Recently, many social enterprises have been established. One of them is Nightingale Services Ltd., which provides various social services, such as family work, enhanced family work, support services and support services for young people in after-care. The fact that a year and a half after the company was founded, it employs three employees in addition to three entrepreneurs is a testament to its strong start.
Starting and growing a business
Entrepreneur Tiia Wallin switched to the social sector as an adult, after first being an entrepreneur in another field for ten years.
– When I came into this industry, I saw a lot of opportunities. I knew all along that I couldn't go it alone as an entrepreneur, but needed good people around me. Then, when I found the right people, it was safe to start planning the company.
In addition to Tiia, Satakielien Services also has entrepreneurs Riina Ylä-Sulkava and Markus Huotari–IbañezAll three have strong experience and expertise in the social sector.
Tiia is proud that she has had customers since the beginning.
– It means that we have done good work in the field before. We have received a lot of good feedback and we have been able to work according to our own values.
Transparency is at the heart of the operation – for clients, social services and the welfare area. Goals are set together with the client and social services, and if they change, the situation is discussed openly.
Processes are customer-oriented and in line with the customer's interests. We are committed to customers and their needs. Customers are not only kept within the scope of the service, but we walk alongside them and guide them to the right services in cooperation with the purchasing party.
According to Tiia, Satakielen Palvelut is the first female-dominated company in the region. She wants to encourage other women working in the social sector to become entrepreneurs.
– It has been my own inner will – it shows that women can do it.
First year challenges
Although Tiia was already familiar with starting a company, becoming a social entrepreneur brought with it a surprising amount of bureaucracy and dealing with permits. The first year was very busy, and there was little time for vacation. In the fall of 2024, it was time to participate in competitions. Being an entrepreneur is a continuous learning process.
– In the fall, we participated in competitions for the first time, and now we have reviewed our experiences and learned from our mistakes.
Tiia believes that when starting a business, finding a good accounting firm is of paramount importance. The accounting firm has provided entrepreneurs with legal advice and help, for example, with drawing up a shareholder agreement. However, the first person to turn to with the business idea was Into Seinäjoki.
– Into Seinäjoki is still with us and we have received the best sparring from there.
Satakielien palvelut received Leader support from Liiver to start the company. Support was granted for, among other things, expert services and equipment purchases. The support helped, among other things, to draw up an important shareholder agreement.
– The support was really important. There are many other expenses when starting a business.
The everyday life of a social entrepreneur
Everyday life as an entrepreneur is busy and full of work, and that is exactly the kind of everyday life Tiia wants to live. The work is mainly customer work, which involves, for example, meeting customers, recording and contacting them. In addition, the work includes basic entrepreneur work, such as payroll issues. The company is also being developed.
Young people in particular have captured Wall's heart.
– The best part of the job is that you get to build a relationship of trust with the customer.
Satakielien Palvelut has been operating for 1.5 years now, and currently the entrepreneurs are quietly considering which direction to take.
– There are ideas. We are innovative visionaries and all three of us are united by the desire to develop this field. We do not believe that society is sustainable by constantly throwing money somewhere, but rather that the processes must be of high quality and good.
According to Tiia, the length of the processes does not determine the quality, but the process must be truly goal-oriented and good from the customer's perspective. Entrepreneurs have a desire to influence matters on a societal level.
Tips for new entrepreneurs
For others dreaming of social entrepreneurship, Tiia has a few tips. It's a good idea to start by talking to entrepreneurs already working in the field about what the start-up process has required and find out what all it takes to work in the social sector.
– This area lacks knowledge in the social and health sectors about starting a business. This would require an expert service for this area. General information can be found
a lot, but then when you get to your own laws, it's a world of its own and it requires a lot of walking alongside.
Tiia encourages those considering starting a business to meet the people at Into Seinäjoki.
– We go there to do calculations and listen to wise advice and honest thoughts.
In the beginning, you also need the ability to take risks. It is worth considering with yourself whether your life situation and financial situation are stable and such that it is possible to take big risks. Tiia also highlights the importance of a good accounting firm, where the same person preferably handles all the company's affairs.
– Then just network! Entrepreneurship in this field requires networking and being interested in the people around you, being a sociable person and getting along a bit like a fish in water.
– I think that entrepreneurship is a profitable path, no matter how long it takes. Everyone should try entrepreneurship, Tiia sums up.