The Pinja Summer Party, held in early June, brought together hundreds of Pinja employees from all over Finland. The event also saw the launch of Pinja’s new Data Lovers theme, where the use of data and responsibility go hand in hand, making the world a better place – bit by bit.
After a short joint program, it was time for sports of the participants’ choice. The Summer Party at Aulanko in Hämeenlinna included an adventure park, archery lessons, golf, floorball and ping pong. The bowling alley was also booked for the day, while outdoor equipment included kayaks, canoes, SUP rafts, and fat bikes. Some also went hiking in the nature park, others explored one of the finest frisbee golf courses in Finland.
– Everyone was free to choose the sports they wished to try. After the sports, the hotel’s spa was really popular, says Jaakko Kaski, HR manager and the organizer of the summer party.
Then, Pinja’s people gathered for a dinner, where the celebrations continued long into the night: some went off to grill sausages on a wilderness fire and play music in the lean-to. For disco lovers, there was a nightclub and a DJ, and karaoke went on until almost dawn.
Getting to know your colleagues in a relaxed way
– The best thing was that a kind of dam of remote working was now busting. There were some great encounters at the party: employees who had worked together for several years but met each other for the first time in person, says Kaski.
Jaakko Kaski works in Pinja’s Jyväskylä office and has been with the company since 2009. Jaakko is a former coder and project manager, who is now in charge of recruitment and team spirit.
All the data we process is responsibly moving the world in a better direction.
Kaski is pleased that almost half of the staff could attend the party in their time off.
During the joint program of the Summer Party, he also helped launch Pinja’s new employee brand for the company’s staff.
– We are now Data Lovers! Every one of us at Pinja works with data to reduce food waste, pollution, and traffic deaths – or data to improve the circular economy or energy efficiency. All the data we process is responsibly moving the world in a better direction, Kaski says.
The sun always shines on Pinja’s Summer Party
Some of Pinja’s people arrived at the Summer Party by bicycle. Johannes Nikula, for example, arrived in Hämeenlinna from Espoo in a strong headwind, while Henry Laitinen came from Jyväskylä more than 200 kilometers away. Those who arrived by bike for the Summer Days were already there on Friday evening, and received an extra night’s accommodation from their employer.
Business Manager Martti Typpö, who is responsible for the Pinja HUS project and the operational management of its growing team of around 30 people, also came to the Summer Days event by bicycle.
– I arrived by bike, and it started to rain just after I started. But as I approached the Summer Party, it became sunny and warm! The first third of the route was chilly and windy, but after Jämsä the weather became more pleasant, he says.
– It was nice to arrive by bike, relax and get to know other Pinja people better. I’m quite new to this work community, having started in January this year – and I like the fact that Pinja is agile and fast, and that they are able to respond to the needs of clients and staff quickly.
Kaski, who has been with the company for more than 13 years, also thinks that Pinja is a special place to work:
– Pinja’s work culture is one of pulling together and always wanting to help a colleague, regardless of which business unit they are in or what the problem is. We are genuinely taking their side. Together we work and together we succeed. I have not experienced anything similar anywhere else.
In addition, continuous learning is an important part at Pinja, and employees are granted an annual ten-day learning opportunity. A flexible and trust-based working style allows for 100% remote work for those who want it and the freedom for team members who are located in different places.
Taking responsibility, mutual trust and managing responsibilities, balanced by a very flexible freedom to decide when, where and how. The result is freedom.
According to Kaski, trust and responsibility are important at Pinja.
– From the traineeship onwards, work with us is independent. You have to be able to manage your own work and time. Of course, we brainstorm together, but there’s no micromanaging at Pinja. Taking responsibility, mutual trust and managing responsibilities, balanced by a very flexible freedom to decide when, where and how. The result is freedom.
At Pinja, you can work wherever you want
– You can even work on top of a tree stump if that works for you. We have no constraints regarding the location. We provide offices with chitter-chatter and adult company. If you’re passionate about technology but you’re into working from home or from the cottage, then go for it, Kaski continues.
The majority of Pinja’s recruitment is focused on technical roles, and current vacancies can be found on the Pinja careers page. The company is currently looking for experienced software developers and data warehouse experts, among others.
Pinja, which is rapidly expanding internationally, already has client deliveries in more than 30 countries and the number is constantly growing. This will also open up even more career opportunities in the coming years, perhaps even in the form of international assignments, according to Kaski.
– Things are going international, but for the time being, the work is still being done in Finland. And that’s something our clients appreciate, too.
Kaski says he has been orientating four software engineers at Pinja’s Azure Academy who are about to start their first jobs in the industry.
– And two of them were at the summer party last weekend, even though they only had their first day of work today! This gave them an early taste of the working community. There were people from Kuopio whose jobs don’t start until August – but they also attended the summer party. In line with our culture, we invited everyone to join us in advance, as the names are already on the employment contracts, says Kaski.
Doing things together all year round
In addition to the annual summer party, Pinja also has a strong culture of community events. Pinja has hobby groups ranging from sports events to beer brewing and board game nights. Pinja’s people are all over the country and, for example, every locality has its own traditions during the Christmas season. According to Kaski, Pinja sponsors several hobbies.
– Employees actively organize programs for themselves and each other. In everyday life, even small accomplishments are celebrated with the team. For example, when we finish a publication or a client project, we go out for dinner together. A common culture of celebrating accomplishments exists in every locality, because everyone has a common goal, a common purpose and mutual trust. And humor. I have definitely made new friends through Pinja.
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