53A Clapham High Street London SW4 7TG Phone 0870 933 0423 info@scanmagazine.co.uk www.scanmagazine.co.uk © All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of Scan Magazine Ltd. Scan Magazine® is a registered trademark of Scan Magazine Ltd.

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Elizabeth Kristensen t: +44 (0)207 592 8938 ek@correntroen.com

Scan Magazine | Contributors

Regular Contributors Signe Hansen (Editor) has an MA in Journalism and has been working as a freelance reporter in London. She is now the editor of Scan Magazine. Having previously worked with television, radio, web and local news, the good story is always her priority. Ian Welsh is a UK-based independent writer and editor with nearly 15 years experience in business publishing. With a background in corporate communications, Ian now specialises in corporate responsibility and supply chain issues. Emelie Krugly has worked on a number of Swedish newspapers. After travelling extensively, she is now based in London and is responsible for Scan's news section. She can be contacted any time regarding an event or story: emelie@scanmagazine.co.uk. Bronte Blomhoj runs Scandi Kitchen in London, a Scandinavian deli/cafe. Bronte, who has studied in Edinburgh and has a background in investment banking, has lived in London for 7 years. She writes Scan Magazine’s monthly food column.

6 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Nia Kajastie was born and raised in Helsinki, Finland, and moved to London in 2005 to study writing. With a BA in Journalism & Creative Writing, she now describes herself as a part-time writer and grammar stickler. Mette Lisby is Denmark’s leading female comedian. She invites you to laugh along with her monthly humour columns. Since her stand-up debut in 1992, Mette has hosted the Danish versions of “Have I Got News For You” and “Room 101”. Ray O’Connor is one of Ireland’s successful wine exporters and has lived in London since 2006. He is a regular contributor to many specialist wine publications and won the Young Wine Writer of the Year Award 2007. Julie Guldbrandsen is Scan Magazine’s new fashion and design expert; she has worked in the fashion industry for more than 10 years, and advised various Scandinavian design and fashion companies. Besides, Julie has a BA in business and philosophy and has lived in Copenhagen, Singapore and Beijing before settling down in London.

Karl Batterbee is devoted to Scandinavian music and knows exactly what is coming up in the UK. Apart from writing a monthly music update for Scan Magazine Karl has also started the Scandipop Club Night and its corresponding website: www.scandipop.co.uk. Christina Sanderson is an Anglo-Swede based in London. A Cambridge art history graduate, she worked for several years in the auction business. She now works as an art consultant, runs cultural tours in Sweden and writes on art for Scan Magazine. Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. She writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK. Thomas Winther (Executive Editor). Originally from Denmark, Thomas has a background in Economic consultancy. He is now on a personal mission to take Brand Scandinavia to new heights. Thomas lives in Blackheath with his much better half and 1 year old son.

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McGuireWoods London LLP Anders Grundberg, London Office Managing Partner 15-19 Kingsway, London WC2B 6UN Tel: +44 (0)20 7632 1600 | london@mcguirewoods.com www.mcguirewoods.com

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Europe

8 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Europe

EUROPE: THE FINAL COUNTDOWN IS RESET If you have never heard The Final Countdown, you have to visit planet Earth more often - and in particular Europe! The band’s Keyboard Intro is one of rock history's most iconic creations ever. Scan Magazine talks to Europe’s singer Joey Tempest about the band’s wild heydays in the 80s, their successful new album Last Look at Eden and the forthcoming UK tour. By Emelie Krugly | Cover Photo: Patric Ullaeus

Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson better known as Joey Tempest was certainly a pioneer of ‘Hair metal’ in the 1980s. As a fan I still remember how I used to steal my brothers OKEJ magazines, (Sweden's largest teenage pop magazine) every time Joey was on the cover. I would languish, pretending I was his girlfriend entangling my fingers in his long and wavy hair. It almost feels surreal now hearing his voice on the telephone. The Force that got them started For the group it all started in the Stockholm suburb Upplands Väsby in 1979 when Joey and his friends, guitarist John Norum, bassist Peter Olsson and drummer Tony Reno performed under the name Force. In their teens the foursome had great confidence in the band and sent several demos to record companies only to be told that to be published they had to cut their hair and sing in Swedish. Their first breakthrough was winning the Swedish rock talent contest Rock-SM; having competed against 4,000 other bands they were presented with a record deal with Hot Records. During the contest, Force changed their name to Europe; why? The idea came from listening to a number of Deep Purple’s live albums and in particular Made in Europe, explains Joey. “It took the guys quite a

while to get used to it, about 17 pints or so,” he recalls laughing. The countdown to fame However it was not until their third album, The Final Countdown, that things really began to change. This monster hit album sold over three million copies in the U.S alone.

are experienced “We businessmen these days, not those naïve young guys we were back in the days

”

After several triumphal tours around the world, the band decided to take a break during 1992, but reunited temporarily for a one-off performance in Stockholm on New Year's Eve 1999 and announced an official reunion in 2003. Since the band’s first days the lineup has changed a few times and today, besides Joey Tempest, consists of John Norum (guitar), John Levén (bass ), Mic Michaeli (keyboards) and Ian Haugland (drums). In September 2009 Europe released its latest album - the third since the reunion - Last Look at Eden. The album shot straight to number one in the Swedish

album charts, something that has not occurred since 1988 when the band released Out of This World, and is now being unanimously extolled by the world’s greatest rock critics. You have recently celebrated thirty years as a band; what is the recipe for such a long union? The fact that we found each other all those years ago has given us an incredible strength. We all have a burning passion for music plus we are one hundred percent committed regardless of what challenges we face; that is, I think, what is unique about our band. We are an extremely hardworking group! How would you say that Europe has changed in the years gone by? We are experienced businessmen these days, not those naïve young guys we were back in the days; we have now taken control over our affairs in a different way. The long break we had back in the 1990s did us a lot of good, we explored new paths, for example recording our own solo albums, I developed my singer and song writing skills. Can you tell us the story behind The Final Countdown? I Came up with the keyboard intro when I was in college. I kind of knew that there was something special about it as soon

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 9

as I had written it, but it actually took a few years for it to be used. We needed an intro to start our gigs, and we decided to try that tune out that I’d written all those years ago, The Final Countdown was then born. We could have never imagined in our wildest dreams that it was going to be such a major success; mainly because it was so long, more than six and a half minutes. We didn’t think the radio would be interested in playing such a long song! British media have praised your latest album Last Look at Eden; what does it mean to you? It’s incredibly exhilarating and very special to us, as the UK has always been the country of rock n’ roll for us. All the bands we have admired, like Deep Purple, UFO, Queen and Gary Moore, were spawned here and we have always aspired to break into the British scene. It’s amazing to play live over here; you just know that the audience gets it straight

10 | Issue 15 | February 2010

away. We are being featured in Classic Rock magazine in the next few weeks and that has been a Rock bible for us, so it’s very flattering to be featured.

Photo: Patric Ullaeus

Photo: Tina Korhonen

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Europe

be on the road for pretty much all of 2010 and then we start to work on the new album in 2011. We are generally better at planning these days since we all have our own families.

How is touring life these days compared to the 1980s? Our drummer Ian Haugland recently said that touring in the 1980s was “80 percent about partying and 20 percent about the music”, today I would say it’s the other way around! But we are still five guys who play rock n’ roll and still know how to party! What are your future plans? Will you be like the Rolling Stones and tour until you drop? Hah hah! Well, we’re not sure about that, but we can at least guarantee that we will be here for a long time. We are usually forming five year plans; the immediate future is all about the tour. We start our UK tour on the 18th of February and will

Europe February 2010 UK Tour With special guest Diamond Head • Leeds O2 Academy (Feb 18) • Birmingham O2 Academy (Feb 19) • London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (Feb 20) • Oxford O2 Academy (Feb 22) • Bournemouth O2 Academy (Feb 23) • Bristol O2 Academy (Feb 24) • Manchester O2Academy (Feb 26) • Newcastle O2 Academy (Feb 27) • Glasgow O2 ABC (Feb 28). Ticket Hotline: 0844 477 2000 www.ticketweb.co.uk The album Last Look At Eden is out now. More info: www.europetheband.com

Who will you take on your journey? ǒɆ ɜƔƫƫ űǄŁ ɆȚ ªȲ ªƫƫ ƻªƥǒȒ ªƔȒǭǒȒȲȚ ƔǄ ŔǄƻªȒƧǷ

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+45 33 17 90 00

Journey on.

Visit hertzdk.dk or call us at +45 3317 9000

Scan Magazine | Music Feature | A Decade of Scandipop

Clockwise from top left: Agnes, Annie, Alphabeat, Alcazar and BWO.

12 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Scan Magazine | Music Feature | A Decade of Scandipop

A Decade of Scandipop Scan Magazine’s music fanatic Karl Batterbee takes a look back at the decade gone by in Scan pop hits. Who makes his list of nougthies’ greatest export hits? Find out below where you can also take a glimpse into the Scandinavian pop future!

Scandinavia has by now earned itself a reputation for being one of the world’s most reliable regions when it comes to exporting top-notch pop music! Remarkable in itself, given the small size of the area’s population, but especially impressive when you consider that the well known hits that have been embraced by every nation in the world, were composed by songwriters that don’t even use English as their primary, or sometimes even secondary language. Any music lover in any country will be able to sing you the songs that came from Scandinavia in the seventies, eighties, and nineties, from acts like Abba, A-Ha, Aqua, and Ace of Base.

consist of five gents and a lady, a factor which has contributed to the sound that has made them so popular – male and female perfectly layered harmonies. Their debut album, This Is Alphabeat, went top ten in the UK and spawned three top twenty hits, all four releases totalling half a million sales in the UK alone. Biggest Hit – Fascination

Eric Prydz

But as we commence a new decade, we wanted to look back to find the noughties’ most prolific Scandinavian musical exports and see if Scandinavia still has that special something when it comes to crafting pop music that can be loved the world over. So here they are, the ten biggest Scandinavian artists of the last decade! Robyn

Alphabeat These guys burst onto to the UK music scene in 2008 and took firm occupancy in the sizeable gap that exists between pop music and indie music in the UK. Visually unique, they bopped around in headache inducing fluorescent videos, to music that they penned, produced, and played themselves. Hailing from Denmark, they

record label. Her native Sweden loved her for it, but even they were surprised when the rest of the world went mental for the beat heavy, dark electro that she produced. Such was the quality of the album Robyn – her fourth as an artist, first doing it her own way – it went on to become by far her most successful. Biggest Hit – With Every Heartbeat

Robyn Perhaps Scandinavia’s most extreme pop chameleon, Robyn started out in the nineties as a manufactured pop puppet – only to cut the strings in the early noughties, leave her record label, and record the music that she wanted to make independently, releasing it on her own

You may not know the name, but you’ll know the hits! Call On Me exploded around the world in 2004, and not only became one of the biggest selling dance hits of all time, it also started a brand new trend within dance music that was imitated by everyone with a synthesizer for the next three years! With Call On Me, Eric had sampled an eighties rock track, and tailored it for the noughties’ dancefloor – and thus a new formula was born, and somewhat thoroughly bred! His most recent concoction was Pjanoo, a piano-led house track which was the biggest selling dance single of 2008. Eric is also partly responsible for the worldwide reputation that Swedish house music has, along with the famed ‘Swedish House Mafia’ – Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso. Biggest Hit – Call On Me The Ark This Swedish embodiment of glam rock had their first number one album at the turn of the decade, and went on to have

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 13

Rรถyksopp 14 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Scan Magazine | Music Feature | A Decade of Scandipop

three more chart topping albums throughout. Loved for their outlandish rock n’ roll glamour, they have courted controversy as if it was a love-struck groupie! From lyrics contrary to the morals of society, to ill-thought out comments about the 9/11 terrorist attack when they commenced their US tour, a tour which was short-lived as a result. A new album, their fifth, is due sometime this year. Biggest Hit – The Worrying Kind Agnes Scandinavia’s newest pride and joy, Agnes released three albums in her native Sweden after winning their version of Pop Idol in 2005. But in 2009, it was a single from the third album that catapulted Agnes to fame in every corner of the globe. Release Me took up a permanent residence on every radio, dancefloor, and singles’ chart last summer. Knowing that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, Agnes is working on her new album with the exact same producers that she struck gold with for her current record! Biggest Hit – Release Me Röyksopp The Norwegian Gods of electro can probably also lay claim to the moniker of Gods of music synchronisation! Their music is as famous as it is critically acclaimed, thanks to placements in adverts from the likes of Apple, BBC, Virgin, T-Mobile, and computer games from EA Entertainment. Ever since their debut album Melody AM in 2001, the duo have spawned songs that are recognisable to millions of television lovers, and revered and respected by millions more music lovers. Biggest Hit – Eple Alcazar Camp, kitsch, and never ever taking themselves too seriously, this trio have enjoyed a full decade of success around the world since their debut album in 2001. When manufactured pop was at its most cherished in the UK at the turn of the century, they boarded an Easyjet flight to London and infected dancefloors with

their ode to drunken drama, Crying At The Discotheque. Since then they have taken great pride in making ridiculously crafted pop music whilst looking as fabulous as their (usually low) budget allows. Biggest Hit – This Is The World We Live In Annie Born and raised in Bergen, Norway, Annie enlisted the help of UK super producer, Richard X, to make two of the most acclaimed electro pop albums of the decade. Anniemal and Don’t Stop marry insecure vocals to irresistible melodies and industrial beats. Annie’s ability to craft the perfect pop song has earned her a massive following online, and when her second album took five years in the making, it became one of the last decade’s most eagerly anticipated albums by music fans and critics alike. Biggest Hit – Heartbeat

from them. Biggest Hit – Sunshine In The Rain Basshunter Love him or loathe him, you can’t deny that this Swedish chap, real name Jonas Altberg, has well and truly conquered the UK. Well over a million sales of his singles, and half a million sales of his albums in Britain alone, have ensured that no casual music fan isn’t aware of Basshunter. His detractors were bitterly disappointed to find out that he was actually a thoroughly nice and likeable guy, when he competed in television show Big Brother last month. Biggest Hit – Now You’re Gone.

