Kipinä – celebrating 15 years of Finnish-Polish workforce rental services

The employment agency Kipinä Oy was established in 2010. Throughout its existence, it has primarily focused on providing foreign workforce to Finland and other Nordic countries. In addition to its headquarters in Finland, Kipinä has its own recruitment and employment agencies in Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania, as well as partners in Slovakia, India, and Latvia. Kipinä specializes in recruiting and leasing blue-collar workers across all sectors. We had an opportunity to speak with Juha Kivimäki – CEO of Kipinä, who told us about his company’s operations in Poland, their international recruitment efforts, and his opinion on the evolving labor market.

What is your story in Poland so far?

We operate in Poland under the name Ilves, with more than 15 years of experience as a local employment agency. We currently employ workers in Poland across the production, warehouse, and service sectors – from industrial painters, welders, assemblers and electricians, to cashiers and shop assistants. Our people work not only in factories and warehouses but also in shipyards, food production, and even grocery stores.

Do you also employ Polish workers in Finland?

Yes, that is our core business: hiring foreign workers for Finland. We have people working across the country, from Helsinki to Lapland, in a variety of typical blue-collar positions, such as welding and pavement stone assembly. In addition to the countries where we have our own offices or partners, we hire people from Asia and Africa. We also have projects in other European countries, such as Norway and Ireland.

How is the labor market currently?

Unemployment is low in most countries, not only in Poland but also in Romania and Bulgaria. The lack of qualified workers sometimes forces employers to hire less experienced candidates, and this is where we focus on the selection process. We are proud of our service quality and the low number of terminated contracts. We take full responsibility for selecting the best candidates, managing the recruitment process from A to Z. This enables us to quickly, efficiently, and seamlessly match the right employee to the job.

Has the market changed during the last few years?

It has been quite dynamic in recent years, first due to the pandemic and many companies closing as a result. Then came the war and high inflation. Salaries are still rising quickly in the CEE area, but overall, this has been a more stable year. 

Are there any memorable recruitment projects you'd like to share?

One case in Poland was hiring 120 production workers at once for a single client! That was quite a project, but a successful one.

You have special Finnish names for your companies, Kipinä and Ilves – what is the story behind them?

Are you asking a Tampere guy why Ilves? Of course, Ilves is the local ice hockey team, as everyone knows. Kipinä’s history goes back a long time, to when I read a survey that said orange is the most attractive color to have in a logo. I started thinking about what is orange and came up with fire, and then sparks. In Finland, we have the idea of having “a spark for work,” meaning being passionate. That’s how Kipinä was chosen. Ilves came from our original Polish CEO. She used to stay at Hotel Ilves in Tampere and thought the name sounded wonderful. Naturally, as an Ilves hockey club fan, I had no objection.