TET cooperation between Postipuun koulu comprehensive school and Shell HelmiSimpukka wins TASSU equality prize

This year, the TET cooperation between the Postipuun koulu comprehensive school, Shell Helmisimpukka Vallikallio and K-Market Kilo was awarded the TASSU prize by the Espoo Equality Committee. Shell HelmiSimpukka Vallikallio and K-Market Kilo, which won the prize in the category nominated by Espoo residents, have accepted pupils of Postipuun koulu comprehensive school needing intensive special support for TET periods, that is, working life experience periods. Pupils needing intensive special support may have, for example, a minor developmental disability or a disorder of the autism spectrum. A pupil’s need for support is individual.

In TET practical training, pupils do simple tasks that are useful for the whole. For example, the TET trainees shelve goods.

“The pupils are first taught how to shelve: the oldest item is put to the front, new ones behind them, and finally the shelf pictures are made. Organising the candy bar shelf is a popular task!” says Pia Parviainen, Restaurant Manager at Shell HelmiSimpukka Vallikallio.

Even in TET practical training, all work is aimed at a good customer service experience. Wiping tables, cleaning and dishwashing are all part of the customer service work.

The pupils participate in concrete work tasks. When an employee bakes bread rolls, for example, the pupil bags the rolls, puts a sticker on the bag and closes it. Work is done side by side. “The employee has to think about how to word instructions. Clear and specific word choices and hands-on guidance are key to success,” says Pia.

“We want to bring different pupils to practice at our workplace. We know that giving guidance requires time and understanding that not everything happens quickly and smoothly. This requires that the employee knows what tasks can be given to make them interesting and varied for the pupils,” Pia continues.

It is important that the pupils are instructed, guided and assisted in a practical way. “Giving instructions and guidance sometimes interrupts one’s own work. For this reason, we need to think in advance about what to do with the pupils. We have discussed this in one of our work communities, and no one questioned taking on TET trainees,” Pia says.

TET cooperation between Postipuun koulu comprehensive school and Shell HelmiSimpukka started through the Tekijätori (‘Talent Market’) project in autumn 2020. When the project ended in spring 2021, the TET cooperation continued. TET trainees will be accepted again in autumn 2021 after the service station renovations are completed.

“At the moment, Shell HelmiSimpukka Vallikallio in closed for renovations. The doors will be reopened in October or November 2021, and trainees will be accepted again,” says Pia.

The pupils participating in TET practical training are enrolled in the 8th and 9th grades of comprehensive school, and an introduction to working life is important for the future. Restaurant Manager Pia Parviainen and Lecturer Jenni Roos emphasise that it would be good for the economy to realise this possibility and offer traineeships. In this way, pupils can get to know the industry and gain experience of working life. It is also important to understand that work, tasks and forms of work are diverse, but as experiences they are equally important and memorable for young people.

At the end of the TET period, the pupils received a TET certificate, which they can use as an appendix to the joint application, for example, when applying for further studies. TET periods are part of the curriculum.

Espoo for all.