Upgraded People has won an important framework agreement with Mälardalstrafik as a supplier of consultancy services. The agreement extends over eight years and is estimated to be worth approximately SEK 80 million.

Mälardalstrafik is responsible for public transport in the Mälardal region and has a central role in developing the sustainable travel of the future. Through the new agreement, Upgraded People will provide specialist expertise to ensure a flexible and qualitative supply of skills.

“That Mälardalstrafik has given us the trust in such a comprehensive and long-term deal is an important step for us. It shows that our model for consultancy agency meets the high demands of one of Sweden’s most dynamic public transport operators. We look forward to being part of their important development journey,” says Birgitta Hedegård, CEO of Upgraded People.

With this agreement, Upgraded People continues to strengthen its position as a strategic partner to the public sector, where the need for long-term and flexible solutions for skills supply is great.

About Upgraded People

Upgraded People is one of Northern Europe’s fastest growing companies in skills supply and strategic staffing. We offer tailor-made solutions that match the right skills with the right context – always with people at the center. Our clients are in both the public and private sectors, and we deliver resources in Sweden, Germany, Norway and Denmark. With over 1,200 consultants on assignment, we help organizations achieve their goals and visions in a sustainable way.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month – We live in a time where we are constantly reminded that digital security is not an option, but a prerequisite. At Upgraded People AB we see a clear increase in demand for security specialists but we also notice an increase in demand for developers such as: senior backend developers, Dynamics 365 specialists, and frontend developers with UX/UI skills.

But with these roles also comes a responsibility for secure code:

• Backend developers often build the core of mission-critical systems. Here, an innocent mistake in the code can become a door for cyberattacks.
• Dynamics 365 developers work closely with business processes and sensitive data – making every integration a potential risk point if security is not included from the start.
• Frontend developers shape the user’s digital experience. A nice design is not enough – security, secure authentication and protection against attacks are part of the total user experience.

This shows a clear trend: Security is no longer a separate specialist role, but something every developer must carry with them in their daily work.

At Upgraded People AB, we believe in combining technical excellence with a security-conscious mindset. It’s about coding smart, building sustainably, and seeing security as an integral part of the development process.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is therefore a good reminder for all of us in the industry: security starts in the code – and it is the responsibility of every developer.

Does your company need reinforcement in cybersecurity or developers who think security from the start? Contact us at Upgraded People AB.

User experience meets cybersecurity – when design becomes part of security

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and at Upgraded People, we want to highlight an aspect that often gets overlooked: the connection between user experience (UX/UI) and cybersecurity. Because in today’s digital world, security is not just about technology – but also about how people experience and interact with it.

Design as a line of defense

A secure system is not enough if users do not understand it, or if security features are perceived as complicated. Then there is a risk that people will unknowingly bypass the protection.
Here UX becomes a decisive factor: The right design creates safety and prevents mistakes.

• Clear flows and alerts help the user make the right decisions.
• Understandable design makes security measures natural, not intrusive.
• A positive user experience strengthens both trust and security behavior.

When security feels simple and obvious, it becomes part of the experience – not an obstacle.

People at the center of cybersecurity

The human factor is often seen as a risk, but we see it as the key to success.
By combining security thinking and user-centered design, companies can create digital environments where people feel both safe and competent.

It’s about designing for trust, clarity, and control – three components that build strong relationships between users and digital systems.

When competence meets need

At Upgraded People, we see every day how the right skills make a difference.
We bring together specialists in UX, UI and cybersecurity – experts who help companies create digital experiences that are both user-friendly and secure.

Combining the user perspective with security thinking is not a contradiction – it is the future.

Are you looking for the right skills in UX or cybersecurity?

At Upgraded People, we match you with experienced consultants who can take your digital environment to the next level – safely, user-centric, and efficiently.

Upgraded People AB, one of Northern Europe’s fastest growing consulting brokerage companies, has won the Ljungby Municipality’s procurement of consulting brokerage services. The framework agreement covers the period October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026, with the possibility of extension for an additional twelve months.

The agreement covers the provision of qualified consultants within organization, investigation and management. The purpose is to support Ljungby Municipality’s various administrations and companies during temporary work peaks, needs for complementary skills or when a neutral external party is required. The assignments can be carried out both on site and remotely, depending on needs and agreement.

– “We are very proud to be trusted to collaborate with Ljungby Municipality. This agreement is further confirmation of our focus on quality, speed and transparency in the mediation process. We look forward to contributing the right expertise to strengthen the municipality’s development and operations,” says Alexander Malmström, Team Manager & Key Account Manager at Upgraded People AB.

Upgraded People has established itself as a leading player in consulting services in the Nordic region in recent years. The company has been named DI Gasell three years in a row and can now call itself Mästargasell, an award given to companies that demonstrate exceptional growth over time.

The new framework agreement with Ljungby Municipality further strengthens the company’s position as a reliable and long-term partner to the public sector.

