Joki’s partner company Akseli Kiinteistöpalvelut wants to take care of young people by offering them work and internship opportunities, as well as by guiding them towards physical activity. Responsibility must be genuine…
Responsibility must be genuine; it must come from the heart and requires financial investment. This is the belief of Akseli Kiinteistöpalvelut, which implements its philosophy by investing in young people in its operating area in many ways. The theme is also closely linked to the company’s values, and the core of its operations is summarized by the phrase "We take care".
– Our industry takes care of Finland's national wealth, the real estate. That is where most people’s assets are tied up. Furthermore, as a company, we want to take care of our customers, our employees, and the young people in our area, says Teemu Halenius, CEO of Akseli Kiinteistöpalvelut.
Akseli Kiinteistöpalvelut, which has operated for a long time in Varissuo and Lauste, has now expanded its operations from East Turku to the entire city area and Kaarina. The company is the largest local operator in its field in the Turku region and has been growing steadily, partly due to recent acquisitions.
Employing approximately 130 people, the company hires up to 30–40 summer workers annually to ensure that the permanent staff can take their vacations when they want.
Our industry takes care of Finland's national wealth, the real estate.
– We could manage with a much smaller team if vacations were arranged more strictly, but we don't want to go that route. We want to employ young people. For many of them, this is the first job of their lives and therefore something truly valuable, says Halenius. In addition to the summer job path, young people come to Akseli Kiinteistöpalvelut through educational cooperation and internships.
Halenius always reminds young people that every internship and summer job position should be approached with respect and seriousness. You never know where that path will lead. Halenius is himself a prime example: he joined Akseli Kiinteistöpalvelut as a summer worker right after his matriculation exams, then began studying to become an engineer while doing summer and part-time work. After graduation, Halenius was immediately hired permanently at the firm, and has now risen through numerous roles and additional studies to become the company’s CEO.
An important part of responsibility is investing in youth sports. Akseli Kiinteistöpalvelut has long cooperated with the sports club FC Inter by organizing "Lähiöpeli" (Neighborhood Game) events. In these, Inter players come to play ball at the Varissuo sports field with local children. Now, the activity has also expanded into the InterAction school tour, which reaches various parts of Turku through numerous events. The purpose is to provide low-threshold physical activity opportunities for children and families.
– We support the tour because we want to inspire and guide young people towards sports, says Halenius.
The investment in young people has paid off reciprocally. Halenius says that Akseli Kiinteistöpalvelut has never suffered from a labor shortage. Competent workers have always been available in the reserve.
– We do truly valuable work, but the industry is highly competitive and operations have low margins. The industry really needs more appreciation. I believe that these investments of ours influence people’s attitudes and ensure that this field is seen as an attractive option for employment. Our industry always needs skilled professionals.
Akseli Kiinteistöpalvelut Oy Group
Industry: Real Estate
Founded: 1976
Employees: 130
Turnover: €10 million (2022)