Warm thanks for 2025 and greetings from International House Tampere
The past year has brought strong renewals and deeper cooperations. The labour market has created some challenges, yet our work has stayed focused on the core mission. Our teams have ensured smooth services that support paths to work and education and help people connect with everyday life in Tampere. We have also shaped our strategic direction together with our partners. In November, the Tampere City Executive Board approved the Tampere Region Employment Strategy and the linked Roadmap for the availability and retention of international labor 2035. The coming year will therefore drive development through strategy implementation while keeping our core mission in clear focus.
Reforms open paths to the future of integration
Ukraina One Stop Shop has served as an important point of support for many people who moved to Tampere. Clients received low threshold guidance on job search, education, and public services at one location at International House Tampere. The service will integrate into the general guidance and counselling services in the upcoming year. During 2025, our work highlighted orientation for older Ukrainians more strongly. Information and guidance supported daily services, participation, and understanding of rights in several languages.
The reform of the integration act gave municipalities responsibility to invite stay at home parents within the integration period to services that support job search and learning Finnish. Our teams built invitation and guidance practices during the year to reach parents caring for children at home and to open opportunities for language learning and other support.
We launched and developed civic orientation pilots as part of the new statutory task for municipalities that applies to everyone in the integration period. Based on experience, civic orientation is becoming an established part of the service package that supports integration, with a strong focus on the early stages.
Alongside reforms, our teams developed operating models with determination. Staff concentrated on the core mission with strong results. Job matching progressed smoothly and guidance to education worked well. Even under tight labour market conditions, employment outcomes emerged and our clients’ integration moved forward.
Cooperation nationally and locally
The year also deepened national cooperation in international recruitment services. Employer cooperation built within the partnership of the six biggest cities expanded further, and collaboration with chambers of commerce strengthened the employer interface. Joint efforts show clear results as more employers find our services and choose to recruit internationally.
Strong cooperation within our organisation, across the city region, and nationally supported all progress. That spirit carried us far and gave strength to act at the right time.
Warm thanks to our staff, partners, employers, and clients for the past year, and best wishes for the New Year 2026.
With winter greetings,
Mari Taverne
Service Director, International Employment, Recruitment and Integration services, City of Tampere