BWO Self-proclaimed Godfather of Scandipop, Alexander Bard’s most recent project, after giving the world Army of Lovers, Vacuum, and Alcazar, BWO released four studio albums and a Greatest Hits in the space of six years – treating fans to both quality AND quantity! Their melodious electropop is as catchy as it is cool, and they can count Coldplay and Mika as celebrity fans who have taken inspiration

So that was the noughties – now here is our quick round up of ten acts from Scandinavia that we’re expecting to blow up in this coming decade! Gravitonas – the creator of Army of Lovers, Alcazar, and BWO, tries his hand at forming a rock group. Le Kid – Alphabeat peering at their reflections in a mirrorball. Jonas Oakland – young synthesiser prodigy. Daisy – dancefloor diva with killer hooks in each of her club tracks.

Basshunter

Eric Saade – clean-cut, Disney-esque heartthrob who’s about to become very famous in Sweden. Rosanna – has got the tunes and the voice to compete with Annie and Robyn. Medina – after taking up a year long residency in the Danish singles chart, she’s ready to look further afield. Belle – cartoon pop music, but oh so sophisticated with it. Erik Hassle – just about to blow up in the UK with debut single Hurtful. Lisette Vares – melody driven pop music that’s dancefloor friendly.

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 15

Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This

We love this... for Valentine’s Day Love is all you need... and wouldn’t you LOVE THIS at Valentine’s Day.

Ole Lynggaard These handmade leather bracelets Sweet Drops are a `must have´ in Scandinavia. The concept was launched in 2008 and has captivated the interest of celebrities and royalty.

Efva Attling

Handmade leather bracelet £250 Sweet Drops is available in silver and 18 karat gold, prices from £125 – £5.800 (for the diamond paved drop)

These designs from Efva Attling are fabulous! The Crazy Heart on a chain retails at £174 and the Crazy Heart retails at £96. For stockists go to www.efvaattling.com

Go to www.olelynggaard.com to find your nearest store

Skagen Watches for men Swiss Movement Chronograph This exquisite watch is completed with a black Italian leather strap. £265.00 XL Link with Chronograph This lightweight titanium watch is rough and tasteful at the same time. £325.00 Go to www.skagen.com to find your nearest store

16 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This

Fashion Diary… New season preview

By Julie Guldbrandsen

With the Spring collections now hitting the stores it’s time for a wardrobe shake-up – go all white for a clean chick look, demand attention in colourful prints, or combine the two trends, and then add some Scandi cool accessories. Just remember: it’s only a preview.

Accessorize Scandi style

Rützou Silk scarf, £119. Call +44 (0) 208 969 4441 for stockists.

Pure white Islaet Leather waist coat, £356, www.byflou.com Acne Cardigan, app. £120. Dress, app. £150. Shoes, app. £400. www.acnestudios.com

Georg Jensen VICE unisex watch, £390 (sale price – normal price £650), www.georgjensenstore.co.uk

Scandinavian Fashion Weeks: want to join in on the Scandinavian fashion parties? Then head to Bern on 1-3 February, Copenhagen on 10-14 February or Oslo on 15-21 February.

Eye-popping patterns Black Noir Silk dress, app £240, www.byflou.com

Dagmar Blouse, £119. Call +44 (0) 203 301 4717 for stockists.

Dagmar Necklace, £145. Call +44 (0) 203 301 4717 for stockists.

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 17

Scan Magazine | Design | G.A.D.

G.A.D. – Let Gute Art & Design bring out the Scandinavian in you By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Courtesy of G.A.D.

Swedish furniture and design is a worldwide phenomenon, recognised mainly for providing the best in value for money solutions. However, Swedish artisanship is also strongly represented by designers and furniture manufacturers who firmly believe in solid materials, traditional carpentry and custom-made, fully-finished pieces that stand the test of time. A business that goes the extra mile and embodies these aspects is G.A.D., a Swedish company situated on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. By 1997, founder and leading designer of G.A.D. Kristian Eriksson had found himself ready to throw in the towel and leave his job at IBM to pursue a personally

18 | Issue 15 | February 2010

more rewarding and creative line of work. “I wanted something else in life,” says Eriksson. “And design has always been in my genes.” And he means this literally: both his parents and grandparents were designers by profession. So, equipped with a technological education and a passion for design and art, he established G.A.D. and set out to make sustainable furniture without any compromises in design, quality, materials, workmanship or price. For the manufacturing process this meant no cutting corners and no cheating. In 1999, the company made a big splash at a Swedish design fair, received a Swedish design award and the rest is pretty much history. Today G.A.D. is in high demand amongst design lovers with its 35 outlets and showrooms spread

across Sweden and a few more located in Britain and the US. Scandinavian art & design G.A.D. easily epitomises classic Scandinavian style and design, while simultaneously holding a tight grasp on modern aesthetics. Eriksson identifies the style as “classic contemporary” and “Scandinavian with straight lines and simple designs”. Moreover, the furniture speaks volumes about the Scandinavian disposition, as the solid materials demand respect, whereas the clean and streamlined simplicity of the designs soothes the eye: the result is something very honest and genuine. Eriksson takes a lot of pride in the excellent quality of their products and what G.A.D. stands for in terms of

Scan Magazine | Design | G.A.D.

G.A.D.’s furniture is made the “old-fashioned” way with solid materials and traditional carpentry.

style and traditional workmanship: “I think the designs speak for themselves.” His confidence is the clear result of years of striving to be the best at what they do and, of course, the skilful application of the best materials that Sweden can offer. Solid materials “The key point is to use solid materials and sand them into the right places using traditional carpentry. Each piece of furniture is made by us all the way from the raw materials to the finished product,” says Eriksson. Accordingly, the materials used include solid Nordic wood of the highest classification (mainly birch and oak), limestone and sheepskin from Gotland, stainless steel on all handles and black granite on surface tops. All of the work is carried out in Gotland with the help of local craftsmen in order to make the manufacturing process more unified and interlaced with the work of the designers. In addition, G.A.D. strives for

perfect customer satisfaction by including serial numbers on their furniture for tracking purposes and future check-ups. Naturally, all of this takes a lot longer than just popping by your nearest furniture retailer. It might take weeks, if not months to finish one piece, as everything is made to order, and there are no stockrooms in sight. The price is also set in accordance with the amount of

work and passion poured into these products. However, at G.A.D. quality comes first, and in today’s throwaway society, something that truly withstands the wear and tear of time should be regarded as more essential and precious than ever. For more information visit: www.gad.se

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 19

Hummel – karma, team spirit and fashion! Hummel, the oldest sportswear brand in the world, is definitely not resting on its laurels. The brand’s characteristic colourful, chevron-marked clothing keeps being renewed and re-used and with great success. This year Hummel Kids Clothing is launching in the UK as the brand’s popularity keeps growing. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Hummel

Founded in Germany in 1923, Hummel gradually shifted ownership; in 1980 it was a 100 per cent Danish company and just three years later the brand was the biggest in sports clothing on the Danish market. Today Hummel is present in more than 40 countries around the world and has won numerous design awards – including the prestigious Global Style award in 2007. Hummel’s chevrons – everywhere Hummel’s widespread fame and popularity is to a great extent based on the company’s unique and visible profile in team sports; the Danish national football team, for instance, wore their kit at the victori-

20 | Issue 15 | February 2010

ous European championship in 1992. But the many international celebrities, like Jennifer Lopez and Melanie C, who have a weakness for the brand’s retro look, have also caused many a teenager to dig out and pull on their parents’ old Hummel tracksuit. Hummel’s UK brand manager Kevin Batchelor says: “Our foundations are built on teamsports which mainly include Football and Handball. But towards the end of the 90s the company started to move into the fashion sector more and more using retro-inspired clothing from our heritage/back catalogues and placing them on celebs and cool dj's.”

Since then Hummel has also branched out into Fashion Footwear, which is growing very quickly internationally, and more recently they launched Kids Clothing in DK which is becoming a huge success. “The growth is most importantly of all down to a fabulous product mix which keeps evolving season after season and is the reason more customers and territories want to get involved!” Batchelor stresses. Karma and TEAM spirit Today Hummel is owned by its Chairman Christian Stadil, who bought the company in 1999. He is one of Denmark’s most well-known businessmen partly because

Scan Magazine | Design | Hummel

of his success, but also because of his spiritual engagement and monk-like appearance – he is a self-declared Buddhist. His spiritual belief is also, explains Batchelor, reflected in the company’s approach to business. “We believe in Company Karma and try to give back where possible. We support many charities and make sponsorships that can make a difference, such as in Sierra Leone where the infant mortality rate is the worst in the world. We donate funds from the proceeds of sales back to Sierra Leone where it is needed most,” he says, adding: “Rather than being political we are just trying to help kit people out to play sport and get some enjoyment and wellbeing into their lives. Yes, we need to survive in business also, but we still have a corporate social responsibility which we take extremely seriously.” Conquering the UK The brand first saw UK ground in 1980 when it established itself as a football kit brand with some high profile sponsor-

ships. Later, however, it experienced some turbulent years with third party license holders, and in 2004 it was decided that Hummel International should have its own company over here. Since then the brand has steadily been expanding and today Hummel is represented in more than 300 sports retailers and team sports specialists across the UK and Ireland. They also have over 100 stores across the UK stocking either fashion clothing, Fashion Footwear or both. “This year will also see some kids’ stores stocking Hummel in the UK for the first time, so it’s exciting times for us,” says Batchelor. A global Hummel The International group, of which Hummel UK is part, has been steadily growing at a rate of 30 per cent for the past three years; an impressive achievement considering the economic downturn. But the plans for the future are even greater, says Batchelor. “The Goal is to be the most exciting team sport brand in the world – a recog-

nised International Sports brand across the world. We very much have our heritage in Denmark, Germany and Scandinavia, but we have some exciting projects taking place in North America, the Far East and right across Europe, so hopefully in the not too distant future Hummel will be on the global map!”

Hummel Kidswear and Hummel Footwear can, among other places, be found at: KIDSEN 111 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise London NW10 3NS www.kidsen.co.uk 0208 9697565 SCORPION SHOES 269 Camden High Street, Camden Town London www.scorpionshoes.co.uk

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 21

Scan Magazine | Design | Dröm UK

For more information visit: www.dromuk.com

Dröm UK – Getting hotter and hotter Dröm UK, the business of Swedish-born Kicki Carlsson-Boyd, has reached new luxurious heights as they are to provide saunas and steam rooms for what is possibly the most prestigious development in the UK – One Hyde Park. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Courtesy of Dröm UK

The project will include apartments up to the size of 27,000sq ft and Kicki reveals that one of the private spa areas, which is currently in the planning phase, will be the biggest they have ever made for a private residence. Getting there Dröm UK has previously worked with Candy and Candy, who is behind the interior design of the development, and that is, says Kicki, probably why we got the job: “They are very happy with our work, maybe because we very rarely say that something cannot be done. Their brief is always very specific and they want what you cannot find elsewhere.” Dröm UK will be providing saunas and steam rooms for several of the

22 | Issue 15 | February 2010

apartments, although it is not yet certain how many.

be selected for the more exclusive projects.”

Luxurious heights

The company does, of course still provide a service for individuals, offering advice on how to convert a regular bathroom into an exclusive spa area.

