BRIGHT PLACE BRIGHT PEOPLE

BRIGHT PLACE BRIGHT PEOPLE

Moving to Tampere? Congratulations. Finland is the country that works We think that you are about to move to one of the greatest region in Finland. We are sorry to say that you won t find any polar bears or penguins here (or anywhere else in Finland) but we ensure you that you will find some really nice people, lakes that are so pure that you can virtually drink straight from them and a modern and functioning society. Tampere The best place to live in Finland Willingness to move 2012 research, Taloustutkimus We warmly welcome you to our hometown, Tampere! Read ahead and put your mind at ease regarding some of the concerns you may have. If you need more information, please visit our web site: livetampere.fi Tampere Compact and convenient So what is it like to live in Tampere Region? Too pragmatic for perfectionism, you ll find a laid-back version of the Finnish way of life. Fantastically functional and conveniently compact, there s room for everything and everyone in Tampere open attitudes to your dreams and aspirations. Some say the only things Tampere lacks are an ocean, mountains, and a sense of self-importance. In addition to Tampere, the Tampere city region includes seven neighbouring municipalities: Kangasala, Lempäälä, Nokia, Orivesi, Pirkkala, Vesilahti and Ylöjärvi. Each of the region s municipalities has its own unique qualities. winter Spring summer It is safe and honest We are proud to be top of the least corrupt countries across the globe (Transparency International s 2012 Index) and in fact also the most honest people in the world lives in Finland according to Reader s Digest. Finland s capital Helsinki is the world s second safest city (2011 Quality of Living worldwide city rankings) and Tampere is the one of the safest cities in Finland (Finnish Crime Report 2012). It loves knowledge and studying Finland is famous for its education system and ranking in PISA studies. When we have learned to read, there is nothing to stop our desire for knowledge. Finland is ranked the country borrowing the most books from public libraries (18 per capita). That means that a family of five borrowing 100 books during one year is nothing unusual. Along with its Nordic neighbours, Finland also tops the world in newspaper reading. It likes to play it clean According to studies, Finland is is one of the cleanest countries in the world (Environmental Policy Index). Our forests, lakes and rivers have been found to be particularly clean, but Finnish people also like to keep themselves clean by bathing in our beloved sauna. Almost every home has a sauna in it. There are over 3 million of them, which means that there are more of them than cars in Finland! It wants to take good care of you Finland is the top country in many measures of wellbeing (Better Life Index). Our public services are well known for their high quality. For example, Save the Children has ranked Finland as the best country in the world to be a mother. A five times smaller risk of maternal death than in the US for example, and gender equality in working life are among the things that make Finland number one. After this it s not a surprise that Finland is the second happiest country in the world (World Happiness Report). For more local information: www.infopankki.fi/en/tampere autumn The coldest temperature in wintertime 30 C Daylight time: 5 hours The warmest temperature in summertime +30 C Daylight time: 19 hours It knows how to make business Even though The life in Finland is more laid-back than in many other modern societies with a stronger drive for money and success, we love to do business and the results are good. The Global Competitiveness Index ranks us as the third most competitive country. We have also second best workers in the world (World Economic Forum), who are probably best known for their expertise in ICT and the mobile games industry. What is your score in Angry Birds? 2

From heavy industry to heavy rock and heavy thinking Finland is the globe s most successful country socially, economically and politically. The 2011 Failed States Index Tampere is the largest inland city in the Nordic countries and a traditional centre of the Finnish industry. Today, the city is best known for its high tech expertise and extensive know-how in various fields. Tampere, together with its surrounding municipalities, creates one of the fastest growing city regions in Finland that offers excellent business and working opportunities. Working Culture in Tampere In the Finnish working culture, individuality and initiative are highly valued together with strict observance of agreements and agreed schedules. Organisational hierarchies are low and the use of people s first names is common. Regular working hours are forty hours per week and eight hours per day from 8 or 9 till 4 or 5. Working hours are often flexible according to the family s needs. From chef to chief or actor to doctor, you can find appreciation for your expertise in Tampere. The Finnish mentality is known for valuing entrepreneurship and human capital. Tampere has an extensive industrial structure and a lot of different possibilities for professionals. Being a Business Owner in Finland Entrepreneurs and managers can easily find a lot of educated and motivated professionals. According to the Global Competitiveness Index of 2013 we are ranked number 1 in availability of scientists and engineers. Wow! Business and entrepreneurship is highly valued and supported with different kinds of programmes and organisations. Join Talent Tampere in LinkedIn! Talent Tampere is a group on LinkedIn where you can promote your know-how, look for a job or have conversations on work related issues. It is a meeting place for international talent and employers. Still worried if you should wear a tie on your first day at the office? Read more at: livetampere.fi. 4

