The Largest Business Federation in Finland
The Federation of Finnish Enterprises has the largest membership of all business-related federations in Finland. Today our membership consists of more than 110,000 enterprises of all sizes, from all corners of the country, and encompasses the entire business spectrum. The membership structure provides a good reflection of the structure of Finnish business as a whole.
Entrepreneurs have a vital role in keeping the wheels of Finnish society and the economy turning. We play an active role in ensuring that our political decision-makers act to improve the environment that small and medium-sized enterprises operate in. We also provide information to the public to help influence opinions and raise public awareness of entrepreneurship in Finland.
We influence and interact with Finnish decision-makers at all levels: locally, nationally and in the European Union.
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SMEs: the cornerstone of our economy
Finland has a total of 253,000 enterprises (2007 figures, excluding agriculture), of which 99.7% are SMEs employing less than 250 people. 93% of Finnish companies have fewer than 10 employees.
The role of SMEs in Finnish employment and the economy is quite significant. Of all private-sector employees, as many as 62% work for companies employing fewer than 250 people. These enterprises generate 49% of the combined turnover of all Finnish businesses. SMEs are responsible for more than 13% of Finland’s export revenue.
86,000 Finnish entrepreneurs provide permanent jobs for employees, while 154,000 work as sole traders. Up to a third of all Finnish entrepreneurs, which is are women, a high figure in Europe.
The pro-portion of entrepreneurs in Finland is below the EU and OECD average. The same also true regarding the number of people who plan to start their own companies. The fact that fewer people in Finland intend to choose entrepreneurship as a career, when compared to other countries, is somewhat surprising as many surveys show entrepreneurship is held in high regard within Finland.
Core competence among our members
Sky-Bar Oy, Pasi Partanen
Entrepreneur, Sky-Bar Ravintolat Oy, Located at Koskenselkä Holiday Village, Puumala and Imatra.
Pasi is a 30-year-old travel industry professional who began his career at the age of 19. During the summer season his company employs around 45 people, with around a dozen during the winter.
Amfora Ky, Päivi Rintaniemi
Entrepreneur and managing director of Amfora Ky, Seinäjoki.
Her company has around eight employees, with another two seasonal workers. Amfora produces durable porcelain items for everyday use and interior decor. The business was founded in 1985.