This summer, Väriset employs around 200 seasonal workers. Most of them are young university students, and providing work for them has been an important resource and cornerstone throughout our company’s history. Väriset Oy is committed to creating jobs and setting an example of courage.
“I was still a young student myself when we started the business,” says Jeremias Peltokorpi, who founded Väriset Oy in 2012 with his brother Konsta Peltokorpi. Before this, they had already been painting houses during summers for years as sole proprietors. Today, Jeremias Peltokorpi is the chairman of our company’s board.
“It felt great and meaningful when we could hire other young people too. However, I’ve always thought about it more in terms of us being in a tremendously privileged position every time someone chooses to come work for us. I think the company should be worthy of that trust every single day, so that choice could be made again and again.”
– – we are in a tremendously privileged position every time someone chooses to come work for us
Career paths in green colors
Employing young people is close to our hearts. Throughout our history, students from various fields have worked during our exterior painting seasons, often returning every summer to paint until doors to jobs in their own field of study open. Some stay with the Väriset team permanently.
“For us, hiring young students and employees in the early stages of their careers has always been the primary option,” Peltokorpi says.
“Practically all of our company’s key personnel consists of people who started with us in summer jobs either as painters or in other roles and decided to continue with us after completing their studies. I believe that’s also why customers get better value for their money from us.”
We encourage each other to be courageous
Our company’s operating principles include cherishing courage. We are willing to take risks and try new things so we can grow and develop: courage and innovation are the key to creating something new and evolving. We also encourage other companies to be courageous, because only by daring can you achieve great things.
“Väriset’s operations are strongly based on shared values and culture. One of our values is courage, which means we encourage each other to be courageous both in daily operations and in major decisions,” Peltokorpi says.
Right now is the time for courageous decisions
Youth summer unemployment is exceptionally high this year. We decided to respond to this courageously through our own strengths. Our answer is to offer those who order a house painting or tile roof maintenance from us by Midsummer a lifetime roof maintenance agreement completely free of charge. This way we can bring peace of mind to our customers and create jobs for young people now when it’s needed most.
“In times like these, it would be much easier and safer to play it safe and, for example, reduce production to match market demand, but I think right now is exactly the moment when courageous decisions are especially needed from every company,” says Peltokorpi.
We believe that together we can achieve more and create positive changes both in our company and in our society. This is what we want to encourage: not just talk about courage, but live it daily.