Fazer’s “125 Opportunities for Working Life” initiative awarded as Recruitment Activity of the Year in Finland

Fazer’s recruitment training initiative “125 Opportunities for Working Life” has been awarded as the Recruitment Activity of the Year. The initiative has generated a variety of continuation paths for the participants. Of those who have completed the training so far, 70 per cent have been employed either by Fazer or some other company. Some of the participants have also been inspired to continue their studies. The final training group began their studies in August 2018.

In 2016, Fazer launched a recruitment training programme – “125 Opportunities for Working Life” – for people who have experienced problems finding employment. The initiative is proceeding according to its goals, and 85 people have completed the training so far. The graduation party of the most recent training group was held on 5 June 2018. The groups have numbered five altogether, with two focused on restaurant work and three on production. The final training involving restaurant work began in August.

The “125 Opportunities for Working Life” initiative was elected the Recruitment Activity of the Year at the Rekrygaala event arranged for the first time. The winner was voted from among three finalists by recruitment professionals.

“We’re very happy that the initiative has offered some genuine opportunities for people to change the direction of their lives,” says Mika Videman, Executive Vice President, Human Resources of Fazer Group. The paths that participants have taken after graduation are varied. “Some 70 per cent of the graduates have found employment relationships of varying lengths either at us or elsewhere. The training has also provided many with more self-confidence and courage to seek further training.”

Difference as an asset

Finnish workplaces are becoming increasingly diverse in terms of their workforce. The participants in Fazer’s training initiative have included long-term unemployed, young unemployed, partially disabled people and immigrants. 

“Immigrants often have a hard time finding employment due to less than perfect language skills. Yet learning work-related terminology and a language at the same time through work is easy,” says Mika Videman. Supervisors at the training sites have also indicated that language skills have not been an issue. When necessary, people have resorted to gestures. “The initiative has provided our supervisors with experience and confidence to lead diverse teams and the courage to hire different kinds of people,” adds Videman. 

At Fazer, diversity is seen as a positive resource and social employment is considered an important part of corporate responsibility. Fazer has also established a special work group to advance diversity.

“The whole company is proud of the recruitment training initiative, and our employees are happy to be involved in doing something good,” says Videman. “We’re hoping that other companies would also be inspired to take on corresponding initiatives.”

Fazer’s “125 Opportunities for Working Life” initiative

Launched in 2016, Fazer’s recruitment initiative “125 Opportunities for Working Life” is meant for people who have experienced problems finding employment, such as the long-term unemployed, young unemployed, partially disabled people and immigrants. The training includes both theory and on-the-job learning periods, and it is carried out in cooperation with Suomen Diakoniaopisto (the former Helsinki Deaconess Institute) and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.

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Fazer Group

Fazer is an International family-owned company offering quality bakery, confectionery, biscuit and grain products, plant-based meals, non-dairy products, on-the-go food & drinks as well as food and café services. Fazer’s mission is Food with a Purpose. The Group operates in eight countries and exports to around 40 countries. Fazer’s success, ever since its establishment in 1891, has been based on the best product and service quality, beloved brands, the passion of its skilful people and the Group’s responsible ways of working. In 2017, Fazer Group had net sales of 1.6 billion euros and nearly 15,000 employees. Fazer’s operations comply with ethical principles that are based on the Group’s values and the UN Global Compact.

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