At its meeting on March 9, 2021, Liiver's board of directors has decided to award the Dare to grow diploma to the entrepreneurs of the cooperative Sopivan Tiia and Ilkka to Hanhisalo. The diploma was awarded at Liiver's annual meeting on March 30, 2021.
Cooperative Sopiva subcontracts women's and children's clothing for well-known brands all over Finland. In the last three years, the company has invested boldly. The investments have brought significant growth in both the number of employees and turnover. Three years ago, the company employed an entrepreneur. Investments in modern machines and equipment made it possible to increase the number of customers and employees. The premises along the shopping streets remained small and new, suitable premises were found along Mattilantie in Ilmajoki.
In the spring of 2020, the need for protective clothing caused by Corona brought yet another phase to the company. Sopiva networked with other textile companies in the area and began manufacturing protective jackets for hospitals. This temporarily brought many new jobs to the company and the turnover increased many times compared to the situation three years ago. Now orders for protective clothing have ended for the time being, but cooperation with companies continues. Together, the companies have set out to solve the textile industry's employee shortage with recruitment training. Courage and innovation in the textile industry, which is already thought to be almost lost, is an excellent example of how a new kind of thinking creates a successful business. Through cooperation and networking, issues can be resolved that no one's resources would be sufficient for alone.
Cooperative Sopiva has actively developed, grown and networked in its field. Hanhisalos have shown through their own activities that courage and innovation bring about growth and well-being in the region. They have exemplified cooperation with other companies and have been able to react quickly and flexibly to changed situations.
- We are very surprised and happy about the diploma. It's wonderful to notice that our company's ideas and work are appreciated in this way, Tiia and Ilkka Hanhisalo comment.
Liiveri annually awards a diploma for exemplary development work. The diploma highlights the development work supported by Liiver and good practical examples.