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OP Financial Group becomes new Key Partner

5.5.2025

A composite image featuring the logos of OP Financial Group, Supercell, and Hive overlaid on a blurred background of an open-plan office space with people working on computers. This image signifies a partnership or collaboration between these entities.

OP Financial Group is stepping up to join Supercell as a Key Partner of Hive, helping to shape the next generation of tech professionals in Finland.

A Bold Partnership for a Bold Mission

OP Financial Group is no stranger to the challenge of recruiting IT professionals. “We’ve long had to look internationally to fill IT roles” says OP Financial Group President and Group CEO Timo Ritakallio. “The reality is that without labor-based immigration, we won’t be able to sustain our welfare state. That’s why initiatives like Hive, which make coding education accessible regardless of background, are so critical for Finland’s competitiveness.”

Hive is an independent non-profit foundation that offers a private, tuition-free coding program in the heart of Helsinki, with no teachers, no lectures, and no traditional classrooms. Instead, students learn by doing, solving real-world problems and collaborating with their peers in a self-directed learning model. It’s a revolutionary approach, and it’s working.

An interior view of a modern computer lab or open-plan workspace at Hive Helsinki, with rows of Apple iMac computers on light-colored desks. Several individuals are seated and working, reflected in a glass partition in the foreground. The room is brightly lit with an industrial-style ceiling and large windows in the background.

The Results Speak for Themselves

In just five years, Hive has helped 245 individuals launch careers in Finland’s tech sector. Over 100 companies—ranging from tech giants like Nokia and Wolt to cultural institutions like the Finnish National Opera and Ballet—have hired Hive grads. And it’s not just the numbers that impress.

“Employer feedback has been outstanding” says Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen. “We built Hive to serve the entire Finnish tech ecosystem, and we’re proud of the impact it’s had so far.”

  • 60% of Hive students are international, with the vast majority choosing to stay in Finland after graduation
  • 59% are career changers, bringing experience from other industries
  • 60% had no prior coding background before joining Hive

This shows that with the right support, almost anyone can transition into tech, and fast. Hive’s program takes just 1.5 years to complete, making it one of the most efficient tech training pipelines in the Nordics.

A large, diverse group of people, appearing to be students and staff of Hive Helsinki, gathered for a group photo in a bright, open-plan space. Many are smiling and waving, creating a cheerful and energetic atmosphere. Some are standing, while others are seated or kneeling in the front.

A Call to Action: Join the Movement

With OP Financial Group now joining our mission as a Key Partner, Hive is inviting one or two more visionary organizations to secure their tech talent pipeline while investing in the future of Finland. “We have a unique opportunity here” says Drussila Hollanda, Hive’s founder and chair of the board. “Hive is agile. As an independent, private actor, we can quickly respond to industry needs and help shape the future of education in tech.”

Supercell and OP Financial Group both see this as a long-term investment, not just in a school, but in the future of Finland’s economy, workforce, and innovation landscape.

Learn more about collaborating with Hive
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