Upgraded People AB has been awarded a framework agreement with the Swedish E-Health Agency for consultancy brokerage services. The maximum value of the agreement amounts to SEK 1,150 million and marks an important step in the company’s continued growth within the public sector and socially critical assignments.

The framework agreement covers a broad spectrum of areas of expertise, where Upgraded People will contribute qualified expertise in:

• Strategy, Governance and Organization
• Business and Process Development
• Management and Leadership Support
• IT, Digitalization and Innovation
• Preparedness and Civil Defense
• Security and Information Security

The agreement entered into force on March 20, 2026 and will initially run for 12 months, with the possibility of three extensions of an additional 12 months each.

– This is a very important agreement for us and a clear testament to our ability to deliver qualified consulting solutions in complex and socially important environments. The e-Health Authority is in an exciting development phase, and we look forward to contributing the right expertise to accelerate both innovation and long-term sustainability, says Hanna Werner, Customer Manager at Upgraded People AB.

Through the framework agreement, Upgraded People strengthens its position as a strategic partner in public digitization and further positions itself in areas where technology, business development and security meet.

– We are proud of the trust and see this as the beginning of a long-term collaboration where together we create concrete value – both for the authority and, by extension, for society at large, continues Klara Edrén, Consulting Broker at Upgraded People AB.

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 1,600 consultants on assignment, we help organizations achieve their goals and visions in a sustainable way.

Upgraded continues to gain ground in a challenging consulting market. In the second quarter of 2026, Upgraded continued to grow with increased revenue, stronger results and improved margins. The development consolidates a strong first half and gives Upgraded clear momentum for the rest of the year.

Turnover during the second quarter of the year amounted to SEK 495.9 million, an increase of 7.8 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2025, when turnover was SEK 459.9 million.

The development was even clearer on the earnings side. Earnings increased by 15.7 percent to SEK 6.3 million, which means that earnings grew twice as fast as sales.

June ended the quarter with particularly strong development and sales growth of 11.2 percent.

– We have high ambitions and the development during the first half of the year shows that we are on the right track. The fact that we are managing to combine clear sales growth with an even faster profit increase is particularly positive. It shows that we are not only growing, but that we are growing with quality, says Mikael Antonsson, CEO of Upgraded People.

Strongest half-year margin in several years

Looking at the entire first half of 2026, the development becomes even clearer. Sales increased by 6.1 percent to SEK 986.8 million, while profit rose by 21.4 percent to SEK 12.2 million compared to the same period last year. This also means the strongest half-year margin in several years.

– For us, it’s about continuing to build a stronger company, quarter by quarter. We must be close to our customers, understand their real skills needs and be faster and more accurate than the market in general. When we succeed in doing that, we create value for both customers, consultants and Upgraded. The performance during the first six months of the year shows the power of that model, says Mikael Antonsson.

A market that rewards excellence

At the same time, the consulting market is undergoing rapid change. Demand is becoming increasingly selective and the gap between different areas of expertise is increasing. Specialist expertise in areas such as AI, cybersecurity, cloud services and other mission-critical areas continues to be in high demand, while broader and more junior roles face greater price pressure.

For Upgraded, this development means that the ability to quickly identify, quality assure and match the right specialist expertise to customer needs is becoming increasingly important.

– The market has higher demands today than a few years ago and we see this as an opportunity. Customers are not only looking for more consultants, but above all the right skills for the right situation. We have built a position there that we want to continue to strengthen. We see great opportunities to grow further by combining our reach with the personal and accurate matching that characterizes Upgraded, says Mikael Antonsson.

Aiming for continued growth

With a strong first half of the year behind it, Upgraded enters the second half of the year with an increasing growth rate, improved profitability and a clear ambition to continue strengthening its position in the Swedish consulting market.

The focus is on continued organic growth, high accuracy in the matching between customer and consultant, and on developing the offering in the areas of expertise where demand is growing fastest.

– We are proud of the development so far, but above all we are looking ahead. We have a lot left to do and our ambition is clear: Upgraded will continue to grow, continue to take a position and become an even stronger first choice for both customers and consultants. This is the beginning of the next step in our development, says Mikael Antonsson.

About Upgraded People AB

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 1,600 consultants on assignment, we help organizations achieve their goals and visions in a sustainable way.

Upgraded People AB strengthens its management and takes the next step in the company’s continued growth journey. Mikael Antonsson, with solid experience in customer relations, delivery, business development and consulting, takes office as the new CEO.

Upgraded People AB announces today that Mikael Antonsson will take over as the company’s new CEO. The recruitment marks an important step in Upgraded People’s continued development as a consulting intermediary within IT, digitalization and management.

