Remote work has the potential to revitalize rural areas by attracting knowledge workers, but several challenges must be addressed. National strategies and regional collaboration are needed to develop remote work hubs and ecosystems. While maps show differing estimates of remote workers in rural towns, case studies found actual hub users are lower due to lack of vision, services, and cultural acceptance of remote work. The successful Irish model provides over 100 connected hubs through regional coordination and training. For rural hubs to thrive, they need a clear purpose, central location, community building, and support for different work styles. National and local cooperation are both important to realize remote work's benefits for rural communities.

1. CAN REMOTE WORK
CREATE A THRIVING
FINNISH COUNTRYSIDE?
15.11.2022
Mindtrek Conference, Tampere
Heli Talvitie, Leader Aisapari

2. My viewpoints

3. Links:
Huoli koronavirusepidemiasta on laantunut, mutta toimistolle ei haluta palata - Eva 10/2021
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20210923-1
Eurostat 23.9.2021
Only 17%
would like
to go back
to regular
office work

4. Remote work is a part of bigger
change in working culture
” People ask what
do they want
from their life,
not what they want
from their job”
Ellun Kanat
Links:
https://www.mdi.fi/blogi-tietotyon-jaljilla-maaseuduilla/
https://www.mdi.fi/blogi-naisten-tietotyo-maaseudulla-utopiaa-unelmaa-
vai-toteutumatonta-potentiaalia/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9o-qOx_lq0
Share
of
knowledge
workers
by
rural-urban
category
Rural
areas

5. Which map to believe?
Maps
1) Report: Monipaikkaisuus – nykytila, tulevaisuus ja kestävyys (2022) &
https://www.syke.fi/fi-FI/Ajankohtaista/Vapaaajan_asumiseen_matkailuun_ja_ikaant(64195)
2) Nord Map service (Nord Regio) figures about remote work
My own formula: number of commuting people x academic
education % = Potential remote worker
Case Evijärvi,
Inhabitants 2800
Map 1) 7 people
Map 2) 188 people
Own estimation) 157
people
Reality of hub users:
10 people + some free
time residents
Hub: Municipal house
Case Viitasaari,
inhabitants 6200
Map 1) -187 people
Map 2) 476 people
Own estimation) 81
People
Reality of hub users: 15-
20 local people
+ several free time
residents
Hub: Lennätin
www.lennatin.fi

6. The Irish model
Ireland has a shared vision for the
remote work.
• National strategy
• Regional actors like Atlantic economic
corridor
• Connected Hubs: over 100
• Grow Remote network offers training,
information and a platform

7. Irish model of ecosystem building
©Grow Remote

8. • Give your working hub reason
why it exists.
• Select a location that is easy to
reach
• Don’t build just a space – build
a service!
• Use time to form Hub’s concept:
who is in charge of community
building? In rural communities
make cooperation with different
actors.
• Give the hub a local touch -own
kind of space
How to build a good Co-Working
Space?
• Think who are the main
customers and what they want:
good data connections,
ergonomy, silence, people to
chat with, online meeting
space, good coffee…?
• Plan the hub space so that it
support different work tasks
• Select your financing model:
user fees or free of charge. (In
rural areas the Hub is more act
of home land love than
business)
• Do a marketing plan and
impliment it
More
hints
and
examples
at
www.etatyotilat.fi

9. Can remote work create a
thriving countryside?
YES it can!
It needs effort, joint vision and
collaboration.
It is not only a local project, but
also a national process.
The technical details are more
easily solved than the cultural
habits are changed.
Start small - grow with the flow
YES you should start to build up
your own local Hubs and discuss
about the role of the remote
work to you community and
businesses.

10. Have a nice working day
in your favorite
working spot!
Heli Talvitie, Leader Aisapari
www.etatyotilat.fi
LinkedIn: helitalvitie1
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