The two most prominent ones are:

• Swedish Talent Attraction Forum (STAF) is a professional network created for public sector employees working with talent attraction, reception, and integration across Sweden.
• European Talent Mobility Forum (ETMF) Is a professional network amongst leading practitioners across Europe dedicated to go above and beyond in supporting companies and talents within international mobility.  Read more here.

About Swedish Talent Attraction Forum (STAF)

The Swedish Talent Attraction Forum (STAF) is Sweden’s largest cross-functional network for professionals working with talent attraction and retention at local and regional level.

Launched in 2023, STAF brings together around 70 members from more than 30 organisations across the country — from the north to the south. Participants represent regional authorities, municipalities, academia, welcome hubs, business parks and other public actors shaping Sweden’s talent agenda.

STAF is a platform for collaboration, shared learning and collective influence. Through regular digital meetings and biannual in-person gatherings, members exchange best practices, workshop common challenges and strengthen their strategic and operational capacity.

A key focus of the network is creating a stronger, shared voice in national dialogue — ensuring that the perspectives of those working hands-on with talent attraction and retention inform national initiatives such as Work in Sweden. Another central theme is employer ability: strengthening employers’ capacity to recruit, onboard and integrate international talent successfully.

What makes STAF unique is that the agenda is set by its members. The network evolves around the real needs, challenges and opportunities identified by practitioners themselves.

By pooling knowledge, aligning efforts and building long-term relationships, STAF contributes to a stronger, more coordinated Swedish approach to attracting and retaining global talent.

List of current members: Move to Gothenburg, International House Gothenburg, Region Stockholm,  Business Region Stockholm, Region Halland, Media Evolution, Boråsregionen, Livet i Skaraborg, Skövde kommun, Business region Örebro, Region Örebro län, Jönköpings kommun, Karlstad kommun, Luleå kommun, Boden kommun, Boden Business park, Sundsvallsregionen, Talangattraktion Höga Kusten, Mittuniversitetet, Ånge kommun, Timrå kommun, Kramfors kommun, Region Jämtland Härjedalen, Östersunds kommun, Hälsingerådet, Gateway Umeå, Umeå kommun, Region Västerbotten, Skellefteå kommun, Norsjö kommun and Sorsele kommun.  

Are you interested in learning more about STAF, please contact Camilla Westman at cw@futureplaceleadership.com or Jessica Skantze at js@futureplaceleadership.com.

European Talent Mobility Forum (ETMF)

The European Talent Mobility Forum is a unique alliance of leading European regions and organisations dedicated to re-imagining how talent moves, settles and thrives across Europe. Coordinated by Future Place Leadership, it brings together practitioners and thought leaders in regional talent attraction and retention to inspire collaboration beyond borders.

Rather than competing for skills, the Forum champions cross-regional talent mobility — advancing shared solutions that make Europe more welcoming, dynamic and connected for international talent. Members meet regularly to exchange best practices, co-create new approaches and support local, regional and national initiatives that strengthen talent mobility and inclusion across Europe.

The network includes a select group of frontrunner organisations from regions such as Berlin, Bizkaia, Eindhoven, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Lund, Turku, Oslo, Scotland, Estonia and Emilia-Romagna. Together, they share insights, data and real-world experience to push talent attraction and retention strategies forward across diverse contexts.

At its core, the European Mobility Forum is about collaboration over competition — inspiring each other with best practices, learning from data and co-creating the future of talent mobility in Europe.

Are you interested in learning more about ETMF, please contact Nicole Van Haelst at nvh@futureplaceleadership.com.

The post Networks first appeared on Future Place Leadership.

Regions and cities across Europe are navigating profound structural shifts. Global competition, digitalisation, demographic change and the green transition are reshaping local economies and redefining long-term competitiveness. At the same time, expectations on inclusive growth, innovation capacity and territorial cohesion are increasing. For public actors, this creates a clear need for structured, forward-looking and collaborative approaches to economic and regional development. Regional and economic development today is not only about growth — it is about resilience, transformation and the ability to mobilise local strengths in a rapidly changing global context.

