NIHAK Annual Report 2018 Web.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NIHAK 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Leader 4 A joint force of five municipalities 5 VAU!HAUS opened doors for entrepreneurs 6 Business services ELME 13 8 Project activities 9 Project introduction: Sales is a king 10 The number of companies in the Nivala-Haapajärvi sub-region 12 Project introduction: Mine reuse 13 Project introduction: Elme Studio, a front runner 15 Keys to the future 16 Events around the year 17 Business in the sub-region 18 Finances and administration 19 Personnel CALLIO 12 Nivala-Haapajärvi sub-region NIHAK Layout: Marika Elina Kaarlela/Gekkografia Cover image: Oliver Easton/Unsplash, Ari-Pekka Hihnala; other images NIHAK unless stated otherwise Print: Grano 2019 Annual report 3 Leader Toni Krankkala POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT. The development of local Managing Director economy in the Nivala-Haapajärvi sub-region was strong in 2018 and the most pressing challenges are associated with skilful labour and internationalisation. A lot of new companies were established and businesses were making investments. The high activity level in com- merce was also evident in job creation, resulting in unem- VAU!HAUS 5 VAU!HAUS ployment being currently the lowest in North Ostrobothnia. A typical challenge for industrialised rural areas is the labour needed by growing companies. Creating education packages in a flexible manner to meet the needs of companies and communicating about them improves the availability of skilful labour in the region. Properly managed work-related immigration also arises as a viable option for solving labour challenges, as does the more efficient integration of foreign students living in the area into local business life. Work is becoming less tied to the place of residency, so some future employees of the companies in the area may be remote workers that live elsewhere and vice versa: a global company can hire expertise in our region that is able to work from here in an environment where recreation is easy and day-to-day life is trouble-free. OUR REGION IS WELL-KNOWN for its dynamic metal and construction industries, but there are still only a few strong companies operating on international markets with their own products. Companies in the area export a lot of products indirectly, through their customers operating internationally. Internationalisation requires strong commitment, faith MATCH & REKRY 16 in one’s operations and a lot of time. Internationalisation can only be learned through experience. As a local development organisation, NIHAK actively works to promote labour availability and international business through new trials, as well as marketing the oppor- tunities in the sub-region to new potential companies and business partners. 4 A JOINT FORCE OF FIVE MUNICIPALITIES As an entrepreneur, you will receive support for all phases of a business, from establishing the company to internationalisation and its eventual sale. NIHAK serves individual companies, Projects for developing your business so that the vitality of the entire sub- Your company and its success is at the region will grow. The cooperation of heart of all of our operations. This also the five member municipalities of the applies to the projects that we carry association – Haapajärvi, Kärsämäki, out in cooperation with the munici- Nivala, Pyhäjärvi and Reisjärvi – pro- palities, companies and education and vides a better ability to offer free ser- development organisations, as well as vices to entrepreneurs than an indi- with other sub-regions. The projects vidual municipality could provide. develop management and leadership The joint effort of the municipalities skills, social media and e-commerce allows the company to receive more capabilities, quality, occupational safe- in-depth services, which go to the core ty and well-being, procurement and of business development and provide Lean skills, as well as sales, branding help with funding questions. and internationalisation expertise, NIHAK BUSINESS SERVICES among other areas. We implement Serving your business free of charge dozens of events that develop business Advice to get started We offer companies expert services. activities every year and hundreds of Companies are being established at As an entrepreneur, you will receive companies have participated in them. a steady pace in the municipalities help for all stages of a business. Our Everything starts with your business of Nivala-Haapajärvi. The highest service is always personal and we needs and maximising your resources. activity levels are in Nivala, where a will examine your business situation total of 50 companies were estab- in depth. The business concept, Is your company internationalising? lished last year. Jani Anttila estab- We have a low