Press release -
Hanken & SSE Executive Education reruns integration program Business Lead with company partners as part of Koto-SIB
Helsinki, Finland 2 June 2017 – The fast-track integration program Business Lead 2017 commences in Helsinki on 12 June and aims to support two-way integration of educated refugees and immigrants into Finnish and European business life. The program consists of live modules, online learning, mentoring and a 2-month internship in a partner company. Business Lead 2017 is delivered as part of the pioneering Epiqus Kotouttaminen Social Impact Bond or Koto-SIB framework with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, FIM, TE-Services and Sitra.
The pilot of the program in 2016 was successful as 40 % of program participants either found a place to work or study immediately after the program. This year 124 people applied for the program of many different nationalities. Central application program criteria is a higher education degree and at least 2 years of relevant work experience.
The company partners of the Business Lead 2017 program are Accenture, Agency Leroy, Fennovoima, Finance Finland, Fiskars, Folksam, Fortum, Futurice, HKScan, IBM, Kesko, Kone, LUMI, LähiTapiola, Miltton, OP, Outotec, Pöyry, PwC, Ramirent, Supercell, Svenska Handelshögskolan, Technology Industries of Finland, UPM, Wärtsilä, WSP, YIT and Ålandsbanken.
“Business Lead is one of the most successful integration programs in Europe encompassing both education, mentoring and a professional internship”, says Sari Salojärvi, CEO of Hanken & SSE Executive Education. “The program has reach also outside of Finland with the program having been presented at the European commission as a best practice for successful integration to be spread to other member countries”, Sari Salojärvi concludes.
“Through the Business Lead internship, we got an understanding of new market areas and are now looking for opportunities to spread our growth venture Charge & Drive’s services also to the Middle East”, comments Heli Antila, VP, Chief Technology Officer of Fortum. “The internship offers a great opportunity both for immigrants to get to know companies in Finland but also for companies to be exposed to greater diversity and other cultures”. “Fortum was a Business Lead program partner also last year and one of the interns still works with us”, Heli Antila continues.
Business Lead 2017 is part of the Suomi Finland 100 program. Inspired by the Business Lead Program, Hanken & SSE Executive Education is also arranging a discussion at SuomiAreena on 13 July at 5 pm on the BEPOP stage on the topic of employing foreigners in Finland.
Learn more about the program in this link: http://hsseexed.co/BusinessLead2017
About Koto-SIB
Epiqus Employment SIB or Koto-SIB is a Social Impact Bond (SIB) that provides fast-track integration training and employment for immigrants seeking international protection in Finland. It is commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Impact evaluation is conducted as a Randomized Control Trial and measured through differences in tax collections and unemployment benefit payments between control and target groups. Koto-SIB is the largest Social Impact Bond in Europe, and a qualifying social entrepreneurship fund under the EuSEF regulations. More information: http://www.epiqus.com/funds.html
Topics
- Education
About
Hanken & SSE Executive Education is owned by two leading business schools Hanken School of Economics and Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) founded in 2005. Based in Helsinki, Finland, Hanken & SSE provides executive education globally through its extensive SSE network in the Nordic and Baltic region.
Clients benefit from executive education combined of academic knowledge, thorough business understanding and new learning methods suited to the needs and objectives of their organization supporting both personal and organizational development.
The Financial Times annual global ranking of executive education has continuously rated Hanken & SSE Executive Education through its owner SSE as the top provider of executive education in the Nordic region while being part of the global top 50 providers of executive education through this network.
For more information visit www.hankensse.fi and follow updates from us on LinkedIn and Twitter @HankenSSE.