At Future Place Leadership, we support cities, regions and national actors in designing and managing modern economic development systems that combine strategy, implementation and learning.

Our Approach

Our approach is data-driven, cross-sector and implementation-oriented. We combine research, benchmarking and territorial analysis with strategic advisory and hands-on process support.

We work primarily across the interconnected fields of business development and innovation, rural development, education and skills, culture and creative industries, and digitalisation. By analysing regional strengths, innovation ecosystems and structural challenges, we help define clear priorities and realistic pathways forward.

Central to our methodology is stakeholder alignment — ensuring that public agencies, academia, business actors and civil society work within shared frameworks and action plans. We move from fragmented initiatives to coordinated systems for long-term regional transformation.

What We Offer

We deliver Regional & Economic Development services across four core areas:

• Research, insights and benchmarks
  We provide up-to-date data, trend analysis and comparative benchmarks to support evidence-based decision-making and policy development.

• Strategy and action planning
  We support the design of regional development strategies, action plans and governance models — including new processes, partnerships and ways of working.

• Operational design and implementation support
  We assist in planning and executing programmes and initiatives that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, skills development and regional competitiveness.

• Capacity building and peer learning
  We train economic and regional development teams and connect you with domestic and international peers through co-creation and experience-sharing labs — strengthening learning and long-term capability.

You can find examples of our previous projects below, and we invite you to get in touch if there is anything we can help you with!

The post Regional & Economic Development first appeared on Future Place Leadership.

Cities and regions today compete not only for investments and talent, but for people’s trust, attachment and long-term commitment. As expectations on quality of life, sustainability and identity increase, places must actively shape environments where people want to live, work, play and stay. Urbanisation, digitalisation, climate transition and demographic change are reshaping how places function and how they are perceived. In this context, place development becomes a strategic necessity. It is about strengthening attractiveness, resilience and cohesion — by aligning physical development, identity, governance and long-term vision.

At Future Place Leadership, we support cities, rural locations and regions in building structured, data-informed and collaborative approaches to place development.

Our Approach

Our approach to place development combines perception data, stakeholder engagement and strategic planning. A central component is our Talent City Index, which provides insights into how a place is perceived by both residents, potential residents and businesses — including which qualities they value most, and which weaknesses influence their willingness to stay and establish or recommend the place.

By analysing perception gaps, strengths and development areas, we help you prioritise what truly matters for attractiveness and long-term competitiveness. This allows place development to be grounded not only in planning ambitions, but in evidence-based understanding of reputation, identity and lived experience.

We integrate urban planning, placemaking, place branding, change leadership and data analysis into one coherent framework — ensuring that physical development, positioning and stakeholder collaboration reinforce each other.

What We Offer

We deliver place development services across four core areas:

• Analysis and strategic direction
  We provide place analysis, perception studies and strategic advisory to help define your long-term vision and development priorities. 
• Data and perception insights
  Through our Talent City Index and related research tools, we deliver structured insights into how your place is experienced and positioned — locally and internationally. 
• Process management, change leadership and stakeholder coordination
  We design and facilitate cross-sector collaboration processes, ensuring clear roles, shared ownership and effective governance structures. 
• Positioning and attractiveness development
  We support the alignment of physical development, place branding and communication — strengthening both internal cohesion and external appeal.

You can find examples of our previous projects below, and we invite you to get in touch if there is anything we can help you with!

The post Place Development first appeared on Future Place Leadership.

Global competition for investments has intensified dramatically over the past decade. New locations have entered the arena, while the investment landscape itself has become more complex, capital-intensive and sustainability-driven. Advanced green and circular solutions, large-scale industrial transitions, data centres, logistics hubs, increased defense spending and battery factories are redefining what investment projects look like — and what places must be able to offer. For cities, regions and countries, this creates a clear sense of urgency. Investment promotion today requires sharper positioning, stronger partnerships, data-driven decision-making and professionalised processes at both local and regional level.

