New cooperation accelerates international recruitment by SMEs
The cities of Espoo, Helsinki, Tampere, Kuopio and Lahti, Business Finland’s Work in Finland, KIRA: the real estate and construction sector consortium and E2 Research have joined forces to accelerate international recruitment by SMEs. The project will share companies' good practices on a national scale and develop the international recruitment services that cities offer to businesses.
The project Small and Midsize Enterprises and Foreign Workforce in Finland serves the needs of both the private and public sectors. Businesses receive practical solutions for internationalisation from their own region and insights from across Finland. Cities and the national Talent Boost network will benefit from research-based advice on service development and resource allocation. While supporting the businesses’ international recruitment, the project’s goal is also to help immigrants already living in Finland find employment.
"From the perspective of international talent attraction and retention, employers are at the heart of Finland’s attractiveness. Our attractiveness is just as strong as our ability to lead change at both individual and organisational levels. In cooperation with Technology Industries of Finland, we are developing an operating model for attracting experts from abroad. In the pilot project, we will create a smooth route from abroad to Finland through the service offering of operators related to recruitment, entry and settling in. Hiring culturally diverse talents brings benefits, even if the company is not targeting the international market", says Melissa Arni-Hardén, Senior Planning Officer at the City of Espoo.
“The success of SMEs creates wellbeing for the whole of Finland. Many SMEs act as subcontractors for export companies, contributing to regional vitality and Finland’s competitiveness. The labour shortage that SMEs face is not only a brake on growth, but it can also threaten a company’s existence or operations in Finland. This is a common cause, which is why we are inviting companies and business owner organisations from across the country to cooperate,” says project lead Mari K. Niemi from E2 Research.
The project is conducted by the independent and multidisciplinary research institute E2 Research. The project will be carried out during 2024.
Inquiries:
E2 Research
Mari K. Niemi
mari.k.niemi@e2.fi
+44 7737 161944
City of Espoo
Melissa Arni-Hardén, Senior Planning Officer
melissa.arni-harden@espoo.fi
tel. +358 40 5082234
