THE HEART IN FINLAND -PODCAST: Although the overall situation for Finnish entrepreneurs and businesses is challenging at the moment, there are also some glimmers of hope.
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In the first episode of the Business Järvenpään Heart of Finland podcast, we ask Finnish and Järvenpää entrepreneurs and businesses about their news and prospects in challenging times. The guests are Mikael Pentikäinen , CEO of the Finnish Entrepreneurs and Petri Ovaska , Regional Director of Uusimaa Entrepreneurs. In the Roots Järvenpää section, guests include entrepreneurs Petra Willberg and Mari Orlo , board members of Järvenpää Entrepreneurs. The interviewer is Business Järvenpää's Business and Economic Programme ManagerHeikki Häyhä.
Pentikäinen: Overall picture is a mollifying one, although more than half are doing well
The first speaker will be Pentikäinen, who will talk about the work of the Finnish Enterprise Federation to promote the welfare and status of entrepreneurs and businesses. Pentikäinen will also discuss the current situation in the light of entrepreneurship.
- The overall picture of the business sector and the Finnish economy is rather mixed. However, it is worth remembering that when the economy is in trouble, there are always companies and industries that do quite well. Even now, more than half of all companies are doing well.
Which groups of entrepreneurs are currently in the best and worst situation in Finland? How have the strikes affected entrepreneurs and businesses? Pentikäinen will also discuss future trends and the employment situation among entrepreneurs.
Ovaska: Impacts will flow to small and medium-sized enterprises
In his part, Ovaska opens the work of the Uusimaa Entrepreneurs' Association and analyses the position of businesses in Uusimaa.
- Last year we had the highest number of bankruptcies in 25 years and the pace has only accelerated since the beginning of the year. The effects are trickling down to small and medium-sized enterprises, and we in Finland cannot have much influence on world events.
However, Järvenpää is improving, according to Ovaska, even though the business environment is otherwise very challenging.
We also ask Ovaska for his views on the impact of strikes on the Finnish business sector. What is the general employment situation in Uusimaa? And how could foreign-language immigrants be better utilised as part of the business workforce? What does the future of Uusimaa's businesses look like in the coming years? At the same time, we will look at the issue of corporate responsibility.
Willberg and Orlo: Active dialogue with the City of Järvenpää
In the Roots in Järvenpää section, Willberg and Orlo talk about their entrepreneurial history and experiences of entrepreneurship in Järvenpää. Willberg is the entrepreneur of Järvenpää Dental Centre with his wife and Orlo is responsible for the beauty salon Marielina Ky. Both businesses are located in the centre of Järvenpää, on the pedestrian street Janne.
Willberg and Orlo are also on the board of Järvenpää Entrepreneurs.
- Our role in the Entrepreneurs' Association is to keep the entrepreneur's voice and entrepreneurship heard. We are in touch with the city and listen to what the city is planning. We try to maintain good cooperation with each other, which is also very successful.
How do Willberg and Orlo see the situation of entrepreneurship in Järvenpää? What advantages do they see in operating in Järvenpää city centre and what ideas do they have for the development of Järvenpää city centre? And how could the City of Järvenpää and Business Järvenpää support the conditions for entrepreneurship in Järvenpää even more strongly?
The Heart of Finland podcast series produced by Business Järvenpää features a guest panel of Finnish entrepreneurs and business decision-makers. In each episode, local entrepreneurs and business leaders from Järvenpää are invited to share their stories and discuss topical issues.