Port of Helsinki: Long-Term Temporary Employment Ensures Business Continuity and Provides Valuable Work Experience

Port of Helsinki solved an urgent HR resource need flexibly – with the focus on finding the right talent.

Port of Helsinki is Finland’s largest and one of the busiest ports in the Baltic Sea region. It is owned by the City of Helsinki and operates independently as part of the city group. The port plays a key role in Finland’s economy by enabling trade and transport connections between Finland and the rest of the world.

Port of Helsinki Ltd operates through two business units: Cargo and Passenger Services. Measured by passenger volume, it is the largest passenger port in Europe, surpassing even the Port of Dover in the UK. The business units are supported by departments such as Finance, ICT and Development, HR, Technical Services, and Communications.

The need for a flexible resource

A retirement in the passenger business created an urgent need for an assistant. Due to ongoing organizational restructuring, the final role could not yet be defined, so to ensure business continuity, the position had to be filled flexibly.

Port of Helsinki turned to StaffPoint Professionals, and the decision was made to fill the need with a long-term temporary employment solution – enabling the company to quickly secure a qualified resource and gain time to finalize the organizational structure. “HR solutions are time-consuming, and we needed to find the right person quickly. We saved our own time for running the business and let HR professionals handle the project,” explains Kaj Takolander, Director of the Passenger Business at the Port of Helsinki.

How the recruitment process progressed

“This was a very interesting assignment – such an opportunity is rare, as the Port of Helsinki’s operations are diverse and offer a unique perspective into the dynamic world of port operations. The role included a wide range of responsibilities from financial and administrative tasks to marketing activities in both digital and physical environments, as well as broad stakeholder collaboration,” says Kristiina Sillanpää, Recruitment Consultant at StaffPoint, who led the process.

The long-term assignment was planned to last a little over a year, with the goal of permanent employment afterward. Kristiina sought a candidate with strong social and organizational skills, fluent English, and previous experience in similar roles. In addition to qualifications, she looked for indicators of initiative and responsibility, such as combining studies with work experience.

Several qualified candidates applied, and five were presented to the client. Ultimately, Ida Holm was unanimously selected by the Port of Helsinki representatives. “This job is really versatile, and I get to be involved in many aspects of the company’s operations. I’m gaining valuable experience for my career and have had the chance to show my skills. The team is great, and the work itself is enjoyable – I’ve really liked it here,” Ida says

Results of the collaboration

“We’ve been extremely satisfied with Ida. She takes initiative with a cheerful and positive attitude. I believe she’s had a chance to learn and grow with us,” says Kaj. “StaffPoint Professionals handled the recruitment process excellently. Communication was smooth, and especially Kristiina’s recruitment expertise stood out – the job ad was excellent, and candidate screening was efficient. We’ll definitely keep StaffPoint Professionals in mind for future staffing needs,” he concludes.

Kristiina also praises the smooth collaboration and the client’s quick, informative communication, which made it easy to keep candidates up to date. When the final decision was made, Port of Helsinki clearly communicated the reasons behind it, allowing for a professional closure of the process.

Does your company need skilled professionals?

In Port of Helsinki’s case, a long-term staffing model served both client and employee needs perfectly, providing an immediate yet flexible solution.

HR solutions, however, are always tailored individually to match each client’s situation. Whether your company needs short- or long-term staffing or direct recruitment, StaffPoint Professionals will help you find the right model and the right people.

Contact StaffPoint Professionals when you need expertise in your organization!

Would you like to discuss HR solutions? Get in touch!