Working in tech on Åland – an industry at the forefront

At the tech company Consilia Solutions in Mariehamn, people with different backgrounds, experiences and roles work together – like Adrian, Hassan and Susanna, who all thrive in an industry that moves rapidly forward.

A shortcut into the industry

Adrian took the step into the IT industry through the tech programme grit:lab at Paf in Mariehamn. During the programme, he came into contact with Consilia Solutions, who quickly recognised his potential and recruited him to their security team.

– I've always had an interest in programming and IT. Now I get to work with my hobby, says Adrian, who two years later holds the role of junior security analyst. Instead of a traditional and theoretical education, he has learned by working practically with support from his colleagues.

Adrian is from Åland, but is currently working partly remotely from Turku where his partner is studying. He regularly visits the office in Mariehamn and is happy with the hybrid arrangement. It is flexible while allowing him to maintain personal contact with customers and colleagues.

– It's important to meet in person too! In the middle of the month I'm here for a few days, and at the end of the month I'm here for a full week.

Tommy Sjöblom, COO at Consilia, says that they initially felt guilty about recruiting Adrian before he had finished his studies.

– But when I told grit:lab that we were planning to keep Adrian, they were simply delighted – the whole point of the programme is to get IT-skilled people into the business world.

Experience from different countries

Hassan, for his part, has had a long career in software development and has been working with programming for 25 years. After moving to Åland from Iran, he had the opportunity to do a language internship in Swedish at Consilia, where he now works as a systems developer and is part of the company's Business Central team.

– The work culture here is more relaxed and places a strong emphasis on work-life balance, he says.

Hassan also sees that there are opportunities to develop within IT in Åland, even if the range is more limited than in larger cities.

– You can develop through networking and distance learning. Experience is more important than formal education, he says, emphasising the importance of staying up to date and actively building contacts.

Otherwise, he considers that basic programming, web development, database management and systems development are beneficial for anyone interested in a future career in the industry.

A broader role and a strong sense of community

The tech sector in Åland is not just for developers and engineers. Susanna is from mainland Finland, but grew up in Brazil and has lived in Paris, the Helsinki area and on Kökar in the Åland archipelago. She has a background in entrepreneurship and customer relations and now works as an administrative assistant and in customer support at Consilia.

– Having the opportunity to try something new and grow is a privilege you simply can't turn down, she says. Being able to work in your own mother tongue without fear of language misunderstandings is also a liberating and reassuring feeling.

She describes the tech sector in Åland as advanced and in constant change. Despite Åland being small, there is a strong culture of innovation, while it is easy to combine a career with a nature-close lifestyle.

– The work culture here is inclusive, flexible and encouraging. There is a strong team spirit, perhaps precisely because Åland is a smaller place where everyone knows everyone in some way.

A career in tech in Åland

One of the great advantages of working in tech in Åland is the opportunity to gain broad experience and quickly take on responsibility. At Consilia Solutions, the onboarding for new employees is tailored individually and much of the learning takes place through hands-on work.

– We help each other out and train one another. Since we have a local presence and often an advisory consulting role, it is important that our employees understand Ålandic society and business life, says Tommy Sjöblom.

For Hassan, it is the close contact with customers and the constantly varying tasks that make the job interesting.
– You always learn from challenging customer requirements, he says.

Adrian advises having a hobby outside of work, especially if you move to Åland on your own.

– Find a hobby and a social context, and you'll quickly become part of the community – and it'll help you get through the dark November days, he says with a smile.

To those considering moving to Åland to work in tech, Susanna says:

– Sometimes you just have to be brave and take the leap. Åland has a lot to offer, both professionally and personally.