Dröm UK was started by Kicki and her husband Barry Smith seven years ago and has progressed from selling and installing spas for residential properties to being a leading specialist in the design, supply and installation of top quality saunas, steam baths and steam showers, mainly for exclusive residential properties, boutique and spa hotels. “Our reputation now precedes us, so that when an individual, a designer or architect wants to install a sauna or steam facility, we are often already on their list,” says Kicki. “We can handle projects of any size, but we do seem to

The natural path When asked if Hyde Park One, with its rumoured £100 million penthouse flats, was the kind of project she was hoping for when she started out, Kicki gives a small laugh. “Honestly, I don’t think I even knew that those kind of properties existed. I think the change in our business has more to do with our general attitude, the way we listen to and work with designers,” she says. “We have simply followed the path that has been given to us.”

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Scan Magazine | Travel Theme | Historic Hotels

A room with or without a ghost? A weekend off in a Danish fairytale castle tucked away in forests and parks – it does not get more romantic than that; that is, of course, if you don’t mind a ghost or two sharing the good times with you! By Signe Hansen

Danske Slotshoteller (Danish Castle Hotels) is a collection of five (with a sixth being renovated and opening in April) unique, historic castles dotted around the Danish countryside. The castles are owned by the Danish couple Ann and Gorm Lokdam who bought their first castle, Kokkedal Castle, back in 1988. Kokkedal is located approximately three hours drive from Billund Airport and offers an impressive view over the Liim Fiord. “Kokkedal was the first castle that we bought and it was really love at first sight

24 | Issue 15 | February 2010

says,” Ann Lokdam. “I have had a passion for castles since I was a little girl. I remember travelling around to see the Danish castles, and Kokkedal was exactly what I dreamt of.” Ghosts in the courtyard Having renovated the castle and decorated it with canopy beds and other interiors in accordance with its historic origin, the couple opened it up for guests. But it would not be long before something quite unusual happened. Among some of the very first guests were three gentlemen who stayed in three of the

castle’s single rooms for three weeks. However, one of them, who had a room facing the courtyard, ended up having to move rooms several times, explains Ann, as he kept hearing the same noise every night. “He was awoken every night by the sound of a horse-drawn carriage arriving at great speed in the courtyard, where it drove all the way round and out again. I had to move that guest to the opposite wing before he found peace,” says Ann. This incident happened before the guest had heard about the legend of Karen Galde, but when he told the Lokdams his

Scan Magazine | Travel Theme | Historic Hotels

Above: Klokkedal Castle located in Northern Jutland. Right: Interiors from Klokkedal recreated to match the historic originals, and Hvedholm by night. Photos: Courtesy of Danske Slotshoteller

story, they quickly realised the connection. The myth, which can today be found on the hotel’s website, claims that what can be heard in the courtyard is the devil's hearse coming for Karen Galde. She was a Norwegian noblewoman who lived at the castle and dedicated her life to serving the devil so that in return she could eat delicacies and gourmet dishes ad libitum. She must have been very fond of good food, that Galde! Luckily, gourmets among hotel guests do not have to go this far to experience some culinary delicacies. All the castle hotels have their own restaurant serving gastronomic dishes accompanied by excellent wines. The dishes, which Ann describes as Danish food with French inspiration, are

all made with seasonal and fresh ingredients. Historic romance As all the ghosts at the castles seem to be harmless, apart from the occasional noise, piano playing, and odd occurrences, guests may just consider the spirits as a little extra touch to the hotels’ historic atmosphere. An atmosphere which is, says Ann, one of the main reasons to come visit. “Our hotels are very special buildings with a very special history and we have tried to recreate the historic interiors to make it an authentic experience and also to recreate the way of being together which you had back then,” she says, adding, “it is the atmosphere and the experience as a whole which is the unique thing about the castles.”

With their romantic settings the castles are a popular wedding location, and many other big events and parties takes place in the large dining halls and living rooms. Also quite a lot of conference guests, who want conferences which are a bit different from what they are used to, enjoy the castles’ facilities. Really, Ann says, the castle holiday is for everybody, and luckily if you are afraid of ghosts there are also castles without any haunting spirits, but of course, you never know...

For descriptions, locations and contact numbers (and more ghost stories!) visit: www.slotshotel.dk Prices: 700-1700 DKK for a double room.

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 25

Scan Magazine | Travel Theme | Historic Hotels

Villa Aske - The best of two worlds On the shores of the Sigtuna Bay, Lake Mälaren lies Villa Aske. With Stockholm and Arlanda Airport just around the corner, millions of people live and work just kilometres from the hotel, yet Aske is well tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the world. By Ella Peräkorpi

The current mansion was built in the early 19th century in a Roman-Italianate villa style designed by the Italian Charles Bassi, who later became a distinguished city architect in Turku, Finland. The Italian theme continues in the menus, all based on locally grown produce, with Scandinavian delicacies prepared under Mediterranean influences. In the turbulent 14th century Villa Aske’s part of Sweden was at the vortex of intrigues in high politics. The historical record shows that the Aske estate even saw the beginnings of the murderous feud between three royal brothers – an episode now known in Swedish history as “the Nyköping Banquet”.

respecting old mansion, Villa Aske has its own ghost, in the form of a nanny who worked and lived at the mansion over a hundred years ago: “She haunts the second floor of the hotel. She’s been spotted in one of the guest rooms and in the group room, that we naturally named “Ghost” after its friendly occupier. Nowadays we usually see her under the dome,” Managing Director of Aske, Lennart Holm tells us. After some research, the woman’s identity and tragic destiny was established. “The nanny lived a hard life on meagre wages and she got abused by the men at the mansion. She drowned herself in the river just south of Aske’s main building,” says Holm.

Visitors from another world

You own cannon salute

Not all histories made it to the history books, though. Like any other self-

Besides the paranormal activity, the 4star hotel can offer 88 rooms, 7

26 | Issue 15 | February 2010

conference rooms and 22 committee rooms. The largest of the conference rooms can accommodate up to 150 people. With features such as wi-fi in all rooms, a mobile stage and even the possibility of receiving your very own cannon salute, Aske provides for all needs, whether it is a conference, meeting or celebration. For more information, visit: www.villaaske.se

HARWICH - ESBJERG

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Arriving in Esbjerg, it’s an easy and scenic drive into Denmark, and also Germany and southern Sweden are within easy reach. You can also travel onto Copenhagen and take our ferry to Oslo for access into Norway, central Sweden and beyond.

E WAY

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Scan Magazine | Travel Theme | Historic Hotels

Bäckaskogs Slott: a royal treat for everybody Bäckaskogs Slott hotel, restaurant and conference centre gives you a taste of royal life in Sweden. Just 150 years ago the castle, located 15 km northeast of Kristianstad, was the royal summer residence of King Karl the 15th. By Signe Hansen Today guests stay in the royal bedrooms, dine in the king’s original hall and if they are really lucky, they may even run into some of the old residents! For everybody Once exclusively for royalty, the castle is today the opposite, Marketing Manager Per Lundin explains. “The castle is owned by the Swedish state and the idea was that it should be open to all the public and so we have a very broad visitor base. During the week we have many conference guests and at the weekend many holiday visitors.” Lundin and his wife are one of three Swedish families who rent and run the castle for the state. Twenty of the 50 available rooms are hotel rooms located in the castle while the

rest are hostel rooms located in attached buildings. Historic characters One of the castles main attractions is the preserved original atmosphere and to this, of course, add the castle ghost. According to rumour, he is an old coachman who fell in love with the Queen’s maid. When the Queen found out she sent the maid away making the coachman so upset he hanged himself. “Sometimes at night he comes back to look for the maid in the rooms that used to be hers – guests have seen him there,” says Lundin. He has not seen the ghost himself, but his wife has and she assures us that it is definitely a friendly ghost.

OFSB QL @>KAFK>SF> TFQE QBK> FKB Let Stena Line help you take the strain out of driving to Scandinavia. With a choice of short routes with frequent crossings and longer routes with overnight journeys we can help to make your journey more relaxing and convenient Onboard our ships you will find a range of facilities all designed to make your crossing as comfortable as possible. Remember to book early for our best fares. Welcome onboard!

www.stenaline.co.uk or call 08705 70 70 70

Scan Magazine | Travel | Hotel of the Month

For more information visit: www.hotelorgryte.se

Hotel of the Month:

Hotel Örgryte – three generations of homely comfort Homely and newly renovated Hotel Örgryte offers a convenient, affordable and personalised stay when in Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden. As the hotel is located just outside the busy city centre, guests can reach most of the town’s attractions in a 20 minute walk.

arena and, not least, the popular Liseberg Amusement Park.

Hotel Örgryte has been in the hands of three generations of the Hansson family since its modest beginnings in 1956. The 14 rooms at its opening have since grown into 70, most of which were recently renovated and now have a new and fresh look.

Several restaurants and pubs are located close by the hotel, but guests can also choose to enjoy a light refreshment in the newly built reception and lobby bar.

Fun for families The area around the hotel offers an array of activities for families and couples as well as business travellers. “In the surrounding area guests will find the beautiful lake, Delsjön, where they can go swimming or enjoy the nature resort’s walking paths, golf courses and tennis courts,” says Sales Manager at Hotel Örgryte Angeli Jangblad. Within walking distance of the hotel, guests will also find Universeum, the biggest science centre in Scandinavia, the Valhalla Swimming Hall, Ullevi Sports-

The hotel offers free Wireless Internet access in all rooms.

There is plenty to do and after a busy day out, guests can relax at the hotel’s spa area with access to sauna, steam bath and solarium.

Convenience for business travellers The hotel, which has very convenient free parking, during the week acts as a opportune base for many business travellers visiting trade exhibitions at the close by Svenska Mässan (The Exhibition Hall) or attending meetings in town. Of course, having a meeting or conference at the hotel, which can accommodate up to 30 conference guests, is also a possibility. For conferences and other gatherings lunch and dinner can be booked and enjoyed at the hotel and a breakfast buffet is served in the hotel restaurant every morning.

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 29

Scan Magazine | Food | Bye, bye fatty

Bye, bye fatty

When thinking of Scandinavians, people don’t tend to associate us with a nation full of spare tyres or with people who take up two seats when using public transport. Instead, we are often compared to beauties such as Victoria Silvstedt, and Helena Christensen and Viggo Mortensen. Flattering, even if not entirely accurate. But are all Scandinavians thin and healthy? No – although obesity rates in Scandinavia are around 60% lower than in the UK, things have certainly started to shift a bit. With the introduction of more ever so tempting ready meals and more fast food outlets in the Nordic Countries, even we’re seeing an increase in flab. This is simply because we’re being tempted away from what is our traditional, healthy way of eating off our lands and into the realms of the fast food circus. Indeed, we Scandies also need to get back to the core of what Scandinavian food is all about and to feel the force of the rye bread. Traditionally, Scandinavians have eaten off the land. It’s all been about preserving what we could harvest during those fertile summer months by drying, fermenting and pickling the goodies as best we could. Drawing from a landscape rich in berries, grains and fish, those Vikings conso-

30 | Issue 15 | February 2010

lidated a way of eating that still holds true today.

whole load of nuts and seeds and you’re on your way to eating like a real Viking.

The Nordic Diet

Seriously delicious

Last year, research started to emerge from Scandinavia that this new Nordic Diet (although followed by Vikings, so by definition not so new, really) would be the way forward; the new big thing and with health benefits to pose a serious rival to the Mediterranean diets that have been so popular during the last twenty years. Out with pasta, in with herring, so to speak.

Much more than just a fad diet, the Nordic Diet it is a way of eating healthily, and by cutting out the mid-morning Krispy Kreme and replacing it with a handful of nuts, things will certainly start to shift from the wobbly midriff. In fact, The Nordic Diet by the Danish food writer Trina Hahnemann has just been published in the UK – and after only a week, stocks of the book were running low and they’ve started the second printing. The People are catching onto the Viking Way of life and you can expect to hear a lot about the Scandinavian way of eating in 2010.

Photo: Bjorn Lindberg

It happens every year: the cold winter months take you by surprise and you need extra fuel to keep you warm. Then the festive season comes around and, suddenly, you have a whole spare tyre around your waist that not only keeps you cosy and warm but also wobbles in a funny way when you walk. Before you know it, people are calling you “lardy boy” (even to your face) and you know it is time to bring out the dreaded scales.