Mikael Antonsson has a solid background with experience from both the customer and supplier side and brings experience from Kalmar, Capgemini and Consid, where he has worked closely with customers, consultants and delivery organizations. With his combination of business understanding, leadership and experience from the consulting industry, he is now assigned to lead Upgraded People into the next phase.

– Upgraded People has a strong position in the market and a clear potential to continue growing. The company has built a model that creates value for both customers and consultants, and I look forward to working with the team to further develop the offering, strengthen customer relationships and accelerate the company’s growth, says Mikael Antonsson, incoming CEO of Upgraded People AB.

Upgraded People has established itself in recent years as a player in consultancy brokerage with a focus on matching the right skills with the right assignments. The company operates in a market where the demand for specialist skills in IT, technology, digitalization and management continues to be high, while more and more organizations are looking for flexible and accurate solutions for their talent supply.

– Mikael has the background, energy and business acumen required to lead Upgraded People forward. His experience in both customer development and delivery makes him the right person to take the company into the next chapter, says Anders Arvidsson, Chairman of the Board at Upgraded People AB.

As CEO, Mikael Antonsson will focus on continued growth, enhanced customer benefit and further development of Upgraded People’s position as a relevant and personal partner for public sector organizations, companies and consultants.

– For me, consultancy is fundamentally about trust, precision and long-term relationships. Clients should feel that they quickly get access to the right expertise, and consultants should feel that they get assignments where their experience really comes into its own. That is where Upgraded People has a strong foundation to build on, says Mikael Antonsson.

Mikael Antonsson will assume the role of CEO on August 17, 2026.

For more information, contact:

Nathalie Hellgren
Business coordinator and marketing
Upgraded People AB
nathalie.hellgren@upgraded.se
www.upgraded.se

About Upgraded People AB

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 1,600 consultants on assignment, we help organizations achieve their goals and visions in a sustainable way.

Upgraded People begins 2026 with continued growth and improved profitability. During the first quarter of the year, sales increased by 4.4 percent to SEK 491 million, compared to SEK 470 million in the corresponding period last year. At the same time, earnings increased by 28.0 percent.

The consulting brokerage segment is affected by several parallel market factors. The Swedish economy is in a gradual recovery, but companies’ investment decisions are still characterized by caution. At the same time, digitalization, AI, efficiency programs and the public sector’s continued need for skills are creating demand for specialists in areas where internal capacity is often insufficient.

For consulting brokers, this means that the market is not only driven by volume, but to a greater extent by relevance and matching quality. Customers are demanding shorter lead times, better selection, clearer pricing and greater security of delivery. In this environment, Upgraded People’s development in the first quarter is particularly strong: the company is growing from a high level, while the result is increasing significantly faster than sales.

The development is taking place in a market that is gradually showing signs of recovery, but where consultancy buyers remain selective, cost-conscious and clearly focused on business-critical competence. The National Institute of Economic Research estimates that the recovery in the Swedish economy will continue in 2026, even though growth slowed in the first quarter. At the same time, Almega’s services indicator shows that growth in the private services sector has strengthened, with particularly good demand in certain business services.

For consulting brokers and consulting intermediaries, this means a market with clear contrasts. After several quarters of caution among customers, there is an improved level of activity, but competition remains high and assignments are won to a greater extent through precision, accessibility and the ability to quickly match the right specialist expertise to the right need.

Against this backdrop, Upgraded People’s first quarter shows a stable development. Sales growth exceeds the broader growth rate in the private services sector, while the profit improvement indicates a more efficient business, good cost control and continued demand for the company’s consulting brokerage model. Upgraded People reported sales of SEK 470 million in the first quarter of 2025, which makes the year’s level of SEK 491 million a continued increase from a very strong comparison period.

– We are proud to start the year with both growth and clearly improved results. The market is not easy, but it rewards players who understand customer needs, have access to the right expertise and can act quickly. Our development during the first quarter shows that Upgraded People continues to be relevant in a market where quality, accuracy and long-term relationships are becoming increasingly important, says Christoffer Svensson, Team Lead Consulting Agency at Upgraded People.

Upgraded People is an independent consultancy agency and consultant matching specialists and has worked for 16 years with the appointment of business-critical competence with a focus on IT, digitalization, technology, management and the service sector. The company works without its own employed consultants and instead matches clients’ needs with specialists from a broad network of freelance consultants and consulting companies.

– Our position is built on the combination of a strong consulting network, deep understanding of our customers’ businesses and a process that makes consulting procurement both efficient and transparent. During the first quarter, we have seen that customers continue to invest in expertise when the needs are clear and linked to business-critical initiatives, says Christoffer Svensson.

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 1,600 consultants on assignment, we help organizations achieve their goals and visions in a sustainable way.