School s out forever? Sorry to disappoint you, but the answer is no. In Finland we are proud of our internationally recognised educational system. For international people moving to Tampere, there are numerous possibilities for pursuing academics for everyone from juniors to seniors. Every child has the right to free teaching, free school lunches, and the right to study their own religion and mother tongue. Day Care and Preschool You can find high quality and carefully thought out daycare programs for babies and toddlers. Preschool education starts at the age of six. It is free of charge and lasts for one year, four hours a day. Comprehensive School Tampere region is the vivid city with 500,000 people including 38,000 full-time students. Children between the ages of 7 16 who are staying here on a more permanent basis have the right to attend a Finnish comprehensive school. When moving to Finland, children are entitled to preparatory instruction (for one year). After completing preparatory instruction, the child is able to start in the school nearest to his or her home. Children can also attend the local international school, Fista (Finnish International School of Tampere), after passing the school s entrance exam. The teaching language at Fista is English. Specialized schools in Tampere also offer teaching that happens partly in German or French. Upper Secondary School Upper Secondary Schools often put emphasis on some specific subject like art, music, science, sports, communication, mathematics and information technology, internationalisation and creative skills. Vocational Colleges combine high school education and vocational qualifications for specific occupations. They tend to have a lot of international students and offer programmes in English. Day care centers and schools offer morning- and afternoon clubs, which help parents in planning and balancing their work and family life. Adult High School Programmes (Evening School) offer education for adults who want to get an Baccalaureate Diploma. Courses can be completed by studying in the evenings. Universities We have three universities: TAMK (Tampere University of Applied Sciences), TUT (Tampere University of Technology) and UTA (University of Tampere). Each of them offers two language possibilities: Finnish and English. All of them offer the possibility to gain an international degree. Our universities collaborate regularly with numerous other educational institutions, organisations and business life. Already got your diploma but still interested in increasing your skills? Read more about study programmes at unipolitampere.fi. 6

Living in a bird s nest Life in Finland is like living in a bird s nest, because the living conditions are so agreeable. Schools, workplaces and services are normally close to home and we don t have big city pollution or traffic problems. You can enjoy beautiful lake scenery and nature by taking just a few steps out of the city centre. And our city centre is very pretty with flowing rapids, green parks, stores and theatres. If you see delicious mushrooms or blueberries in a Finnish forest, you have the right to pick them. Everyman s rights allow everyone to enjoy nature s offerings freely. Safety and Quality of Living Finland is a safe country where the government has a social responsibility to take care of its citizens and provide comprehensive public services. You can feel safe while walking our streets, parks or forests. We have been ranked among the three safest countries in the world and rank first in quality of living (Better Life Index). But remember to still come equipped with your common sense when you leave your home country. Check kela.fi for additional information on Health Care and Social Security benefits that you might be entitled to. Housing as you like Houses and apartments in Finland are generally of high quality, have all modern conveniences and well heated in winter. There is always warm inside your house, although it is outside 30 degrees below zero. During those cold days we love to cuddle in front of the fireplace and read a good book. One of the beauties of Tampere is its variety. You can find homes according to your taste: next to the lakeside, urban city centre flats or terraced houses with forest views. Invited to visit a Finnish home? A coffee makes a good gift. Finland is the country with the heaviest coffee consumption in the world. Distances are short: even if you live next to the lakeside, you can go by bike to work. The Tampere city region includes also seven neighbouring municipalities: Kangasala, Lempäälä, Nokia, Orivesi, Pirkkala, Vesilahti and Ylöjärvi. It s common that people live in one these municipalities and work in Tampere. Distances are short and possibilities with different kinds of housing are unlimited. Need more advice for finding the perfect home? Visit livetampere.fi. For more local information: www.infopankki.fi/en/tampere 8