At Future Place Leadership, we support places in building structured, modern and competitive Investment Promotion Management systems that match this new reality.

Our Approach

Our work is guided by the Business Attraction Management (BAM) model — a structured framework for professionalising investment promotion at local, regional and national level.

The BAM model provides a holistic approach that aligns strategy, value proposition, target markets, stakeholder coordination, marketing, lead management and follow-up. It helps investment promotion teams move from reactive case handling to proactive, data-driven and partnership-based business attraction.

By combining research, strategic advisory and hands-on implementation support, we help you strengthen your long-term investment competitiveness.

What We Offer

We deliver Investment Promotion Management services across four core areas:

• Research, insights and benchmarks
  We provide up-to-date data and analysis on global investment trends, sector developments and competitive positioning. Our feasibility studies, benchmark analyses, target group analyses and stronghold analysis help you identify priority sectors and realistic target markets. We specialize in producing sector strength analyses using the internationally recognized methodology “Smart Sector Targeting.” 
• Strategy and value proposition development
  We support you in analysing your strongholds and translating them into clear, compelling value propositions. We help design strategies, action plans, new processes and governance models — including strengthening collaboration between local and regional stakeholders, by applying sound principles of change leadership. 
• Investment promotion marketing and lead generation
  We support the planning and execution of targeted investment promotion campaigns. From positioning and messaging to proactive outreach and lead generation, we help you engage the right investors in the right markets. 
• Training programmes, capacity building and co-creation
  Through our open and tailored training programmes, we train investment promotion teams in best practices and methods. We connect you with domestic and international peers through our co-creation and experience-sharing labs. Together, we co-create the future of investment promotion.

You can find examples of our previous projects below, and we invite you to get in touch if there is anything we can help you with!

The post Investment Promotion first appeared on Future Place Leadership.

What we call the human capital agenda is today at the forefront of economic development. For cities, regions and countries, the ability to attract, retain and develop global talent is no longer optional – it is a strategic necessity.

At Future Place Leadership, we specialise in Talent Attraction Management (TAM) for places. We support public stakeholders in building long-term, structured and data-driven approaches to attracting international talent; students, young professionals and experienced specialists, across different sector and industries.

Our Approach

Our work rests on the Talent Attraction Management (TAM) model – a proven framework developed by Future Place Leadership and Tendensor.

The TAM model is now an established methodology used at national level in countries such as Finland, Estonia and Sweden, as well as by regional and local actors across Europe. It provides a holistic structure for aligning strategy, stakeholders, marketing and reception and integration in one coherent system.

We combine analytics, strategy and implementation support to help you move from ambition to measurable results.

What We Offer

We deliver Talent Attraction Management services across four core areas:

• Research, insights and benchmarks
  We provide research, analysis and benchmark studies to strengthen your Talent Attraction Management strategy. By mapping your local ecosystem and analysing organisational and market needs, we identify gaps and prioritise actions across attraction and retention. Our work is grounded in national and international best practices and combines data analysis, stakeholder interviews and insights from international talents to deliver clear, actionable recommendations. 
• Talent intelligence – data and surveys
  We provide up-to-date data and insights on global mobility trends, talent decision-making factors, user journeys and satisfaction levels. Our intelligence helps you understand what skills are needed, where they can be found, and what drives talents to relocate and stay — including lifestyle preferences and career motivations. This enables you to assess your competitive position and identify priority target markets. 
• Strategy development, change leadership and implementation support
  We empower you with best-in-class principles and practices to design and implement a robust talent attraction and retention strategy. From analysis and target market assessments to process management, change leadership and ecosystem coordination, we support you every step of the way. 
• Co-creation labs and peer learning
  Through our networks, training courses and co-creation labs, we connect you with domestic and global peers. Together, we co-create solutions and shape the future of talent attraction. 

You can find examples of our previous projects below, and we invite you to get in touch if there is anything we can help you with!

The post Talent Attraction & Retention first appeared on Future Place Leadership.