By Bronte Blomhoj

The Nordic Diet draws on the Viking principles: eat a breakfast that releases energy slowly, such as muesli or porridge. Add lots of berries to your diet, as these are packed full of vitamins and antioxidants (think blueberries, lingonberries, cloudberries). Cabbage-type vegetables are key, so bring on the pickled red cabbage and the coleslaw type salads. Bread is made of rye and sourdough cultures. Omega 3 is added to the diet by eating lots of mackerel and herring. For meats, go for less mass produced stuff, such as game: venison, reindeer (sorry Rudolf) and even Moose (although, admittedly, Tesco’s in Hackney was out of stock of this last week). Add to this a

Perhaps, this is the secret to all sensible dieting, though: if we all thought a little more about the stuff we use as fuel for our bodies and cut out the daily doughnut, the excess flab would start to disappear. Doing it the Nordic way, however, means being able to explore all those seriously delicious ingredients served with a Scandinavian twist that perhaps makes the whole issue of losing the postChristmas flab a little easier to bear. Follow the Nordic diet and you can indulge in open rye bread sandwiches, lots of beautiful fish and stuff yourself with berries. And maybe, just maybe, in a few months you’ll start to look like Viggo Mortensen too. Bronte Blomhoj is the owner of Scandinavian Kitchen in Central London – a cafe/grocery store that stocks everything you need to follow a Nordic Diet. All the staff there look a little bit like Victoria Silvstedt (especially Sebastian).

Photo: Kam & Co

Scan Magazine | Food | Bye, bye fatty

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 31

Scan Magazine | Food | Restaurant of the Month

Restaurant of the Month:

Valentine’s at Bluebird – a treat for all the senses By Signe Hansen | Photos: Courtesy of Bluebird

Whether you like it or not, Valentine’s is just around the corner and the battle to find the most romantic Valentine’s venue is on! We went to talk to Danish Niels Kristensen who, with 20 years in the restaurant industry, should definitely be good for a tip or two. When Niels took a gap-year in London to improve his English, he did, as do so many Danes, get a job at a hotel, but the rest of the story went a bit differently. The job turned into an impressive career and today, Niels is the General Manager of six D&D London restaurants including the iconic Chelsea restaurant Bluebird. Treats for the palate So is Bluebird the right place for a Valentine’s date? Well it definitely has all the necessaries for romance: Audrey Hep-

burn (though only on movie), a huge wine cellar and a unique atmosphere – and of course a special Valentine’s menu created by Head Chef Mark Block. The threecourse menu includes dishes such as Lobster bisque, Beef Wellington and Assiette of Valhrona chocolate to share ; very romantic if you, unlike me, can keep from fighting over the last chocolate, of course. Luckily for those who have to get up early Monday morning the Valentine treat is on all weekend. And for the eye Should you and your partner be able to tear your eyes away from each other, you will also find yourselves in very special surroundings. “The building is very unique; it is an art deco building constructed in 1923 when the Bluebird Garage was here. The fact that the origi-

nal features, such as the large steel columns, are still here makes it very beautiful,” says Niels. Those who really want to show (off) their romantic side can invite their partner to the intimate Bluebird room which has been transformed into a small cinema screening Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn. Whether this is where Niels and his wife will be spending Valentine’s he does not reveal. But if you are tempted, leaving this magazine out and open may be just the hint to get you there. For further information see: www.bluebird-restaurant.com

Scan Magazine’s Ray O’Connor, winner of the Young Wine writer of the Year Award in 2007, shares his tips to help you pick just the right wine for February. There may be some of you that did the honourable thing and sustained from drink for the month of January. Well if you did, and went the whole hog with a gym membership, the thought of jumping right off the bandwagon and getting straight back in to wine may seem a bit scary. But fear not, oh ye of great self-discipline, there are always wines of moderately low alcohol to break you back in slowly. December’s recommended sparkling wine from Denmark is only 11% abv and what a corker that is, but more readily available in the U.K. are German Rieslings. Let me just clear this up quickly. Liebfraumilch, whose sweetness graced our tables in the 80s and early 90s, is out. Cool, crisp, refreshingly dry and just off-dry Rieslings are in. These wines manage to still deliver on character even with lower amounts of alcohol. Yes, there is a touch of residual sugar, but think of it as a lifted richness with vibrant acidity rather than candied, desert wine. If it’s bone dry wines you’re after then look to the cool, wet climes of northern Portugal where the border meets the greenest part of Spain, to find the refreshingly light Vinho Verde wines. The good news is that even the local wine law stipulates that you cannot produce a wine greater than 11.5%abv, so you’ll always be in safe hands.

Leitz, Rudesheimer Rosengarten, 2007, Riesling, Kabinett (8.5% abv) The lightness of this wine on the palate makes it ideal for lunches and the 8.5% alc helps assuage the guilt factor. The delicious lemon-sherbet and tangerine citrus fruit character are very moreish as you watch the bottle disappear. Waitrose £9.49 reduced to £7.59 from 17 Feb to 16 March

Quinta de Azevedo, 2008, Vinho Verde, Portugal (10.5% abv) Its light spritz on the tongue brings flashbacks of warm summer days with your feet in the sand. You’ll enjoy flavours of crunchy green apples and pears in this wine to wash down any shellfish you’re having. The Wine Society £6.25 Ray will be teaching the WEST Intermediate Certificate in Wines and Spirits from February 10. For more information on how to join the class visit www.rayoconnorwines.com.

LINDBERG 810/73 · PAT. PEND.

Picking the right wine for a new year

Scan Magazine | Columns | Humour

IS IT JUST ME... Who has noted the huge change in our collective approach to crazes? It used to be that fads were strictly reserved for youngsters. From Elvis, over disco, to 80s MTV, new trends were solely directed at adolescents, considered the only ones hip and happening enough to go along with a new craze any responsible adult would dismiss as silly. That has changed significantly. In today’s world we’re all teenagers. Facebook, Ipods, Wii and PlayStations are not reserved for people in their teens. On the contrary – teens chat with aunts and uncles on Messenger. Children receive texts from their grandparents. On my birthday I got a text from an 82 year old member of my family signed “xxx”. My Mom has an Ipod. At a family gathering she tried my cousin’s Ipod and apart from initial misunderstandings like her

HANDLE LOGIC

For those of you who were new in the country back in 1994, or indeed any time up until about 2005, you may remember this scenario.You’re on a train. Christ only knows which one – there are no signs of any kind indicative of your location, and the conductor sounds like he’s swallowed an unusually hairy badger every time he makes an announcement. You arrive at a

34 | Issue 15 | February 2010

By Mette Lisby

looking puzzled while moving rhythmically, yelling “So, am I the only one who hears the music?” she instantly declared the Ipod was “awesome” and bought one the next day. On my Skype contact sheet every generation in my family is represented. To Skype with my parents however, does require a bit of patience. Every call begins with them fumbling with the plug to the headphones saying: “Hallo? Is this plugged in? Halloooo? Can you hear me? No?” I’ll spare you the full, action-packed minute to minute rapport, but just let you know that there does at some point occur what can be described as a real conversation. To be fair, my 14 year old niece describes her Skype calls to me in much the same way. But that sort of minor obstacle will not stand in the way of anyone over 20. Undaunted we head for new crazes, full throttle.

The only things youngsters get to keep to themselves are Bacardi Breezers and low-cut jeans – that’s two things we will never claim. Anyone with more than 5 minutes of real life experience knows that anything involving cheap liquor and exposed, freezing buttocks isn’t worth striving for. Mette Lisby is Denmark’s leading female comedian. She invites you to laugh along with her monthly humour columns. Since her stand-up debut in 1992, Mette has hosted the Danish versions of “Have I Got News For You” and “Room 101”. Mette currently lives in London.

By Maria Smedstad

station feeling nervous, squinting through a dirt-stained window trying to spot some clue as to where you are. You pass a wooden sign, half-hidden behind ivy, letting you know you’re in the right place. You’re even by the door, all ready to go. The train screeches to a halt, you reach for the handle to open the door and then you realise: There is no handle. Just a shiny plate of metal where it should be, which you claw at in a sort of a stunned stupor. Perhaps you even grab your bags and run (unless it’s rush hour, when it’s more like you body-slam your way through the throng of commuters) to the next door. But jävlar i helvete this one ALSO has no handle. In your horror you instantly forget how to speak English (not that it would matter anyway – if like me you’re Scandinavian, you would avoid speaking to strangers unless your life or perhaps some sort of ecological emergency depended on it). Luckily, you’re in England. This may be the country where the train-

doors have no handles, but it’s also the country where strangers do speak up to help a sweaty, panic-ridden foreigner. So, very kindly, a commuter will fold away his paper, put his plastic cup of melting ice and gin down before lowering the door window, reaching outside and opening the door for you from the outside. All while explaining, ‘It’s for safety’, like that really would make sense...? Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. She writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.

Scan Magazine | Education | Sorø Academy

Sorø Academy –

new rules, old traditions

Going to boarding school no longer means rigid discipline, gender separated dormitories and uniforms – at least not for the boarders at Sorø Academy. By Signe Hansen

At Denmark’s second-oldest boarding school, student initiative and responsibility is encouraged; girls and boys have their own rooms in mixed houses, and uniforms are not obligatory - when some students still wear them, it is to demonstrate their sense of belonging to the school. Freedom 138 out of the 500 students, age group 16-19, are boarders. One of them is 19year-old Sophie Hilbig; she was born and brought up in Germany until the age of 16 when she moved to Denmark to learn more about her Danish mother’s heritage. “I looked at a lot of boarding schools, and Sorø Academy seemed to be the perfect one. We have a lot of freedom and there are not as many rules as at other boarding schools,” she says. “Also we don’t have to go home every weekend and that’s very important for me.” If students choose

stay for the weekend, they can invite a friend to stay over in their room.

and this, he says, provides an extra educational resource which the students eagerly tap into.

Responsibility Still, days are structured by regular routines: although it is their own responsibility, students have to get up at seven am, breakfast is served between seven and eight am - but can be extended. After school and dinner, the boarders have two hours’ obligatory study time in their rooms. House Master at Sophie’s house Lars Kelstrup explains: “The main temptation at a boarding school is that you don’t want to sit alone doing History if you know that your two best friends are next door having fun. But this way they know that they are not.”

The relationship between students and teachers is one of the things which has evolved gradually over time. But while boarders today are allowed to run their own Friday bar and arrange their own afterschool activities, they also proudly uphold and respect old school customs like playing cricket, dancing the lancers and even wearing uniforms. For further information visit: www.soroe-akademi.dk

And Respect Like all the other House Masters, Mr. Kelstrup is also a teacher at the school

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 35

Does this make you tick? Forming companies in compliance with UK regulations Administering payroll, tax & employee benefits Bookkeeping & financial accounting Health & safety risk appraisals and compliance Employee setup, benefits, terms, legal requirements and contracts Ensuring board responsibilities are understood and complied with Staying on top of company law and regulations Health, accident, liability and corporate insurance Declarations and applications Retirement planning and pensions Employee benefits

We thought not.

Goodwille helps head offices minimise uncertainty and reduce the strain on management and resources when entering foreign markets. We specialise in offering operational advice and service support to high growth new market entries and businesses expanding internationally. We have a pragmatic and holistic approach to looking after your company’s Corporate Legal, Company Secretarial, HR and Financial Accounting needs – allowing you to keep focused on your core functions and primary objectives.

St James House 13 Kensington Square London W8 5HD United Kingdom T: +44 (0)20 7795 8100 www.goodwille.co.uk

Your business parner, every step of the way.

Scan Business | Key Note | The SMEs

Scan Business Legal Challenges in Anglo-Scandinavian Trade 39 | Alexander & Grau 49 | Chambers of Commerce News 52

The SMEs – Small and Medium Businesses – what really matters to get us out of the recession! We are taught at business school that FOCUS is one of the important keys to success in the business world. In these quite difficult times, focus becomes even more important. Our politicians want to focus on health, the poor, education, the armed forces, the elderly and global warming. Is that right? Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, once said that money was not that important – it comes a close second to oxygen! And how true that is, particularly when we consider the recession and the dreadful year that 2009 was for many businesses. A 12% drop in world trade output in 2009. That has simply never happened before, in such a short amount of time. If we are talking about focus and apply it to our current economic crisis, I would suggest that we need to be honest and open about ‘how’ and ‘who’ is going to lift us out of recession. The drive behind our business model is money, and in order to make it and create sustainable jobs, you need to have policies that help privately-owned businesses set up, and which allow these companies to grow, creating income for themselves and the local communities they operate in. For some reason, no one seems to understand just how important Small and

Medium size companies are to the success of our national economies. Cast your eye over the facts set out on this page. In addition, the fact is that 80% of all innovation comes from the smaller companies and not from the bigger ones. The aim of this article is to set a new FOCUS: To get everyone, including the politicians, to support people that set up and run businesses, create jobs and exports which at the end of the day is the basis for the well-being of our economies. The Banks are important, but only as distributors of capital to the right companies. We need to make the life of SMEs easier, to raise capital and loans, and remove all the red tape!

By Per Troen

• In the UK 3 million businesses are sole proprietors • In DK 170,000 businesses are sole proprietors • There are over 4.8 million businesses in the UK • There are over 300,327 (2007) businesses in DK • In the UK over 99% of firms employ less than 49 people • In DK over 96% of firms employ less than 49 people • In the UK 59% of the workforce (13.7 million) is in the SME Sector • In DK 50.5% of the workforce (approximately 700,000) is in the SME Sector. Source: Federation of Small Businesses and Håndværkerrådet.