About Upgraded People AB

Upgraded People is one of Northern Europe’s fastest growing consulting agencies, specializing in matching the right skills with the right assignments – quickly, accurately and transparently. The company collaborates with both private and public organizations across Northern Europe. With over 1,100 consultants on assignment, we help organizations achieve their goals and visions in a sustainable way.

The consulting agency Upgraded People, one of the fastest growing companies in the Nordic region, has been awarded the prestigious DI Gasell award for the third year in a row. With this, the company also qualifies for the title of Master Gasell, an honorary title that is only given to companies that have managed to grow sustainably and successfully and achieved DI Gasell’s tough criteria for 3 years.

DI Gasell is awarded annually by Dagens Industri to the most successful companies in Sweden, where the criteria include strong growth, profitability and sound finances. Being appointed three years in a row is proof of both long-term thinking and the ability to deliver in a changing market.

– “We are incredibly proud to once again be appointed as a Gazelle company and now also be able to call ourselves a Master Gazelle. This is recognition for our entire team, our consultants and customers. We have continued to grow rapidly but with a focus on quality, relationships and sustainability,” says Birgitta Hedegård, CEO of Upgraded People.

The company was founded in 2010 and has quickly established itself as a leading player in consultancy brokerage, with operations throughout the Nordic region. The growth journey has been driven by a combination of entrepreneurship, deep market knowledge and a clear vision to create value for both clients and consultants.

– “Our ambition is not just to grow quickly, but to build a long-term business where people have the opportunity to develop. This award shows that we are on the right track,” continues Birgitta.

About Upgraded People

Upgraded People is one of Northern Europe’s fastest growing companies in skills supply and strategic staffing. We offer tailor-made solutions that match the right skills with the right context – always with people at the center. Our clients are in both the public and private sectors, and we deliver resources in Sweden, Germany, Norway and Denmark. With over 1,100 consultants on assignment, we help organizations achieve their goals and visions in a sustainable way.

Upgraded People AB has been awarded a framework agreement with the Swedish Health and Social Care Inspectorate, IVO, for IT consulting services. The agreement has a ceiling volume of SEK 300 million excluding VAT and strengthens Upgraded People’s position as a strategic supplier of qualified IT expertise to the public sector.

The framework agreement covers a broad spectrum of IT consulting services and means that Upgraded People will have the opportunity to support IVO’s continued digital development in the coming years. The assignment spans both strategic and operational areas of expertise, including architecture, IT security, UX and accessibility, system development, testing, requirements analysis, system management, operations and IT support.

The agreement entered into force on 17 June 2026 and runs until 17 June 2028, with the possibility of extension for up to two years. This means that the agreement can run until 17 June 2030 at the latest.

The award marks an important step in Upgraded People’s continued expansion within the public sector and confirms the company’s ability to deliver specialized expertise to complex community-supporting operations.

IVO’s mission is to supervise healthcare in Sweden. Through the framework agreement, the authority gains access to qualified consultants in areas that are crucial for a modern, secure and efficient IT environment.

– This is a strategically important agreement for Upgraded People and a clear confirmation that our model meets the high demands set in the public sector. IVO has an important social mission, and we are proud to contribute with the specialist expertise required to support their continued digital development. The agreement further strengthens our position and shows that we are a long-term partner for organizations with complex needs and high quality requirements, says Mikael Antonsson, CEO of Upgraded People AB.

The framework agreement includes expertise in:

Usability, including UX design, UI and accessibility.
Architecture, including information architecture, solution architecture and system architecture.
IT security, including security strategy, security architecture and specialist expertise.
Management and governance, including project management, activity responsibility and project administration.
System development, including database management, configuration and version management, BI development, data engineering and Scrum master skills.
Testing, business development, requirements analysis, system administration, operations and IT support.

– This is a very important agreement for us and a strong testament to our capacity to deliver qualified IT expertise throughout the entire value chain. IVO has an important social mission, and we look forward to contributing with the right expertise across our entire service offering during the agreement period. We also look forward to coming into contact with suppliers who, together with us, want to contribute to IVO’s continued digital journey, says Rebecka Christenson, Account Manager at Upgraded People AB.

Through the agreement, Upgraded People consolidates its role as a reliable partner in strategic talent acquisition and specialized IT consulting services. The company thus continues to strengthen its presence in the public sector and contribute to the development of businesses with high demands on quality, security and delivery capacity.

About Upgraded People

Upgraded People is one of Northern Europe’s fastest growing companies in skills supply and strategic staffing. The company offers tailored solutions that match the right skills with the right context, always with the person at the center. Clients are in both the public and private sectors, and Upgraded People delivers resources in Sweden, Germany, Norway and Denmark. With over 1,600 consultants on assignment, the company helps organizations achieve their goals and visions in a sustainable way.

For more information, contact:
Upgraded People AB
Rebecka Christenson
072 966 41 67
rebecka.christenson@upgraded.se
www.upgraded.se