Responsibility perspective widely integrated into the content of the Job Market Finland business plan

The Job Market Finland business plan tool will now support entrepreneurs even better in building sustainable, competitive and forward-looking businesses.

- The aim has been to make responsibility part of the everyday operations of every new and developing business – not as a separate appendix filed away, but as a cross-cutting element in the business plan, says Project Manager Jaana Jeminen from the Kerttu Saalasti Institute at the University of Oulu.

The integration of responsibility is now more visible to users in a broader and more diverse way in the tool’s information texts and additional information sections. During the development work, the responsibility expertise of the KEHA Centre’s business plan specialists has also increased.

- During the joint development process, we have learned a great deal about responsibility-related themes in business. The experts from the Vatupassi project have provided us with extensive background information, say the KEHA Centre specialists responsible for the business plan.

Why is responsibility more important for businesses than ever?

Responsibility is no longer only a concern for large companies. An increasing number of micro and SMEs are finding that customers, employees, financiers and partners expect concrete and transparent responsibility practices. Responsibility has a direct impact on companies’ competitiveness, access to finance and reputation. At its best, it is also economically beneficial, as responsible practices can lead to cost savings, for example in energy and material use, and reduce risks in supply chains.

Environmental responsibility, social responsibility and good governance are becoming an increasingly important part of market access requirements, even for small businesses. It is therefore important to take responsibility into account already at the business planning stage, not afterwards. The aim of the updated content in the Job Market Finland business plan tool is to make sustainability a natural part of everyday entrepreneurship.

Close collaboration

The development of the Job Market Finland business plan tool has been carried out in close cooperation with the KEHA Centre and the project team of the VATUPASSI – Responsible Future project, coordinated by the Kerttu Saalasti Institute at the University of Oulu, during 2025–2026.

The VATUPASSI – Responsible Future project supports the responsibility expertise of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in southern Northern Ostrobothnia between 1 October 2023 and 31 March 2026. The project is implemented by the Kerttu Saalasti Institute at the University of Oulu, the City of Kalajoki, NIHAK Association and the City of Ylivieska. Additional funding is provided by Raahen seudun kehitys and the Kerttu Saalasti Foundation. The project is co-funded by the European Union, with funding granted by the North Ostrobothnia ELY Centre.