An increase in the office utilisation rate attests to a successful move – employees are drawn to Vincit’s office by premises that support their day-to-day work
When you enter Vincit’s premises in the centre of Tampere, you step into a creative and inspiring environment. The large lounge features glossy metal columns, globular silver light fixtures, an old caravan and murals that are not typically found in offices. But in this office, they are a natural part of decor. The communal lounge is one of the most inspiring meeting places in Vincit’s office.
Vincit Plc is one of Finland’s leading providers of digital services. In November 2024, the company combined its two Tampere offices under one roof in connection with the Ratina shopping centre. Vincit’s around 150-strong Tampere team now works in the 2,100 square metre office space previously occupied by MOW Supernova. In its search for new spaces, Vincit emphasised central location and local services. The new premises in Ratina perfectly meet these criteria.
Supporting community is a key element in our work environment strategy
“An office that supports day-to-day work needs and communality is by far the most important means for building an exceptional employee experience. In addition, the wide range of shopping centre services available at Ratina make the office extra attractive,” says Vincit’s Workplace Development Lead Krista Forsström.
Supporting a sense of community
The spaces and functional features of Vincit’s office were planned together with the company’s employees in Tampere. According to Forsström, various surveys, workshops and working groups made it possible for everyone to participate in the design of the premises.
“Supporting a sense of community is a key element of our working environment strategy. In the space design, we considered the perspectives of both the customer and employee flow from the time we arrive at the office until the end of the work day. Places for encounters were built in central locations in the office to foster encounters even during quieter business hours.”
Sponda made slight alterations to the premises to meet Vincit’s needs, new brand image and working environment concept. For its office decor, Vincit acquired some of the furniture and other movables from Supernova, which operated on the premises previously. In this regard, the environmental impact of the project was small.
“While paying attention to sustainability, we were also able to build spaces that look like us, foster the well-being of individuals and teams and support customer meetings, with a strong involvement of the local community. Tampere is also a central location as a meeting place for teams that cross city boundaries,” says Forsström.
Aiming for a meeting place for every workday
Vincit’s goal was to build premises that serve as spaces for everyday encounters for all employees, make people feel part of a community and bring together employees who are not yet that familiar with one another.
Designed to support collaboration, the meeting, workshop and conference spaces were equipped with high-quality hybrid conference technology to make sure remote participants can also enjoy a good meeting experience. The creation of an inclusive atmosphere is supported by interiors, soundscapes and atmosphere that create inviting meeting spaces. The new office is also available to Vincit employees outside working hours.
Colleagues are now under the same roof, and the number of encounters has definitely increased
“Our office has spaces for activities such as joint break exercise sessions, tabletop curling, cooking and Playstation games. In addition to theme breakfasts, Ooni pizza oven lunches and coffee breaks, we also organise a variety of leisure activities, arranged for example by Vincit’s own hobby clubs and FunSquad, which consists of members of the Tampere work community. We also organise various meetups and other networking events at our offices. In addition, children’s birthday parties and other family gatherings can be arranged at our offices outside of business hours,” says Forsström.
A well-designed office brings people together
Based on the usage rate data, the number of people using Vincit’s office has increased after the move, and many employees who previously worked remotely now regularly visit the office. Facilities that support everyday needs and the ever-evolving working methods of hybrid work increase employees’ willingness to come to the offices to meet each other and customers.
“Combining the offices was an excellent solution from the community perspective. Colleagues who have worked longer in the city centre or Hervanta are now under the same roof, and the number of encounters has definitely increased. In terms of hybrid work, this is a positive development. Tampere is a small city in terms of distances, and commuting times will remain reasonable in any case,” says Forsström.
According to her, the new premises have received excellent feedback from employees, customers and other visitors. The facilities are not only considered comfortable, but also sensible in terms of functionality, and the location is regarded as one of the best in Tampere.
“The single-person meeting rooms with an electric table and chair or an under-desk treadmill and good sound insulation have proved particularly well-liked and popular among our employees. In addition, we have a large number of Framery phone booths of different sizes, most of which are located near the workstations and can be used on an ad hoc basis. Break activity facilities around the upstairs kitchen, including tabletop curling, a puzzle table and a PlayStation room, are in daily use. Many employees have also taken advantage of the downstairs event space and its island kitchen for their own hobby group gatherings, association meetings or choir rehearsals.
During the planning and construction phase, the collaboration between Vincit and Sponda was close. How are things between Vincit and Sponda now that a little time has passed since the move?
“Our lovely contact people have a great service attitude. Our needs have been listened to and it truly feels like they want to work with us to find the best solution for everything. Already at the planning stage, the team consisted of professionals from different fields, with whom the work could be carried out in an agile manner,” explains Forsström.