UK/DK Small Business Profile Small (0-49) No. of Businesses Employment T/0

UK 99.30% 49.90% 36.60%

DK 96.90% 32%

Medium (50-249) UK 0.60% 11.50% 13.60%

DK 1.90% 26.50%

Large (250+) UK 0.10% 40.60% 49.90%

DK 1.20% 41.50%

Per Troen, Chairman of the Danish UK Chamber of Commerce; Board member at Latchways Plc; St. Catherine’s College, Oxford; and other companies in England and abroad. Danish Advokat and English Solicitor, and Eve Appeal (Ovarian Cancer Charity) Trustee. Goodwill Ambassador for Copenhagen, the Capital of Denmark. Founder and Senior Partner in the Anglo-Danish law firm Corren Troen.

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 37

Produktion: Red Barnet, Foto: Benjamin Kürstein

Den bedste hjælp...

... er den, din virksomhed giver, før katastrofen rammer Da det voldsomme jordskælv ramte Haiti, kunne Red Barnet sende hjælp af sted til børnene med det samme. Det kunne vi, fordi vi har Børnekatastrofefonden, som blandt andre danske virksomheder støtter. Tegn et erhvervsmedlemsskab af Børnekatastrofefonden på: www.redbarnet.dk/boernekatastrofefonden Red Barnet samler penge ind året rundt til Børnekatastrofefonden. Det betyder, at vi hurtigt kan give akut nødhjælp og senere støtte det langsigtede genopbygningsarbejde – også i de katastrofer, der aldrig når mediernes søgelys. Børnene er de mest sårbare, når katastrofen rammer. Din virksomhed kan være med til at gøre en forskel.

Scan Business | Business Theme | Legal Challenges

Legal challenges in Anglo-Scandinavian trade Scan Magazine investigates the legal challenges Scandinavian companies may face when bringing their businesses to the UK and the other way round. We speak with some of the experts in Scandinavian and cross-border jurisprudence, and, fortunately, the message is not too bleak; there are differences but they are not insurmountable at all.

contract needs to specify and what your options are in a situation when something unforeseen happens, as well as in the general cultural approach to certain legal matters. There are also some specific areas of law which are approached differently in Scandinavia and the UK – a significant example of this is employment legislation.

What most people probably know is that the Scandinavian legal systems and the UK legal system are based on two very different foundations. The Scandinavian is based on statutory law (law written down in detail) and the UK on common law (to a larger extent based on precedent and interpretation). Consequently, there are great differences in, for instance, what a

Swedish national Anders Grundberg is the Managing Partner in McGuireWoods London and has helped Scandinavian businesses set up in the UK for more than 30 years. He explains that one of the most common mistakes is to underestimate the cultural differences between the Scandinavian and British approach to business.

A different approach

By Signe Hansen

“There is a fundamental difference when it comes to the approach to contracts and agreements. The tradition in Scandinavia is that if two parties have agreed to enter into a working commercial relationship and something is missed in the agreement, the courts’ general approach is to say – if the partners had thought about this issue what would they have agreed to and what were their intentions? The court has a mediation role. The UK tradition is to say – if it isn’t specifically stated, it isn’t agreed. UK courts do not mend or interpret agreements.” Writing it down Therefore the premises are different when contracts are drawn up in Scandinavia and the UK. One of the areas where Scandi-

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 39

Scan Business | Business Theme | Legal Challenges

navians’ patience may be tested is when renting and leasing property, land or offices in the UK. “In the UK we tend to have a long complicated document dealing with legal aspects, whereas in Scandinavia it tends to be a quite simple form,” says Søren Tattam, Partner in Pannone LLP and head of the firm’s International Practise Group. “There are lots of things that are regulated by law in Sweden where in the UK it is regulated as a matter of contract. It is mainly a problem of understanding and I think Scandinavian business people particularly find it frustrating that things have to be so complicated. But it is only complicated because it is so extraordinarily simple in their own jurisdiction.” A contract, which may only be a few pages in Scandinavia, may be three times or more the length in the UK because it has to cover all eventualities. Employment Conversely, UK businesses moving into Scandinavia will probably find the field of employment protection legislation just as frustrating. Christoffer Hamilton, Partner in the Swedish law firm Hamilton Advokatbyrå, with a presence in London since 1985, explains why: “In Sweden there are strict rules regarding the grounds on which you can dismiss employees, often related to lack of work, and as a principle there is a strict priority list, where the latest employee must be laid off first, though with many exceptions. This means that an employer’s possibilities to restructure the work force are probably as a general rule more restricted in Sweden. There are also strict rules regarding the obligation to negotiate with trade unions before taking any decisions regarding important changes affecting the business, which sometimes comes as a surprise for foreign companies doing business through a Swedish subsidiary.” On the positive side is that once you have a legal ground to dismiss employees, you do not have to pay any compensation in addition to salary during the notice period, and it is often possible to reach

40 | Issue 15 | February 2010

reasonable agreements in case of redundancy, etc. Generally Swedish employment law is nevertheless a field where Hamilton Advokatbyrå often assists UK companies.

“Scandinavian business people particularly find it frustrating that things have to be so complicated

”

Another Swedish law firm that can offer this assistance is Hellström which specialises in servicing international investors in Sweden. One of the most frequent questions they get concerning labour law is, says Partner Mats Hellström, what to do if it becomes necessary to lay off an employee. “When a foreign company takes over a business in Sweden, situations may arise when they need to replace or move an employee to another section because of new structures and new needs, like language skills for instance. We help them comply with the regulations and with negotiations with employees and the trade unions which are very influential in Sweden.”

something in the home country’s law which will make, for instance, a distributor less able to compete in his market. What to expect It is important to seek the advice of lawyers who are qualified or with legal contacts in the jurisdiction that you intend to venture into. “My advice to all clients is to get your legal advice as early as possible. Because the longer one leaves it before taking advice, the more likely it is that commercial decisions will have been taken which may not be the right ones,” says Tattam. With early, professional legal advice, businesses can, however, avoid getting caught in the common legal misunderstandings. Tattam says: “There are always differences between the countries and jurisdictions, but when you really boil it down, you realise that it is not that different; at the end of the day, the result commercially and legally is very similar across most jurisdictions in Western Europe. It is almost mandatory that this should be the outcome, because otherwise the system wouldn’t function particularly well!”

Pieces of advice: •

Seek advice as early as possible, preferably at the ideas phase; your choice as to whether you should, for instance, find a distributor, buy an existing business or set up a subsidiary may be affected by legal constrictions.

•

Do not underestimate the time it takes to set a business; ensure that you have capital to support it for at last three years, which is the average time for a successful business too become profitable.

•

When setting up in the UK remember that, more so than in Scandinavia, all contingencies have to be covered by contract

•

Make sure you fully understand, explore and research the area which you want to do business in to find out what laws regulate it.

Choosing jurisdiction When drawing up cross-border contracts, businesses do in some cases have to consider which country’s jurisdiction they want to operate under. In most cases, this is decided by the relative strength of the partners negotiating, but if you have the choice, there are some things to take into consideration, explains Grundberg. “What we lawyers have to think about is which country’s court it is most favourable to have a dispute or intervention taken to. If you see the need of being able to get a quick judgement to resolve debt, for instance, go to the court system where the counterparty is. Otherwise, if you get a ruling in, say a Danish court, you then have to go to an English court to get that ruling registered.” You also have to consider whether there is

Doing business in Sweden? BANKING AND lNANCE company LAW AND CORPORATE lNANCE distRIBUTION AND AGENCY LAW PROPERTY LEASE LAW CHINA DESK ENVIRON MENTAL LAW mergers & acquisitions EU AND COMPETITION LAW MARITIME AND TRANSPORTATION LAW REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION LAW employment law INSURANCE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MARKETING AND MEDIA LAW INTERNATIONAL LAW ENERGY AND INVESTMENT LAW it and TELECOM litigation and arbitration PRIVATE EQUITY

www.hellstromlaw.com

Scan Business | Business Theme | Legal Challenges

CORREN TROEN - takes care of everything If you are looking for a law firm that can take care of both your business and personal lives in the UK and Scandinavia, Corren Troen may be the answer. Corren Troen’s 20 employees can assist with everything from drafting a Will and helping you navigate UK/DK tax, through to advising you on every legal issue that may affect your business. Corren Troen was originally founded by Danish Advokat and Solicitor Per Troen and English Solicitor Paul Corren. In recent years, the firm has concentrated on helping Scandinavian and English families put in place succession plans for their family businesses and the ability to advise on both the private side and the corporate side has meant they are well placed to do so. However, the firm offers a lot more. We had a talk with Per Troen, who is also the Chairman of the Danish

UK Chamber of Commerce, to find out what makes Corren Troen a good choice when looking for legal advice.

links with Denmark and Sweden and understand how the legislation between our countries interacts. What kind of businesses or people are your main clients?

What makes you stand out compared to other law firms? We aim to provide our clients with a complete legal package, taking care of their personal requirements, their family and their business. We have strong

We provide advice to a number of English and Scandinavian families, as well as entrepreneurs. A number of our clients are not domiciled in the UK. On the corporate side we act for a number of owner-managed businesses as well as private equity providers. We also act for large institutional clients. For further information visit: www.correntroen.com

McGuireWoods London - new name, same focus and expertise safely say that there are few other law firms in London that, like us, speak 30 languages, have lawyers qualified in 14 jurisdictions and have 16 nationalities in the office. All the Nordic countries are covered by partners and we remain the law firm in London with the strongest Scandinavian focus.

McGuireWoods London may be a new office by name, but the expertise and personal approach is still the same as before May 2009, when the name was Grundberg Mocatta Rakison LLP (GMR). When GMR was approached by McGuireWoods LLP, a major American law firm with over 900 lawyers and 18 offices worldwide, it was, explains Managing Partner Anders Grundberg, largely because of the London firm’s cross-border reach. “From the US perspective, GMR was a very quick way of getting into international relationships; from my perspective it was a possibility to drive the firm further with capital and human resources from the US.” The merger has meant that through the recession the London office has not only been able to keep all employees, but to

42 | Issue 15 | February 2010

What kind of businesses and people are your main clients?

expand with 14 additional lawyers. We ask Grundberg what is behind the success. What makes you stand out compared to other law firms? We represent something very unusual amongst London law firms. We can

As far as our clients are concerned, essentially we have not changed, for them all that has happened is the name change. We provide the same services at the same price. But we have also been able to approach the larger companies and banks, while our tax and private client work goes on as before. For further information visit: www.mcguirewoods.com

Scan Business | Business Theme | Legal Challenges

Goodwille Limited – the complete solution With a broad service including HR functions, legal and financial administration, Goodwille offers a complete solution if you are seeking help to make the most of your business in the UK. The company also offers serviced offices and meeting facilities and has a large international network to support any additional needs clients might have. Focused on Nordic companies, Goodwille was founded in 1997 by Chairman Annika Åman-Goodwille. She realised that seeking assistance from legal, accounting, HR and other specialist firms separately was both costly and time consuming for foreign companies. Consequently, Goodwille created Goodwille Limited to take care of these areas in an independent, consistent and cost-effective way. The rapid growth of Goodwille

is today testimony to the success of her idea. All on the Goodwille team have international backgrounds and between them they speak more than 10 languages. Daniel Parry, the Swedish Managing Director, who has worked for the company for four years, explains why getting Goodwille involved in your business may be a good idea.

What kinds of clients come to you for advice? We have helped more than 500 foreign companies establish business enterprises in the UK. Our Clients range from small entrepreneurs to large corporates like Clas Ohlsson, who have just launched in the UK. For further information visit: www.goodwille.co.uk

Why Goodwille for support and advice in UK markets? Our strength is that we can resolve the problems and sort out the legal issues and cultural differences which can get in the way of a company’s core functions when entering a foreign market. We have a close partner relationship with all our clients – a very hands-on approach.

Cruickshank’s – Ensuring a safe start-up in the UK If you are looking for a law firm with great niche expertise in acquiring property and starting up a new business in the UK, Cruickshank’s, Solicitor-Advocates and Privy Council Agents may be the firm to approach. Senior Partner John Cruickshank has more than 30 years of legal experience and has, through his longstanding connection with the Swedish Chamber, ac-

quired a large number of Swedish clients. The company, which was established in London’s West End in 1992, specialises in leasehold residential and commercial property in addition to litigation, matrimonial, probate, intellectual property and immigration work. When John’s partner and wife Dr Xiaojiu Zhu, a UK qualified Mandarin speaker, joined him in 2002, a great resource of Chinese expertise followed. What makes you stand out compared to other law firms?

