The area of responsibility covering business and industry, the labour force, competence and cultural activities encompasses the following duties:
Advisory, financing and development services for enterprises
The ELY Centres support the establishment, growth and development of small and medium-sized enterprises by offering advisory, education and development services, and financing. Services offered by the ELY Centres cover the internationalisation of businesses, the improvement of business efficiency and management skills, the development of technology and innovations, further education for personnel and training for new employees. In addition, ELY Centres may also participate in the funding of development projects. Financial assistance is discretionary, the amount varying depending on the nature of the project.
In matters related to starting and running a business, information and guidance is provided by the Enterprise Finland Telephone Service, available Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tel. +358 10 19 4680.
Developing trade and industry and innovation environments
ELY Centres grant support for projects undertaken by public bodies. Through business communities in the region in question, these projects seek to create new jobs while improving the operating environment. They also promote the launch of new business activities, create favourable preconditions for business development and render areas more attractive from a business perspective.
The vitality of Finland and its regions is based on companies’ high expertise and the efficient commercial application of innovations. ELY Centres co-operate with actors in the field of innovation. They also promote the internationalisation of innovation environments and networking with top regions in Europe and the rest of the world.
Regional labour and industrial policy
ELY Centres are key actors in promoting regional labour and industrial policy. Good regional industrial policy is developed in co-operation with other actors in the region. Activities by ELY Centres are therefore aimed at achieving a balanced regional structure, strengthening entrepreneurship and growth, and promoting employment.
The ELY Centres improve the functioning of labour markets by planning the required employment services and managing employment. By supporting the activities of Employment and Economic Development Offices and influencing the development of activities at regional level, ELY Centres develop and co-ordinate employment services and promote employment. They also prevent social exclusion and discrimination.
- National Help Line Työlinja
Tel. +358 10 19 4904
(from Finland 010 19 4904)
E-mail: tyolinja@mol.fi
Information on employment office services and guidance for persons seeking work in Finland
Developing the agricultural and rural industries
Developing rural livelihoods and ensuring the vitality of the countryside is one of the duties of ELY Centres. The aim is to improve the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry while promoting fishery and other rural livelihoods.
The ELY Centres provide funding for farms and other rural enterprises, for investment and development purposes. They also fund projects that improve business opportunities for rural industries and increase the vitality of the countryside. In addition, ELY Centres handle tasks related to the monitoring of agricultural subsidies, plant inspection and food production, and some steering of food production.
Promoting the fishing industry
A total of 11 ELY Centres handle matters related to the fishing industry. These Centres serve the whole of Finland with the exception of Åland. ELY Centres are regional authorities responsible for fishing industry-related matters and operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. In Åland, the Government of Åland is the authority responsible for the fishing industry.
ELY Centres handle tasks related to the fishing industry, professional fishing, recreational fishing, the ownership and administration of fishing waters, and such waters’ management.
For further information on recreational fishing, visit the website of the Finnish Federation for Recreational Fishing.
Immigration, integration of immigrants and employment
On a regional basis, ELY Centres handle tasks related to immigration, integration and good ethnic relations.
Immigration-related tasks include:
- issuing regional guidelines concerning work permits for foreign workforce
- tasks related to the integration of immigrants
- providing guidance and advice for immigrants who establish businesses
- promoting ethnic equality and non-discrimination, and
- providing information on the European Refugee Fund (ERF).
For their part, the Employment and Economic Development Offices are responsible for arranging services and measures that provide support and encourage the integration of immigrants registered as jobseekers.
Promoting co-operation in adult education
ELY Centres aspire towards adult education that supports citizens’ participation in society and working life. For this reason, ELY Centres strengthen regional co-operation in adult education, as well as networking between organisers of education, enterprises and other stakeholders.
Forecasting developments in business and employment trends, and skill and educational needs
Analysing and forecasting changes in the business environment are key elements in the preparation of ELY Centres' and regional councils' strategies and performance plans. ELY Centres collect information on the state of the region's business life, the environment, employment and infrastructure. Based on this, they forecast future developments. In doing so, they aim to support regional decision-making by improving the underlying knowledge base.
Regional competitiveness is improved through the forecasting of educational needs. ELY Centres are responsible for forecasting adult educational needs. They participate in the long-term forecasting of such needs, which is led by regional councils. The goal is to match regional supply of education with demand. Sharing forecast information and providing information on the results are central principles of forecasting.
Forecasting developments in business and employment trends, and skill and educational needs
Analysing and forecasting changes in the business environment are key elements in the preparation of ELY Centres' and regional councils' strategies and performance plans. ELY Centres collect information on the state of the region's business life, the environment, employment and infrastructure. Based on this, they forecast future developments. In doing so, they aim to support regional decision-making by improving the underlying knowledge base.