Sometimes you just have to let loose You do not need tickets to the amusement park. This family is having fun in the snow. It s not only about working and studying in Tampere. We also know how to have fun. You can find all imaginable types of leisure and shopping opportunities here in Tampere, so no need to just sit alone in your house or wander in the forests. Design and Shopping Finnish design has been characterised as clear and functional, and as having a minimalist language of form and genuine natural materials. You can find famous Finnish and Scandinavian design in our design block next to our most popular shopping mall, Koskikeskus. High-quality department stores Stockmann and Sokos bring the latest fashion and cosmetics to you. Ikea is the best friend of everybody who wants to furnish his or her home with style and affordable prices. You can buy fresh vegetables, fruit, bread, meat and fish straight from the local producers at our century-old Kauppahalli (Market Hall). International networking in Tampere On Facebook: Tampere Allbright, Tampere foreigners On blog: Dirty Cars ja Million Cows On LinkedIn: Talent Tampere On web: Migration Info Centre Remember to also visit IdeaPark just outside the city limits, which is one of Finland s largest shopping centres with over 100 000 m2 shopping area and nearly 1,2 km indoor pedestrian street. In addition to a huge selection of stores you can find an indoor amusement park and lots of nice restaurants and cafes on the premises. Sports and Activities Tampere city offers a wide variety of sports and leisure facilities from swimming pools, rambling routes, instructed activities and much more. The sports facilities of the city have been designed for the residents of the city and are available throughout the year. Culture and Societies Tampere is called the city of theatres in Finland. You can find theatre pieces like comedies, musicals and dramas. In the summertime our streets and parks are filled with different kinds of festivals and happenings. During the winter you may wish to enjoy one of our music concerts or vintage happenings. Finland is famous for its internationally popular heavy metal bands but you can find a lot of other concerts and festivals to suit your taste. Ask anything in 17 languages, Migration Info Centre Mainio has the answers! www.tampere.fi/maahanmuuttajainfo. 10

Getting around In Tampere going from place to place is easy. Distances are short and we seldom have traffic jams. Tampere holds a central position in Southern Finland. Many major cities are only a short distance away. For example, driving to Helsinki takes about two hours and International flights are leaving every day from Tampere- Pirkkala airport. What would you do with extra 6 days in a year? Spend more time with your family? The average duration of a traffic jam Tampere Berlin Paris Stockholm Moscow 8 minutes 29 minutes 40 minutes 48 minutes 74 minutes Buses Tampere Public Transport covers all of Tampere from one end to the other, and also gives you fast and easy access to the surrounding municipalities. trains Due to the geographical location of Tampere, the travel times are relatively short in all directions. There are good working facilities with Wi-Fi connections in most trains. by car Private motoring is easy because traffic is not heavy, roads are well maintained (also in the wintertime), and cars are well equipped with appropriate winter gear. In Finland we do not have tolls. flying If you want to fly away from us, you can do it from Tampere-Pirkkala airport. There are direct flights to many European destinations. It s safe for kids to walk or bike to school independently. Biking and walking There are 534 kilometres of bike lanes for you to cycle on. As a matter of fact, Tampere was chosen as Finland s Bicycling Municipality of the year in 2013. You can also easily go to different places in Tampere by walking. If you want to check the distances between cities or see more transportation information, visit livetampere.fi. 12

Do the bright thing. Come to Tampere! Tampere Region Economic Development Agency Tredea Juhlatalonkatu 5 FI-33100 Tampere Finland www.livetampere.fi My boss is a great man who understands the strengths of a multicultural workplace. And, thanks to him, I am also an ardent supporter of Ilves, the local hockey team. - Ibrahim Al-Rashid, Marketing and Export Manager Living in the Tampere region since 2004 I didn t speak a word of Finnish, but people were very helpful and it s easy to get by with English. But I m happy I decided to learn Finnish, it s the key to the local culture. - Yu Ma, Graduate student / Project Secretary Living in the Tampere region since 2005 You here with us I started my own business, Decoark Ltd two years ago. My goal is to bring my home country and Tampere closer together and to build business connections. - Gloria Zúñiga, Architect, Managing Director, Entrepreneur Living in the Tampere region since 1996 My family likes living here, as we have the more time to be together. Longing for my home country is sometimes strong but it is easy to get there by air from Tampere. - Tatjana Skoka, Dentist Living in the Tampere region since 20011 Tampere is a small place full of big people. There is a summer theatre and a lake with its beautiful shores. In the winter I like skiing, sledging and jigging. - Nicolas Taverne, Technician Living in the Tampere region since 2006 14

www.tampereallbright.fi I www.livetampere.fi Powered by Tredea 2013