John Cruickshank

Dr Xiaojiu Zhu

We pride ourselves on providing high quality work with a personal touch. Our motto, which is my family’s, “Cavendo tutus” means safety by caution – it is probably a good one for a lawyer! Being from New Zealand myself I have gone

By Sara Schedin

through the experience of establishing a business in the UK and I therefore appreciate the angles and needs of expats coming here. What kind of businesses and people are your main clients? Many of our Swedish clients tend to be internet companies and software developers. The largest one is listed on the Swedish stock exchange. We also help smaller companies such as internet marketing companies and private wealthy clients acquiring investment property in and around London or simply for their children studying here. This also applies to our fast growing clientbase of wealthy Chinese investing here and in Europe. For further information visit: www.lawco.co.uk

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 43

Scan Business | Business Theme | Legal Challenges

Plesner – optimising your outcome practice industry groups, and we offer a corporate secretarial service – which handles all standard corporate requirements at a favourable price – to our large multinational clients with subsidiaries in Denmark.

As a new Companies Act is about to come into force in Denmark, the timing may be just right for new investors. Plesner, one of Denmark’s leading international law firms, can ensure the safe start required for an optimal outcome of such a venture.

What kind of businesses are your main clients?

One of the new law’s objects is to create a beneficial regulatory environment for foreign investors; good news for both Plesner and its clients. Founded in 1918, the Copenhagen firm is one of Denmark’s three largest law firms with 200 lawyers. “Our size means that we have expertise in every area of commercial law. No matter what line of business the client is in, we are able to provide specialist advice on exactly this industry area,” explains Partner Jacob Christensen when we talk to him.

What else makes you stand out compared to other law firms? Another advantage is our client driven strategy. We have developed a number of tools and internal practices that enable us to match clients’ needs. For instance we have a number of cross-

Our clients vary from start-up companies to well-established large multinationals. They come from all continents but, obviously, some areas are more represented than others. For instance, we have many American and British clients and a substantial number from the rest of Europe.

For further information visit: www.plesner.com

Anglodan Services Ltd – the perfect company package Anglodan can also offer to produce clients’ UK annual accounts, tax returns, payslips, and other statutory documents at prices significantly lower than those charged by international accountancy firms. The business was founded by Nicolai Heering, a Danish expat with wideranging international business experience, who still manages the day-to-day running of the business.

Anglodan Services offers Scandinavian clients wishing to set up a business in the UK a complete cost-effective company formation and administration service. Through its close association with several Chartered Accountants in the UK,

44 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Why is Anglodan the right choice when looking for assistance in the start-up phase? While law firms are obviously the best choice for work related to legal disputes or bespoke legal advice, there is little reason to pay high fees for standardised jobs such as company formation and related services. Besides, Anglodan of-

fers a virtual office service that would allow a newly formed company to have its own UK telephone number, fax number, and postal address from Day 1. Our virtual office service can be of particular benefit to businesses that do not wish to incur the cost of renting a UK office until they have had a chance to test the demand for their products or services on the UK market. What kind of businesses/people are your typical clients? Our proposition has proven to be attractive for many, both Scandinavians and others, and we have helped to establish more than 200 companies in the UK. Clients range from individuals to medium-sized businesses. For further information visit: www.anglodan.co.uk

Scan Business | Business Theme | Legal Challenges

Left: Tobias Vieth, head of Danders & More’s Real Estate team. Right the three partners in Danders & More: Anders M. Hansen, Claus Abildstrøm and Dan Terkildsen.

DANDERS & MORE – property investment experts The time is ripe for investments in the Danish property market, but care and proper advice is still required and the law firm of DANDERS & MORE can guarantee this. DANDERS & MORE was set up in 2006 by very experienced, internationally oriented lawyers with a focus on corporate and financial transactions, litigation, and, of course, real estate; the firm attracts a great number of foreign clients. The Copenhagen-based firm has a very good reputation for helping both Danish and foreign investors understand and avoid the risks in the Danish property market. Tobias Vieth, head of the Real Estate team, explains: “We are advisers in a modern way as we guide our clients through the entire process, from finding the right properties, inspecting and assessing them, negotiating finance and sorting out paper work. We also help find the right property management, because without proper management a good property may become a loss-maker anyway.” An accessible market “The Danish real estate market is very interesting to foreign investors because it

is very accessible; documentation is available on-line and transactions well regulated. And despite the financial turmoil, the value of properties in the Danish market has proven relatively solid compared to other countries,” says Vieth. One unique advantage is the digital land registry which has just been introduced in Denmark. “With digital registration it will be possible to change on-line the ownership of a property and financial liability from day to day avoiding documents being sent back and forth,” stresses Vieth.

By Signe Hansen

stresses Vieth adding: “Clients today are not merely looking for lawyers but expect proactive trusted advisers and our international approach founded on strong local knowledge and in-depth experience of our market ensures that we deliver just that.” For further information visit: www.dandersmore.com

Avoiding the pitfalls But there are still pitfalls. One of them, says Vieth, is structured property portfolios, often proving to be a mixed bag. “Another is the Danish mandatory regulation on rent control. Here you really have to do your homework or the value of your newly acquired property may plummet.” Besides the traditional risk for investors of not being local enough to truly assess the right price for a given location, “we ensure that our clients don’t try to overbid someone who doesn’t know their math,”

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 45

Scan Business | Business Theme | Legal Challenges

Eversheds Södermark Advokatbyrå – Stockholm’s local lawyers with international legal expertise By Ian Welsh A new Stockholm law firm combines an established Swedish practice with a leading international legal network. When businesses choose where to turn for legal advice, their options frequently come down to two types of firm: the smaller established practice with local expertise, or an international law company with global experience, but with a less personal touch. While this is perhaps a difficult decision, the newly created Stockholm firm Eversheds Södermark Advokatbyrå, formed from the merger of Advokatfirman Södermark and Eversheds, provides an answer. “We want to offer our clients the best of both worlds,” says Jonas Bratt, a partner in the firm. And Eversheds Södermark Advokatbyrå does combine local knowledge with a comprehensive international presence. “Södermark is a solid old genuine law practice in the centre of Stockholm.

46 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Founded in 1925, it is one of the oldest firms in the city, if not Sweden,” Bratt says. The firm has a “solid reputation of providing advice to all sorts of business people.” And now, this is enhanced with “an international joined-up service from being part of one of the largest global law firms.” With a presence in Stockholm since 2003, Eversheds certainly has a wide network, with 49 offices in 29 countries. In total 4,500 people work for Eversheds, with 2,000 lawyers including 540 partners. Eversheds International’s stated aim is to extend its reach “to meet the needs of our clients” and to deliver a “high standard of integrated service across all jurisdictions.” A comprehensive and improved service Bratt stresses how the combined firm can provide a more comprehensive and improved service for its clients. “We are now a local, established, full service Swedish practice that can provide expert

advice to companies with international footprints. One point of contact can solve our clients’ problems wherever they are in the world,” he says. There are some big, solid benefits that Bratt emphasises. “Eversheds has invested significantly in a number of tools: IT, internet and intranet, comprehensive global insurance protection, and a management structure that has been carefully developed.” But it is not simple to deliver an effective joined-up service. “It is difficult and takes a lot of time,” Bratt says. Clearly this is something that would be more of a challenge for a small firm operating on its own – but more do-able as part of a major international group. Bratt highlights three areas where he argues the Eversheds Södermark approach differentiates the firm from others. “First, we are looking for long-term relationships with our clients. We

Scan Business | Business Theme | Legal Challenges

genuinely invest the time needed to get to understand a client’s requirements and their business,” he says. Bratt also highlights the firm’s innovation, particularly in terms of pricing. “We have a clear cost predictability, which is different from many other Swedish firms. We always discuss pricing with clients before any project is implemented.” “And third is quality of advice. Maybe everyone says this! But with all the management tools and service standards we have in place, we have a very good record of continually meeting the high targets we set with clients. Our projects are implemented on time and on budget,” Bratt says. Eversheds International’s structure is the same as global accountants and consultants KPMG, meaning many of the firms in the network are owned by the local partners. Flexibility is a major strength that enhances what clients are offered. “If we have a particular project that requires specific experience we can draw on the expertise of people from across the international firm,” Bratt says. There are a number of ways that Eversheds Södermark Advokatbyrå in Stockholm exploits the benefits of these combined resources. “We can second lawyers from one office to another. Typically these will be young lawyers who then gain a comprehensive understanding of working internationally, and with lawyers and clients in a new country.” The personal touch Bratt argues that, in an international law practice such as Eversheds, this policy of secondment has benefits beyond broadening the experience of individual lawyers. He says: “They get to know the people in the other Eversheds offices. Being able to provide the right advice to clients – especially if they have a problem overseas – can be a matter of personal contacts. It is very helpful if our people from the various Eversheds offices get to know each other. Then they can point

clients in the right direction and make sure they get the best advice.”

law firms acting for them. Now Eversheds provides Tyco with all its advice,” Bratt says.

Bratt illustrates this with a piece of work he had completed immediately before speaking to Scan Magazine. “Just this morning, I had a client with a problem obtaining a payment from South Africa. I spoke to one of my colleagues in our Johannesburg office and we were able to solve the problem straightaway,” he says. Another benefit that Eversheds can provide is as a one-stop shop for all legal services. One client taking advantage of this is US-based international conglomerate Tyco. “In Europe alone they had 250

For further information visit: www.eversheds.se

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 47

Scan Business | Business Theme | Legal Challenges

Anglo Corporate Services – protecting assets Besides, after the recent G20 resolutions, Anglo majors its tax efficient offshore focus on jurisdictions like the Seychelles, Hong Kong, Panama and Liechtenstein. All ideal localities for holding companies controlling UKbased operating companies.

With Danish-speaking staff and extensive UK contacts, Anglo Corporate Services offers a unique specialized assistance for Scandinavians setting up businesses in the UK. The firm establishes limited liability companies and partnerships with or without nominee directors and shareholders, thereby providing anonymity for the owners. Founded by Danish Kaj Worsøe Jensen, who realized how daunting a task young entrepreneurs face, Anglo Corporate Services also helps new companies get the mandatory Registered Office address and trading address. VAT registrations, accounting and auditing services are among other services as well as product return facilities and all communication with public and revenue authorities.

Why should people choose Anglo for support and advice in the UK? At Anglo Corporate Services we have Danish-speaking staff with access to the most eminent chartered tax advisors and lawyers in the UK and all the Nordic countries. The firm’s unique knowhow and experience of offshore tax mitigating company structures, international trusts and offshore banking facilities are all services in fast growing demand.

What kind of clients come to you for advice? Our clients comprise Scandinavians from all over Europe. Some are well-established businesses wanting a presence in the UK. Others wish to start trading in the UK or need a holding company. Most of our clients, though, could be described as entrepreneurs beaming with ideas, enthusiasm and ambition. They are just wonderful people to work with. www.anglocorporateservices.com

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www.liquid-graphic.com

Scan Business | Business Profile | A&G Accountants

Peter Grau. Photo: Yiannis Katsaris

A&G Accountants – friendly and affordable Danish efficiency Looking for reliable assistance to help you get successfully through the hassle of the financial and tax aspects of your business or private affairs? Alexander and Grau Certified Public Accountants offer high quality business, specialised and personal services and may therefore be the perfect solution, whether you are setting up a business, need advice on your investments or assistance with you self-assessment. The practice was set up in 2004 by Danish/Spanish Peter Grau, who has more than 40 years experience in accountancy, 15 of these in the UK; he knows his profession inside out. Together with two self-employed colleagues, Grau and his son Alexander offer an affordable service for Limited Companies, small or medium-sized businesses, sole traders and individuals. Scandinavian expertise Located in Maldon, Essex, A&G mainly

assist UK businesses in Southeast England, including greater London; but they also cover a substantial share of Danish and Spanish enterprises which they have the competencies to service in their own languages. “We offer an excellent professional and personal service and we take great pride in what we do. Also, being part Danish gives us that little bit of extra expertise when working with our Scandinavian clients,” says Grau. Online assistance In addition to A&G’s regular services, the practice provides a 24-hour online service. The service includes hundreds of pages of up-to-date information and advice like Company House documents, credit reports to help clients, or non-clients, develop their business or sort out personal finances, and tax planning.

