International recruitment helps Promeco grow

Promeco is a contract manufacturer that delivers electromechanical solutions to the marine, energy, rail transport and manufacturing industries. Its customers are mainly European technology companies.

All customer sectors have their own specific requirements that come from both their customers and legislation. CEO Ville Ritakorpi highlights competence as a key success factor of the business, as it can be used to meet the requirements.

“To stay on the growth path, we need to constantly develop our competence. We need skilled staff, and international recruitment is a key component.”

Sales and Marketing Director Hanna Pahkala stresses that Promeco has found new growth opportunities thanks to international recruitment. Thanks to its chosen path, the company has found the experts it needs.

According to Ritakorpi, without international recruitment, Promeco would not have been able to grow. Foreign experts have been an effective help and a quick enough pipeline to make a growth leap.

Promeco has two factories in Kankaanpää. Satakunta is a small economic area with a limited amount of available labor. In addition, it has one factory in Vaasa. There are many energy companies there, competing for the same workforce.

“Manufacturing requires manual work. If you don’t have employees, you cannot accept work or grow your turnover. Having sufficient manpower is a critical factor for growth,” says Ritakorpi.

30% of Promeco Finland's personnel have an international background, with employees from 18 different countries. The main countries of origin are Poland, the Philippines, Ukraine and the Baltic states.

"To create a functioning international work community, we need both training and orientation, as well as instructions and rules," says HR Manager Jonna Ylikoski.

Ritakorpi emphasizes that international recruitment requires a strategic decision, as it needs an initial resource investment.

"When people from around the world join the work community, training and cultural understanding are essential. This is where you should make use of expert services." 

Staffing agency Bondata is Promeco's international recruiting partner. Lari Nurmi Bondata's business manager, says that they take care of everything related to settling and integration in life outside of work, both in the country of origin and in Finland.

“We have our own team in the country of origin, such as the Philippines, to ensure professional competence and a smooth work permit process. In addition, we provide online training to help them get to know Finnish society and working life, as well as early basic Finnish.”

For newcomers, Bondata provides furnished apartments In Finland. They receive help with acquiring a personal identity number, tax card, bank account, national insurance card and other everyday matters.

According to Ritakorpi, Pahkala and Ylikoski, Promeco has had positive experiences with international recruitment.

“We have found skilled workers from the Philippines, who have improved and seized new career opportunities. It did not take long for the new arrivals to already begin teaching the summer workers in their tasks,” says Ritakorpi.

• Get serious, don't just experiment. Make a strategic decision and invest heavily in the beginning. Be bold and embrace the new!

• Identify what you can do on your own and get the rest from externally. Use a partner if you are recruiting people from the other side of the world.

• Prepare your organization for what’s coming. Provide language courses to ensure that your managers know the language. Prepare the necessary language versions of your processes and instructions.