Regional competitiveness is improved through the forecasting of educational needs. ELY Centres are responsible for forecasting adult educational needs. They participate in the long-term forecasting of such needs, which is led by regional councils. The goal is to match regional supply of education with demand. Sharing forecast information and providing information on the results are central principles of forecasting.
Planning, procurement and follow-up of vocational and adult education
The ELY Centres plan, monitor and develop adult education. They distribute aid to organisers of adult education for the task of developing and serving working life. The Centres are also responsible for developing services supporting expertise in SMEs and the procurement of training under the employment policy.
Enhancing the competence of teaching staff and developing student guidance
Together with Regional State Administrative Agencies, ELY Centres arrange short-term supplementary training for teaching staff in vocational education and vocational adult education. They improve the targeting and demand-orientation of adult education by developing information, advisory and guidance services in the regions.
Promoting culture and the creative economy
Art, culture and the creative economy have become an increasingly important part of regional development, competence and competitiveness. ELY Centres aim to boost cultural entrepreneurship and the creative economy, reinforcing co-operation among actors in the cultural sector and those involved in regional development. They also seek to strengthen new forms of art and cultural services. ELY Centres assess the development of operational preconditions for actors in the cultural sector.
Library services, sports and physical training services and youth services
Library and information services are an important part of regional development, competence and well-being. ELY Centres promote the quality and availability of library services as a basic local service for citizens. Furthermore, they support co-operation between municipalities in arranging library and information services, promote media education work carried out by libraries and organise supplementary training for library staff. Libraries are developed as environments of learning, activities and experiences open to all. ELY Centres also prepare assessments of the availability of library services for regional state administration agencies.
The ELY Centres promote favourable conditions in which young people can live and grow while gaining independence. They also advance active citizenship and social empowerment. The well-being of young people is promoted through multi-sectoral co-operation, with the aim of improving the opportunities of all young people to participate in leisure activities. Another objective is to improve the representation of young people’s opinions and increase their participation in society. Supporting young people in danger of social exclusion and easing their placement in education and working life is pursued by means of outreach youth work, workshop activities for young people and substance abuse prevention. International activities aim at increasing international interaction between youth workers and between young people themselves, particularly in neighbouring areas.
Sports promote the well-being of the population, as well as health and functional ability at all stages of life. The focus is on sports for children and young people. ELY Centres work to improve operational conditions at local level. In practice, this means increasing exercise-related guidance in municipalities, supporting service provision at sports and exercise venues, and strengthening intra-municipality co-operation over services provided by the private and third sectors.
The tasks of the library, sports and youth functions have been pooled into six ELY Centres.
Tasks related to the construction of educational institutions, libraries and sports venues
ELY Centres support educational institution construction projects. In funding educational institutions, the aim is to develop a permanent network of such institutions based on educational needs. Health and safety of the premises are emphasised in the construction of educational institutions, while account is taken of accessibility requirements and economic energy use.
The ELY Centres promote the acquisition of modern, high-quality library premises and mobile library vehicles for libraries in their areas. Furthermore, ELY Centres also grant assistance for the construction of sports venues.
Tasks related to construction have been pooled into six ELY Centres.
Structural Fund tasks
The regional and structural policy of the European Union balances regional differences between member states and alleviates their structural problems. Regional and structural policy is based on support granted from EU funds, combined in every case with national funding.
ELY Centres play a significant role in granting EU funding and are key actors in regional development. Additional funding from the EU's structural funds is granted for activities that improve Finnish competences, employment opportunities and competitiveness. Another aim is to develop equal opportunities for both people and the regions, and to prevent social exclusion.
The ELY Centres grant support from the following funds:
- European Regional Development Fund
- European Social Fund
- European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
- European Fisheries Fund
For further information on structural funds, visit http://www.rakennerahastot.fi/rakennerahastot/en/index.jsp
Co-operation with neighbouring areas and international activities
ELY centres implement some neighbouring-area co-operation projects between Finland and Russia.
Supporting economic growth and social progress, while promoting the prerequisites for co-operation between authorities, businesses and citizens in neighbouring areas, is a key objective of Finland's neighbouring area co-operation. In Finland, co-operation with neighbouring areas is co-ordinated by the Unit for Regional Cooperation under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Co-operation with neighbouring areas has a particular focus on the promotion of economic co-operation. In addition, co-operation is used to promote environmental protection and nuclear safety, to avoid the threats posed by infectious diseases and drugs, to help strengthen civic society and to advance administrative and legal reforms.
Finland's co-operation with neighbouring areas concentrates on North-west Russia, especially the Republic of Karelia, the Leningrad region, the Murmansk Oblast and Saint Petersburg. In particular, economic co-operation can also be realised in other regions of Russia of importance to Finland.
ELY Centres promote international and neighbouring-area co-operation in education, library, sports and youth functions. Within their respective regions, ELY Centres provide information services on the internationalisation services offered by CIMO, the Centre for International Mobility. For further information on studying in Finland, visit http://www.studyinfinland.fi/.