Upgraded People increases turnover to SEK 1,850 million in 2025 – strengthens positioning through strategic framework agreements and exclusive assignment for the Swedish Tax Agency.

Consulting agency Upgraded People reports revenue of SEK 1,850 million for 2025, an increase of 6.9 percent compared to the previous year. The growth comes in a year characterized by cautious investments and pressured consulting markets.

At the same time, the company has won several strategically important framework agreements in both the private and public sectors. Most significant is the new agreement with the Swedish Tax Agency, where Upgraded People becomes the exclusive partner for consultancy brokerage of IT and AI expertise. The framework agreement extends over 2 years with the possibility of a 1 + 1 year extension and has a ceiling volume of SEK 5.55 billion.

– 2025 has been a year where many players have struggled with reduced demand and severe price pressure. The fact that we are growing and winning deals of this size at the same time shows that our model is working.

Growth in a wait-and-see market

The consulting agency market has been characterized by longer decision-making processes and increased cost control during the year, especially in technology and digitalization. Despite this, Upgraded People has increased its turnover to SEK 1,850 million, driven by:

• Deeper customer relationships in the private and public sectors
• Increasing demand for specialist expertise in IT and AI
• Effective matching between clients and qualified consultants

The company’s focus on quality-assured processes and long-term collaborations has been crucial in a market where secure delivery and regulatory compliance have become increasingly important.

Exclusive framework agreement with the Swedish Tax Agency

The new agreement with the Swedish Tax Agency means that Upgraded People will have overall responsibility for the placement of IT and AI consultants within the agency. The agreement covers a ceiling volume of SEK 5.55 billion over the agreement period.

The Swedish Tax Agency is in an intensive digital development phase with increased demands for automation, data analysis and AI-based solutions. The agreement provides the agency with a unified and quality-assured delivery model for critical expertise.

– Becoming the exclusive partner of the Swedish Tax Agency in IT and AI mediation is a great trust. It places high demands on us, but it is also proof that we have the capacity and structure to handle assignments of national importance.

Several strategic framework agreements

In addition to the agreement with the Swedish Tax Agency, Upgraded People has secured several new and renewed framework agreements in both the private and public sectors during the year. These strengthen the company’s position as a leading player in qualified consultancy brokerage.

Overall, the agreements provide a stable platform for continued growth, even in a market that is expected to be selective in 2026.

Upgraded People is named Mästargasell 2025

During the year, Upgraded People was also named Mästargasell 2025 by Dagens Industri, an award given to companies that have demonstrated strong and sustainable growth over time. The award confirms the company’s long-term development and financial stability.

– Becoming a Master Gazelle is proof that our growth is not temporary, but is built on structures, relationships and consistent work year after year. It strengthens the image of Upgraded People as a safe and long-term partner, both for customers and consultants.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead to 2026, the focus is on continued profitable growth, operational efficiency and meeting the increasing demand for cutting-edge expertise in IT, AI and digital transformation.

– Our ambition is clear. We will continue to grow, but we will do so with control. The right business, the right expertise and the right partnership.

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.

The consultancy agency Upgraded People has won one of the largest procurements in Sweden within public administration concerning consultancy agency of IT and AI competence. The agreement, which goes under the name “IT-konsultmäklare”, has a ceiling volume of 5.55 billion SEK and runs over two years with the possibility of extension 1 + 1 year. Upgraded People is the only supplier to be awarded a framework agreement.

The agreement covers not only the Swedish Tax Agency, but also the Swedish Enforcement Authority, the Swedish Election Authority, the Swedish Payment Authority and the Swedish Tax Authority and the Swedish Research Tax Board. The Swedish Tax Agency acts as the contracting authority for all parties, and both the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish Enforcement Authority will sign separate but identical framework agreements.

A strategic investment in the digital administration of the future

The background to the procurement is the need for a flexible and efficient supply of skills that supports the Swedish Tax Agency and other authorities in their prioritized development areas. Digitalization, automation and a high degree of information security are central to ensuring that the meeting with citizens is simple, safe and legally secure.

A particular focus area is artificial intelligence (AI), which the authorities see as a key to increased efficiency, innovation and legal certainty in Swedish public administration.

Areas of expertise covered by the agreement:

• AI
• Analysis & Design
• Architecture
• Database Development
• Management & Governance
• System Development
• Security
• Technology
• Testing

This is an important milestone for Upgraded People. Being trusted as the sole supplier in a procurement of this magnitude confirms the strength of our working method and our ability to deliver the right expertise at the right time. We look forward to contributing to the digital development of the Swedish Tax Agency and other authorities, especially in AI and automation, which will play a crucial role in the future of public services.

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.