The students in Vaasa Enterpreneurship Society (VES) play an important role in making EnergyWeek go as smoothly as possible. For the students, on the other hand, it is besides the work experience also a great opportunity to get insights and meet with professionals from the energy industry.
As the planning of EnergyWeek 2025 is travelling full speed ahead we meet with the new board of VES to discuss the upcoming event. During the week, the students will assist in various practical tasks all over the City Hall. The set-up is familiar as VES has been assisting in EnergyWeek many times before. Many in the new board are also coming back to participate in the event again.
– Last year, I had my first shift before the event started so it was interesting to get to be part of the behind-the-scenes work. The atmosphere is great, and it is nice to get a chance to speak to decision-makers, says Onni Tenkula, the Head of projects in the board and a student at the University of Vaasa, majoring in finance.
– I have told other students, who are interested to join EnergyWeek, that it is like the Slush of the energy industry. The financing institutions and big players in the industry will be there. It is an opportunity to meet them and ask what is going on in their sector, says Robin Hagqvist, the Chair of the board and a student at the University of Vaasa, majoring in energy studies.
Many volunteers have already registered their interest to volunteer at Energy Week 2025. Tommi Turunen and Kia Nieminen will attend the event for the first time.
– For me it is all about getting to meet interesting people and, the voluntary work is a great uniting factor, says Kiia Nieminen, Head of marketing and communications and a student in the board at the University of Vaasa, majoring in finance.
– The subjects that are presented at the event sounds very interesting. It is like getting a view of the future through a small window. The discussions around sustainable solutions are very close to the heart, especially for young people, says Tommi Turunen, the Vice Chair of the board and a student at the University of Vaasa, majoring in finance.
VES is a steppingstone for the future
VES was founded in 2015 to boost the insights, skills and connections of entrepreneurial-minded students at all universities and universities of applied sciences in the Vaasa region. Several organizations, including Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK and Vaasa Region Enterprise Agency Startia support and cooperate with the society and its activities.
– Through VES I got to meet hundreds of people and be part of events I would never have experienced otherwise. I wanted to continue in the board especially now when VES is growing and has a huge potential to scale up, says Oskari Paloheimo the Treasurer of the board and a student at the University of Vaasa, majoring in finance.
The members of the board agree that this is an exciting time to be part of VES. The Vaasa region has a traditionally strong energy sector and currently, the ecosystem to support the rise of start-ups is accelerating through several initiatives. Joining VES is a way to find likeminded people passionate about making a change and starting something on their own – or together.
– We would like to set the goal that at least one start-up would come from the VES students per year, Turunen concludes.