Top electrical industry experts from Savonlinna – Norelco Academy builds the future

Launched in 2024, Norelco Academy is a new collaborative model for electrical and automation engineering education in Savonlinna. The initiative is a joint effort between Norelco, the City of Savonlinna, Samiedu, and Xamk.

The Academy aims to create the best possible conditions for strengthening the electrical industry in Savonlinna and ensuring the availability of skilled professionals in the field. For students and those already working in the industry, Norelco Academy offers opportunities for studies all the way up to an engineering degree.

Norelco Academy consists of job opportunities provided by Norelco for students, vocational training from Samiedu, and degree-oriented studies in electrical and automation engineering at Xamk.

“What’s particularly new and unique is the four-party model: Samiedu begins the training, Norelco teaches new practical skills that change annually, and when the student moves on to Xamk, they face new challenges again. The City of Savonlinna also plays a key role in this collaboration,” explains Ari Hämäläinen, CEO of Norelco.

Norelco Academy also serves Norelco’s own employees, both in terms of competence development and integration of international employees. In addition to Norelco, the City of Savonlinna and other local partners are involved in the integration efforts.

“Norelco Academy is a new model for employee development and recruitment. In collaboration with our partners, we are developing study and growth opportunities for everyone interested in the field, as well as integration opportunities for international employees who have come to work in Finland,” says Kirsi Kautonen, Norelco’s HR Director.

Norelco has locations in Savonlinna and Kuopio and is planning to open an electrical design office in Jyväskylä. The company employs around 250 people, about one in five of whom have moved to Finland from another country to build a life in Finnish society.

The company is currently running a growth programme focused on developing new products for the expanding renewable energy and electricity distribution markets.

“We are strongly committed to developing and maintaining the skills of our employees and finding new ways to train professionals. In the future, we will especially need experts in the electrical field, so building recruitment and development channels in collaboration with our partners is crucial for our business,” Hämäläinen emphasises.

Specialising in electrical energy distribution systems and their automation has made Norelco Oy a strong Finnish player in the electrical industry. The company focuses on low and medium voltage switchgear, substations, electrical stations, and related services. Operations began as early as 1962.