A Scotsman from Boden Took the Step into Steel

At the age of 17, Stephen Sinnett left an area of Scotland that was heavily shaped by a dirty steel industry. Now, as a 51-year-old resident of Boden, he sees the green steel industry in Boden as a workplace where he can imagine spending the years leading up to retirement. In between, his winding yet seemingly destined path has taken him from diamonds and Rolex watches in an exclusive jewelry store in Leeds, to finding his brother in Sweden and meeting the love of his life at his brother’s wedding in Boden.He then settled here, started a family, worked at the Polaris eyewear factory in Sävast, and spent the next 15 years meeting Boden residents of all ages at ICA Supermarket.

Behind the checkout counter at ICA, he got to know many people in Boden over the years. It was also there that he met the new Stegra employees as they began moving to Boden.

Stephen says he enjoyed working in retail and that the staff felt like one big family. But everything has its season, and with Stegra’s establishment, he saw an opportunity for a new chapter in life as part of the new development taking shape here.

“I’ve lived here for 22 years and I can see that what Stegra is doing is significant. It won’t just affect Boden as a town, but Norrbotten, Sweden, Europe, and my children and grandchildren. The old steel industry was what made me leave Scotland, but the new one could be what takes me into retirement,” says Stephen.

New Job in "närhetslivet"

His new role is in logistics and shipping. This means helping to build the foundation of the organization that will manage logistics and freight operations when the green steel plant reaches full production.

“Right now, I do whatever needs to be done within our area during the construction and startup phase. Among many other things, I drive a bus around the site. It’s fun—I’m very social and get to meet lots of people. The site is large, and it takes time to get from one place to another. But once everything is operational, there will be many other responsibilities. Receiving deliveries and managing inventory is essentially the same kind of work, using similar systems regardless of industry—the main difference is the size of the items,” he says with a smile.

He sees Stegra as an employer with a strong focus on safety and environmental responsibility, where he is also given opportunities for internal training for specific tasks on site.

“If Boden can show the world that it’s possible, the world will follow. Everyone is watching what we’re doing here right now.”

A Proud Resident of Boden

For Stephen, Boden is home and the place where he has lived longer than anywhere else in his life. It is where his children are growing up, and where the whole family enjoys the benefits of living close to nature and everyday amenities.

“Here, you can feel safe. There isn’t a single area in Boden where I feel unsafe. We have beautiful nature and great swimming spots. My children and I have a little competition to see how many swimming areas we can visit. There are countless beautiful places. I also often paddle out on my paddleboard during the long, bright evenings and nights.”

Life after 50 became a fresh start for Stephen. With a new job and a new love, he describes himself as a Scotsman living happily in Boden, Sweden, eager to share the beautiful surroundings he enjoys. Photos from his local adventures appear in various Boden social media groups, featuring everything from the Northern Lights and supermoons to rainbows, winter landscapes, and the midnight sun. He is also a member of the Boden Photography Club.

Most immediately, he is looking forward to a vacation, which began with staying up through the night to watch the Football World Cup. His heart beats for both Scotland and Sweden when it comes to football.

Between matches, he plans to pack his camping gear and tent, head into the forest, and enjoy the natural beauty that lies just beyond his doorstep.