By Sara Schedin

If you are interested in A&G’s services visit: www.agcpa.co.uk or call: +44 (0)1621 855 820 Services offered by A&G accountants include: Business Services Bookkeeping & Accounting Business Planning Business Start-up Company Secretarial International Services Payroll VAT Tax Returns Specialist Building Profits Investment & Financial Retail Business Support & Development Personal Services Personal Tax Planning Retirement Strategies Self Assessment

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 49

Scan Business | Column | What is Good posture?

chest forward” approach has been used for many years. “No slouching!” has been said by parents to their kids from way back. But is a straight back necessarily good, and is slouching really bad? Recent research from the Radiological Society of North America recommends that the position in which to sit at your desk is leaning back, at about 135 degrees. It is said that this will reduce tension in spinal joints and disc spaces will be less reduced over time. Well, this is all good, but to transfer it to real life in a real office setting will be difficult, and other complaints may arise from stretching over to reach the phone and computer on the desk. A good thought, though. People do not want to change their ways drastically; some should, but it is not realistic. So how can we achieve good posture and reduce posture-related injuries, without changing the world? Core musculature! Let’s stop the focus on sitting position, and turn it to functioning musculature. Back pain and other related complaints are not necessarily a product of poor posture, but these injuries, and the poor posture, are a result of spinal dysfunction and weak core musculature. Why can some people have “bad” posture but never have back pain all their life, while others always sit up straight, but still have recurrent complaints? It all boils down to lack of spinal mobility, joint dysfunction and weak core musculature.

What is Good Posture? To do business it is necessary not only to have a sharp mind but also a fit body which does not disturb your line of thought with aches and pains. This is why the right posture is actually essential to your business. Dr Marius A. Jensen DC MChiro CCEP, chiropractor and founder of Notting Hill Chiropractic, gives us some good tips on to how to get it right. Posture is what we all have been thinking about for many years, but have never gotten into the groove of doing something

50 | Issue 15 | February 2010

about it. Why is it so hard to keep up a good posture? Or should we ask: What is good posture? The “straight back and

If these three aspects of a healthy posture are achieved the actual postural position would be less important. 1 Restore joint function, through manipulative care 2 Improve joint mobility, through manipulation and home exercises 3 Strengthen core musculature, through exercises like pilates, yoga, martial arts etc. Good Health!

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Issue 15 | February 2010 | 51

Scan Business | News | Chambers of Commerce

Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce to over 1,600 people. This growth reflects the work the Chamber has done to attract participants from different organizations and backgrounds, and we are optimistic that this expansion will continue in 2010.

• Young Professional Parties. • AGM & Annual Dinner on 14 May 2010 • Leeds and Manchester Breakfast Business Briefings UPCOMING EVENTS

We hope that 2010 is prosperous for the Chamber and all its members and we hope to see you at our upcoming events. The DUCC is now renewing memberships for 2010, and is also excited to be recruiting new members. Last year was a challenging year for many, and despite facing its own difficulties the Chamber accomplished many important milestones throughout the year. The Chamber held more events in 2009 than in any previous year, as well as the attendance level at these events increasing

Some of the things currently planned for the year include: • Advisory Board Forum with Nils Bernstein, Director of National Bank of Denmark • Women’s Forum including - A postCOP15 evaluation and the impact it may have on companies; hosted by James Cameron, Vice Chairman and Executive Director of Climate Change Capital • Business Angel Forum with IT and Clean tech

22 February Women’s Forum: A postCOP15 evaluation and the implications for companies. Venue: Climate Change Capital Ltd., 3 More London Riverside, London, SE1 2AQ 25 February Business Angel Event Clean Tech. Venue: The Royal Danish Embassy, 55 Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9SR 25 February Nordic Thursday Drinks Venue: HYATT Regency London Sign up now for any of the above at www.ducc.co.uk

Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce | Phone: +44 (0) 20 7259 6795 | Email: info@ducc.co.uk | www.ducc.co.uk

Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce NBCC’s Aberdeen Chapter is active in promoting Norwegian-British trade in the Aberdeen area. Through Wednesday drinks and other events in Aberdeen, NBCC underlines the importance of the region and the close link that exists between Norway and Scotland. The next one will be on 10 February.

2010 is well under way – a year in which we hope that NBCC will represent stability, growth and opportunities. Let NBCC be a tool for you to use to create new business and to build and maintain a strong network. Target the Norwegian-British business community via various promotion opportunities, e.g. the annual Trade Directory that is being prepared now.

We started the year with two company presentations. The first was a presentation of SuperOffice Software Ltd, our new sponsor member. The second was a celebratory event to present Statkraft in the UK and the realisation of their first wind farm in the UK and other projects across the country.

The monthly Nordic Thursday Drinks continue to be a popular meeting place for people in the Norwegian, Danish and Finnish business communities to network in an informal atmosphere. Join us at the Churchill Bar, The Hyatt on 25 February. UPCOMING EVENTS 10 February Aberdeen Wednesday Drinks 25 February Nordic Thursday Drinks

Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce | Phone: +44 (0) 20 7930 0181 | Email: info@nbccuk.com | www.nbccuk.com

52 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Scan Business | Business Directory

You may not realise but you are already in demand We regularly recruit for people with Scandinavian language skills to work in South London. You will have the opportunity to join a friendly, multilingual team who deal with a wide range of telephone and email based queries from European customers. Vacancies can be short term or permanent. You will need some experience of dealing with customers, clear communication skills and solid grasp of English. As this may be your first job in the UK we can also help you with obtaining your NI number and opening a bank account.

To apply please send your CV to temp@riserecruitment.com or call 01727 855833 Quote: Scanmag.

friendly, affordable, reliable service... Long established accountancy practice, servicing a wide range of UK, Spanish and Danish businesses and companies in a very personal and efficient manner. Contact us and let us see how we can best help your company comply with your accountancy and taxation requirements. We speak your language!

Online Marketing Coordinator VisitDenmark in London is looking for an experienced and dedicated Online Marketing Coordinator for the Leisure & Press Department. Job Description â&#x20AC;&#x201C; main tasks: Implementing the strategy for online communication in Leisure and Press - Implementing and coordinating all online marketing campaigns - Briefing external online companies - Developing the UK/IE site and content management - Responsibility for CRM Experience with Social Media, SEO and SE AdCompaigns - Reporting

Profile and qualifications desired: Relevant higher education - MUST understand Danish, written and spoken - Fluent English, written and spoken - Experience with online campaign coordination - Experience with web design, CRM, Social Media, SEO and SE AdCompaigns - Interest in Press and PR and possess strong writing skills

We offer: An exciting job in a dynamic and international company with excellent opportunities to influence your own job and the communication of the organisation.

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Salary according to qualifications and experience as well as a pension and health scheme. Applying â&#x20AC;&#x201C; please email or post your CV including a covering letter in English to: leisure.assistant@visitdenmark.com. VisitDenmark, 55 Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9SY Reference: Online Marketing Coordinator UK/IE Deadline: 22 February 2010. Start date: As soon as possible.

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 53

Scan Business | News | Chambers of Commerce

Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK is one of the largest and most active foreign Chambers in the UK, with around 400 Member companies and hosting up to 60 events per year. For information on membership in 2010, please contact us or visit our website.

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK kicks off 2010 with a high profile seminar on “Women in Business and Politics” at Regent’s College on 2 February. The seminar will include Cherie Blair, QC, Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, Labour MP, Ingrid Bonde, President AMF and voted “Sweden’s most powerful woman”, to name but a few. The seminar aims to provide an exchange of experiences between Sweden and the United Kingdom and between politicians and businesspeople. The season continues with a “Welcome to the UK” event in Stockholm; a fashion event with H&M; a luncheon with the Chairman of Volvo Group Finn Johnsson; a rugby event – and the first ever Swedish pre-election debate abroad, in London on 14 April. And much more. Keep updated on www.scc.org.uk.

UPCOMING EVENTS 2 February

Women in Business and Politics 4 February JCC Sushi Master Class 8 February Welcome to the UK (in Stockholm) 11 February Previewing the Summer ’10 Collection at H&M 19 February JCC After Work at Valmont

Cherie Blair

Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK | Phone: +44 (0) 20 7224 8001 | Email: info@scc.org.uk | www.scc.org.uk

Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce global economy and financial markets performing in the year 2010 as well as what the future holds for Thomson Reuters. We'll have networking drinks afterwards, an excellent opportunity to meet new and existing business partners!

The New Year has started and we have some excellent events coming up. One of the most exciting is to have Tom Glocer, CEO of Thomson Reuters, bringing us his regards from NY at our event on the 24th of March. We'll have the rare opportunity to hear his views on how he sees the

We have a Digital Media event organised for May, where we will present leading Finnish and UK companies from TV, Media and the Gaming industry. Everybody agrees that the future will be digital and if you want to know how it will be done, this is the event to attend! We’ll update you during the spring on the speakers and the agenda in general.

We would like to say a big thank you to our two trainees, Suvi and Kristian. They have been with us for the past five months and have done exceptional work. We wish them all the best in the future. Our new trainee, Tara Maenpaa, started with us in January. Make sure to look up our website www.fbcc.co.uk to keep up to date on all our events. UPCOMING EVENTS 25 February Nordic Networking Drinks at Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill 4 March

A company visit

Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce | Phone: +44 (0) 20 8741 6352 | Email: fbccevents@fbcc.co.uk | www.fbcc.co.uk

54 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Scan Business | Business Directory

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Issue 15 | February 2010 | 55

Scan Magazine | Scan News

SCAN NEWS

Edited by Emelie Krugly

If you have a news story for Scan Magazine you can contact our news desk at scannews@scanmagazine.co.uk

The Swedish Model: a financial rescue plan Sweden’s Finance Minister, Mr Anders Borg gave a speech on fiscal consolidation at the London School of Economics on January 14. The respondent was MP and Shadow Chancellor George Osborne. In the 1990s the Swedish Government successfully manoeuvred Sweden out of the deepest economic crisis the country had experienced since the 1930s. The economic downturn stemmed from a 1985 deregulation of credit markets, setting the stage for overexpansion and bubbles in the real estate and finance markets. Lessons to be learned Today the UK, faced with a record deficit and an accelerating debt, will also have

Swedish educational reforms in the UK Kunskapsskolan, which runs 32 schools in Sweden, has recently been accepted by Richmond Council as sponsor of two existing schools: Hampton Community College and Whitton School. It will be the first time the company has been formally approved to operate schools in England. The two schools will become Academies, government-funded schools which are run independently and do not have to follow the national curriculum or national agreements on the pay and conditions of teachers. Personalised learning To manage the two academies, a charitable trust, The Learning Schools Trust, will be set up by Kunskapsskolan with the council as a co-sponsor sitting on its board. One of Kunskapsskolan’s distinguishing features is the emphasis its

56 | Issue 15 | February 2010

the Swedish success depended. “The key lessons from Sweden’s fiscal restructuring of the early 1990s include the need to use both tax increases and expenditure cuts; the importance of raising the right taxes and cutting the right expenditures; the significance of realistic yet ambitious forecasts; and the necessity of front loading consolidation.” Minimising the burden Anders Borg

to embark on a process of massive fiscal consolidation to bring public finances towards sustainability. In his speech the Finance Minister explained what lessons can be learned from the Swedish experience of fiscal consolidation and presented some of the factors upon which

schools place on personalised learning. Cecilia Carnefeldt, Director of Kunskapsskolan International, explains: “Kunskapsskolan’s vision is to operate outstanding schools in which each student, through personalised learning and clear goals, stretches their boundaries and achieves more than they thought possible. We have successfully operated schools in Sweden and are now looking to expand the concept of Kunskapsskolan internationally.” Kunskapsskolan has plans to open more schools in England.

A broad political agreement across the party spectrum was made and a new economic policy with fresh goals for inflation and the budget were developed after the crisis. By taking a stake in its enfeebled banks, Sweden was able to minimize the taxpayers’ burden in the long run and succeeded in getting its economy back on course.

the existing sites, but with new names. For more information visit www.kunskapsskolan.se

Championing the “Swedish model” The English Government sees the independent academies as a vehicle for driving up standards. The Conservatives are also keen on the “Swedish model” and believe that the key to improving standards is to free schools from the control of government and to allow parents and other groups to set up schools. The Academies are due to open in September on

Cecilia Carnefeldt

Scan Magazine | Scan News

Post-COP15 talks at the Danish Embassy The European Movement in London will hold an event on the Post-Copenhagen Climate Change Negotiations on February 11. The event will be hosted and sponsored by the Danish Embassy in London. “The COP15 Copenhagen Summit was a very important step towards a comprehensive and legally binding agreement. But there is plenty of hard work ahead of us and the coming months will be crucial if we are to achieve our ambitious goals,” says HE Birger Riis-Jørgensen, Ambassador of Denmark. One step further The event will feature speeches from experts and stakeholders focusing on the post-Copenhagen landscape and the international effort to combat the effects of

climate change. The Copenhagen summit did not produce a binding agreement and ever since all the parties involved have focused their energy on taking the agreed Accord a step further. The Ambassador will take guests through progress achieved since December and the things that need to be done to agree a legally binding document.

i Nu ävenika! r e Nordam

For more information see: www.euromove.org.uk

EU’s role Emphasis will also be on the EU’s role in the negotiations and climate change policies in general. Petros Fassoulas, Chairman of the European Movement in London argues that “the EU is the only international organisation which has agreed legally binding and mutually enforceable limits in CO2 emissions. It is also the only major developed economy that has put substantial financing instruments on the table to help developing countries control their emissions and mitigate the effects of climate

Norwegian company strikes a blow for Yorkshire The Forewind consortium, comprising Norwegian companies Statoil and Statkraft along with SSE and RWE npower, has won the bid for the license to the largest zone of the UK offshore wind farms at Dogger Bank. The zone is located between 125 and 195 kilometres off the east coast of Yorkshire and extends over approximately 8,660 km2.

change.” The event will discuss ways in which the EU can provide the leadership necessary to take the post-Copenhagen negotiations towards a legally binding result that will ensure that temperatures will not rise above the 2C limit set by scientists.

