Vår Gård was founded in 1924

"By coming together, collaborating and owning together, individual and common needs can be solved."

- That's what the members thought in 1899 when the Cooperative Union (KF) was formed, based on the need for cheaper and better goods. During the early 20th century, cooperation grew in Sweden and the Cooperative Association played a central role in supporting and promoting cooperative enterprises. One of the most famous and prominent cooperative companies that grew during this time was the Kooperativa Förbundet's own brand, Konsum. Konsum became an important player in Swedish grocery retail and played an important role in offering consumers reasonable prices and high-quality products.

In 1917, a proposal was raised within the Cooperative Union to appoint an education committee.

Harald Elldin, who was a school teacher and politician on the Värmland bench, was given responsibility for this. After a year, they had finished their work and KF's study department was started. First, you had to acquire knowledge through KF's correspondence institute, it was a kind of preliminary training which allowed you to apply for the Utbildningstrappan, which were short centrally arranged courses and these were initially held at various primary schools around Sweden. One of these occasions was held in a villa in Neglinge, which is very close to Vårgård. Albin Johansson who was a legendary manager of KF was present on this occasion and the very next day he brought a broker out to find a suitable area for KF to build its business on. They ended up getting an offer from AF Petersens to buy the land area then called Vårgård. Villa Bikupan and Ackevillan were located here, which were rebuilt to be suitable for the education. Canteens, school halls, practice shops and accommodation emerged. The purchase was completed in 1924 and thus Vår Gård . In connection with the purchase, Harald Elldin was appointed headmaster and became a pioneer in adult education. The name was also changed from Vårgård to Vår Gård .

Picture below: Two course participants in their student accommodation

When Harald Elldin became principal at Vår Gård , the desire was to create a basic education for principals of one to two years, but it was considered too expensive and ineffective as only a few would complete the education. Instead, teacher-led courses of four weeks were created. Harald, who was previously a public school teacher, realized that ordinary classroom teaching would not work for working participants. The solution was a kind of modular system of courses interspersed with correspondence teaching. Short courses with exercises at home to alternate practice with theory. He allowed people to share aesthetics, art and culture alongside efficiency and sales and believed that we would do a better job if we felt a meaning, a context and a connection to history.

This unique method that Elldin was the originator of proved to be very effective. Soon, competitors in the retail trade followed suit, leading to sole traders recruiting large numbers of well-educated staff. Vår Gård became an example for vocational training in Swedish business life, and after the Second World War, many vocational trainings were developed that were based on the Elldin pedagogy.
Today Vår Gård a conference room named Harald in honor and memory of Harald Elldin.

Picture below: Meeting room Harald