12.04.2007

Entrepreneurs in timber harvesting and transportation are networking with each other
More holistic timber harvesting and transportation services

The forest industry is more interested than before in purchasing services in timber harvesting and transportation from entrepreneurs in the form of more extensive service packages. Entrepreneurs are responding to the challenge by upgrading their competences and the services they offer on a development project of Tampere Polytechnic - University of Applied Sciences. In the future the successful entrepreneur in the forestry sector will be selling the customer tailored services as a comprehensive entity. The developing expertise of the entrepreneurs will serve to improve both the international competitiveness of enterprises in the field and of the forest sector as a whole.

Project manager Petri Murtomäki of Tampere Polytechnic - University of Applied Sciences (left) and Transport manager Mikko Välikoski of Metsäliitto Cooperative are well aware of the most recent challenges in entrepreneurship in timber acquisition and transportation. High resolution image (245Kb) Photo: Kalle Heiska

The forest industry wants to clarify and intensify its raw materials acquisition. It is pursuing this objective by reducing its own managed share in the planning and implementation of wood acquisition, which gives entrepreneurs a chance to offer a wider range of services. Offering these demands new expertise from the enterprises, growth, further development of ways of operating and centralised networking.

The comprehensive nature of a development project in timber acquisition and transportation entrepreneurship of Tampere Polytechnic - University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) is unprecedented in Finland. The project has entailed monthly training periods addressing monitoring of the companies’ operations, cost accounting, entrepreneurial finance, contract making, quality assurance systems and networking. Special themes on the project have included entrepreneurship in the forest energy industry, internationalisation, entrepreneurship in forest improvement and handing the company down to the next generation. Instruction was provided by experts in forest entrepreneurship.

In addition to plenary training days, the entrepreneurs have individual consulting assistance to resolve key questions for developing their companies. Participants on the first development project, which is due to end in October, include entrepreneurs from Southern and Western Finland. They find the training and consulting services excellent and a favourable aid as they seek to develop into key suppliers of timber harvesting and transportation services.

The TAMK development project in timber acquisition and transportation is funded by the provincial government of Western Finland, the EU, companies in the forest industry and companies participating in the training.

Additional information: www.tamk.fi/puunhankintajakuljetusyrittajyys