“Dogger Bank is a challenging zone where our competence in offshore oil and gas business will be of significant value,”

Emil Petros

says Margareth Øvrum, executive vice-president of Technology & New Energy in Statoil. The consortium hopes to secure all the necessary consents for the construction and development of Dogger Bank, up to the point of investment decisions, which are anticipated in 2014. A target installation capacity of 9GW has been agreed, though the zone has a potential for approximately 13GW, which equates to around 10 per cent of total UK electricity requirements.

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Fråga efter SVT World på ditt hotell – du får en naturbok! Notera hotellets namn och e-postadress samt om SVT World finns i alla rum, bara i lobbyn eller inte alls. Skicka uppgifterna till oss eller fyll i blanketten på vår hemsida: svt.se/svtworld svt.se/svtworld

För abonnemang kontakta SVT World:s kundtjänst: ConNova TVX, +46 (0)141 - 20 39 10, svtworld@connova.se, www.connova.se Issue 15 | February 2010 | 57

Scan Magazine | Culture | From Gossip Girl to Greta Garbo

From Gossip Girl to Greta Garbo Scan Magazine meets Caroline Lagerfelt, the Anglo-Swedish Gossip Girl actress, who is currently starring as Greta Garbo in the Tricycle Theatre’s staging of Frank McGuiness’s, Greta Garbo Came to Donegal.

By Christina Sanderson Photo: Tristram Kenton

she enthuses that she is thrilled to be appearing on the London stage, playing Swedish screen legend Greta Garbo in Irish playwright Frank McGuiness’s Greta Garbo Came to Donegal. The play, directed by Nicolas Kent, had its world premiere at the Tricycle Theatre to rave reviews. In case you are wondering, yes, Greta Garbo really did visit the Irish wilderness of Donegal in order to visit Derek Hill, an English painter who lived there. Taking Garbo’s visit as his inspirational thread, McGuiness weaves a fictional tale set in a Catholic home in 1960s Ireland. The arrival of Hollywood icon Garbo transforms life in the hills of Donegal. Getting under the skin of Garbo I asked Lagerfelt whether being Swedish helped her to get under the skin of the elusive and famously reclusive Garbo. “Oh yes, I am familiar both with the melancholic side of Sweden and of the Swedes’ closeness to nature; I think this definitely helped me empathize with the figure of Garbo.”

Caroline Lagerfelt has had a highly distinguished acting career, predominantly in the United States, appearing both on and off Broadway. She also has significant television credits to her name and is currently playing the role of Ce Ce Rhodes in the hit television show Gossip

58 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Girl which has achieved huge international success. The Swedish actor in the Irish wilderness Theatre however, is Lagerfelt’s great love and when I meet her for lunch in Soho,

Lagerfelt’s father was a Swedish diplomat and she travelled extensively as a child. Having lived in Paris, London, New York and Los Angeles, Lagerfelt knows exactly what it feels like to be a Swede living abroad. As regards Garbo herself, Lagerfelt said that apart from seeing her most famous films, she did not, until recently, know a great deal about the actress. When she heard about this role, she immersed herself in Garbo biographies and, following four intensive weeks of rehearsal, Lagerfelt now gives us a truly virtuoso performance as the glacial Swedish siren.

Greta Garbo Came to Donegal runs at the Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn until 20 February.

Scan Magazine | Music

Thomas Dybdahl’s smooth, warm and comforting music comes to the UK By Emelie Krugly Like a smooth cognac swirling around an old tin cup, Thomas Dybdahl’s music is warm, comforting yet eerie and melancholic. Dybdahl, Norway’s shooting star, meets me in a run down dressing room at the Empire in Shepherd’s Bush, West London. “The life of a rock star, eh?” he grins, gesturing at the shabby interior. Now 30 years old, Dybdahl grew up in Sandnes, south of Stavanger and was “just another guitar playing teenage boy working in a local video rental shop.”

answer was a prompt “No. Alaska or Thailand is far more tempting or maybe the USA.” Dybdahl has been compared to Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley and other important solo artists. He received Norway’s Spellemannprisen and Alarm Awards for his outstanding and unique work. For more info: www.thomasdybdahl.com

His first album entitled That Great October Sound quickly received international acclaim. When I asked Dybdahl if he could imagine becoming a Londoner the

Scandinavian Music Two massive Scandinavian acts are hoping to capture the attention of the Brits this February. Swedish Erik Hassle finally releases Hurtful, while Danish Alphabeat release their sophomore album in the UK After a couple of minor delays, Hassle’s Hurtful is out. BBC Radio 1 are getting well behind it and it looks like it is going to be quite huge! Meanwhile Alphabeat release The Spell; the album has already been released in their native Denmark where it’s recemented their status as the nation’s favourite group! It’s being promoted

over here by the single, Hole In My Heart, a nineties dance inspired indie track. The whole album sounds like it has its roots stuck firmly in the nineties, following on from their eighties saluting debut album. The newest popstar Whilst the UK’s newest popstar is X Factor graduate, Joe McElderry, in Sweden, their version of the Pop Idol tv series has just spawned Erik Grönwall. He’s a charming young man, no doubt helped to victory by his cross-demographic appeal. On the one hand he’s a blonde haired, blue eyed, slight and pretty nineteen year old, so he got the young girl vote. But when he opens his mouth to sing, he sounds like an eighties metal rocker after a night on the Jack Daniels and snus! His single and album both spent

By Karl Batterbee

the month after Christmas at number one in Sweden. Back to Base! Finally, you may have thought that they split up ages ago, but they’ve actually been soldiering on, touring around Europe for the last couple of years. Now however, Ace of Base have split. Sole remaining lady Jenny walked out on the band last month, and the boys will now be recruiting two new girls to join a reimagined and renamed group, that’ll begin touring and releasing new music before the end of the year.

www.scandipop.co.uk scandipop@googlemail.com

Issue 15 | February 2010 | 59

Scan Magazine | Culture Calendar

Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! February Full Circle by Knut Henrik Henriksen Norweigan artist Knut Henrik Henriksen's Full Circle is the first permanent artwork to be installed in the underground since the 1980s. The sculpture, which was chosen for its 'simplicity and elegance', was made especially for the King’s Cross St. Pancras Underground station. It is situated at the end of the new concourse for the Northern Line.

in Norway and abroad. Admission Free. King’s Place Gallery, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG. Los Bastardos Finlandeses (8 – 11 February)

Mood Paintings of the North (Until 26 February) The works of the famous Norwegian landscape painter Ørnulf Opdahl are exhibited at King’s Place Gallery in London. The central elements in Opdahl's paintings are the deep contrasts and the special light of the Norwegian landscape. His paintings are exhibited in various galleries

When entering ABBAWORLD everyone has their photograph taken and this later appears in a number of interactive features. Fans also get the chance to get up on stage with ABBA as part of a 3D holographic illusion and all interaction is recorded as part of the ticket allowing visitors to access it later online. “On behalf of Agnetha, Björn, Benny and I, we are delighted to be part of ABBAWORLD and to have the opportunity to share our amazing experiences with our fans,” said Frida Lyngstad. The exhibition opened on 27 January and runs until 28 March. Tickets are priced at £22.00 / £19.50 (subject to booking fee.) Box Office: 0870 9039033 Online: www.seetickets.com / www.livenation.co.uk

60 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Photo: Anders Thessing

Last month saw the world premiere of ABBAWORLD at the Earls Court’s Museum Hall in London. This interactive experience takes the visitors through 25 rooms filled with music, footage and memorabilia from the band’s personal collections.

This Finnish hard rock band will tour the UK in February. For more information about their upcoming shows in London, Oxford, Liverpool and Birmingham visit www.myspace.com/losbastardosfinlandeses

Los Bastardos Finlandeses

Photo: Torbjorn Calvero

ABBAWORLD has premiered

By Sara Schedin

Lisa Ekdahl gives winter performance in London! Swedish singer and composer Lisa Ekdahl will be playing at the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre in London on February 24. Ekdahl’s 2009 album Give Me That Slow Knowing Smile is featured by, among others, Ane Brun, Teitur and Keren Ann, and it is up for consideration by the Grammy Award jury for Best Jazz 2009. “We worked very hard with the sound. The goal was to make an album with a unique sound. Since I recorded in my home studio, we always had time to try new ways to record. Usually I make an album in two weeks, this one has taken two years,” said Ekdahl. Ekdahl’s self-titled debut album sold quadruple platinum in Sweden in 1994 and made her famous over night. She has since recorded a number of albums in both Swedish and English. Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road London, SE1 8XX. Tickets are £18.50. www.seetickets.com

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Scan Magazine | Culture Calendar

Street London N1 0PS United Kingdom. Tickets: www.o2academyislington.co.uk.

Solmu-Cell

Solmu-Cell – a Dance/Soundart Performance (9 February) The Finnish dancers/choreographers Karolina Ginman & Marja Koponen have developed a physical and expressive language that is original and stands on its own as it has emerged from the imaginary landscape they created. Composer Paivarinne has dived into this world and painted a landscape where city, traffic and noise can turn into ice, glass and water around the performers and their audience. Tel: 020 7121 1100. The Place, Howard Dance Theatre, Duke’s Road, London WC1H 9PY. www.theplace.org.uk Backyard Babies (9 February) The Swedish Rock’n’Roll band Backyard Babies will be playing at the 02 Academy Islington this month. Time: 7pm. Price: £15. 02 Academy Islington,16 Parkfield

Meta4 (15 February) An evening of music with the Finnish string quartet Meta4. They pair Schubert's emotionally scarred final quartet with the scintillating fifth quartet of Bartók. Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP. Tel 020 7935 2141 www.wigmore-hall.org.uk Nordic Spring: Scandinavian Song (24 February) An evening of music with Danish soprano Signe Asmussen and pianist Benjamin Frith. Nordic Spring is a festival of music which brings Nordic talents to Sheffield. Asmussen has worked with many international conductors and pianists. Last year she was awarded the prestigious Aksel Schiøtz Prize. Time: 7.30pm. Price: £8. Firth Hall, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN. Tel 0114 222 8777 Exhibition by Eija-Liisa Ahtila (25 February – 29 April) The renowned Finnish film and video artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila will have a solo exhibition at Parasol Unit consisting of three video

installations together with a series of still photographs.There will also be a one-off screening of Ahtila's film Where is Where? at the Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square, on 14 April at 7pm, which will be followed by a discussion between Eija-Liisa Ahtila and a leading film critic and academic. The exhibition is admission free. Parasol Unit, 14 Wharf Road, London, N1 7RW. www.parasol-unit.org Arctic Circle - The Resonance of Music with Water (27 February) Icelandic cellist and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir will be performing together with the Irish singer Iarla O Lionaird at King’s Place this month. Time: 7pm. Price: £15.50 £19.50 £24.50 Saver Seat £9.50. King’s Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG. www.kingsplace.co.uk Yleisessä Saunassa (In a Public Sauna) – Songs by Junno Vainio (27 February) Juha Tapio, Jonna K and Otto Kanerva sings the songs of the legendary Finnish songwriter Juha “Junnu” Vainio. Vainio wrote more than 2,400 songs which most Finns know by heart. Tel 020 7387 3508. Archway Tavern, 1 Archway Close, London N19 3TD Mika with Erik Hassle (February/ March) Multi-award winning singer/songwriter Mika and the new Swedish pop phenomenon Erik Hassle will be touring together in the UK in February and March. For more information about the upcoming shows in London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Glasgow and Newcastle. Visit www.myspace.com/erikhassle

Screenshot from the film Where is Where? by Eija-Liisa Ahtila

62 | Issue 15 | February 2010

Exhibition by Mathilde Jensen (until April) Mathilde Jensen, a Danish Master Student from Byam Shaw School of Art, Central Saint Martin's, won the Danish Embassy's competition Frame Your Talent Autumn 2009. Mathilde's paintings show a great talent and personal creativity with a sincere passion for the arts. Her artwork is currently displayed at the Danish Embassy, 55 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9SR. Viewing by appointment only. Tel 0207 333 0200. www.mathildejensen.dk

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