entry threshold. Con- lished Urheilupiste Anttila Oy in business plan, profitability analysis, March 2018. According to Anttila, funding – the content under the main tact us and our experts will identify the establishing the company was quick. headings is examined and the devel- requirements for internationalisation – I called NIHAK Business Ser- opment efforts focus on a method and provide their views on the steps vices and they had just analysed that best supports your business. The toward operating internationally. We the sports shop market in the local hands-on service our of our experts help with finding funding opportuni- area. We completed everything, from also includes the application proce- ties and establishing contacts and a the budget calculations and reve- dures for funding. We guide, counsel network in the target country. Through nue plans to funding applications, and work together to complete the national actors (e.g. Business Finland), together with Arto Junno. Establish- ing the company with expert advice necessary documents. we can apply for funding for your com- was efficient. The store premises pany for procuring expert services or were found quickly. opening a presence abroad through trade fair support, for example. Annual report 5 Vau!hausOPENED DOORS FOR ENTREPRENEURS VAU!HAUS is a modern workspace intended for entrepreneurs. You only need grab your computer and phone, everything else is ready. An internet connection, workstations, a TV display that can be connected to your PC, printing and scanning capabilities, secure storage, a conference room, a kitchen, etc. VAU!HAUS is available for use for occasional needs such as meetings or as a longer term work- – This Pyhäjärvi VAU!HAUS workspace is perfect for us. We bring our own space. In addition, NIHAK’s expert business devel- laptops and phones. All other supplies are included in the service, says Virpi opment services are also available. Jaatinen (left), Chairman of Pyhäjärvi Entrepreneurs, Pekka Päivärinta (rear) So if you are an entrepreneur or just getting of PehuTec and entrepreneur Sirja Kähärä (right) from Kotihoiva Helmi. started as one and feel that it would be nice to leave your home to go to work and gain other entrepre- neurs as colleagues or engage in brainstorming with experts, VAU!HAUS is located in Nitek in Nivala, Woltti Business Centre in Pyhäjärvi and on Puisto- katu street in Haapajärvi. VAU!HAUS locations will also be launched in other localities early in 2019. 6 NIHAK is at your service and provides personal counselling and gives you the possibility to develop the internal functions of your company and grow a profitable business. BUSINESS SERVICES – BRAINSTORMING, SUPPORT AND COOPERATION Business services are offered by the EUR 2.8 million. Therefore, an aver- SERVICE REINFORCEMENTS entire organisation by working with age of EUR 75,000 was granted per flexibility across municipalities and company. The support and grants were Harri Jokela by always utilising the best available issued by the North Ostrobothnia ELY was selected as resources. Our strength is knowledge- Centre (15) and the Leader activity a new Business able personnel who have in-depth group (22). Services Manager know-how in business development. at NIHAK. Jokela The advisory services conducted by Peer support from micro core groups holds a Master’s business service managers support The service, which was originally op- degree in agricul- companies in their growth and devel- erated under the University of Oulu, ture and forestry and opment. The personal advisory ser- became a NIHAK service at the start is a doctoral candidate in vices are supplemented with projects of 2018 and was intended to make industrial engineering. He has worked where companies receive training, interaction between similarly sized at the University of Oulu Kerttu Saalasti development and research services, companies possible. Institute in Nivala since 2006. Jokela for instance. The strength of micro company started as Business Services Manager on 1 January 2018 at the Reisjärvi office. core groups is shared knowledge, Financial support for companies which you obtain through peer sup- Marika Kumpula Submitting the application documents port, brainstorming and development started as Business Services with appendices and calculations may steps implemented by others. The core Manager on 14 May seem like an impossible task, especially group is also your own marketing and 2018 at the Niva- for new entrepreneurs. The compre- sales channel due to networking. When la office. Kumpula hensive experience of our experts is awareness of your business is expanded has diverse expe- also available to help with this, with a through equally sized companies, you rience of working personal touch: based on a situation- will quickly learn that surprising coop- with SMEs and her al