Fund for the National Prize for Innovative Practices in Employment and Social Policy

The National Prize for Innovative Practices in Employment and Social Policy has been awarded every year since 2008 to a work community or an individual who has successfully contributed to the well-being at work of an ageing workforce. The prize can be awarded for an activity or innovation that has greatly promoted the well-being at work of older employees, supported their ability to cope with and stay on at work, or improved their working conditions or employment opportunities. To receive the award, the activities have to be practical and applicable on a wider scale.

The award is presented by the Fund for the National Prize for Innovative Practices in Employment and Social Policy. The prize can be awarded to one or more recipients at one time. The prize will be presented at the seminar on well-being at work organised by the fund. The patron of the prize is the President of the Republic of Finland, who will also present the prize if possible.

Fund for the National Prize for Innovative Practices in Employment and Social Policy

The Fund for the National Prize for Innovative Practices in Employment and Social Policy has been jointly established by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and Sitra. The initial capital of the fund is €300,000. It consists of equal investments by Sitra and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, which has allocated the €150,000 prize presented to Finland by the Carl Bertelsmann Foundation for this purpose. The fund is managed by Sitra. The funds are to be used by 2015.

The founders of the fund will make a decision on the recipient after consulting the Finnish Work Environment Fund.

International recognition

Finland received the prize awarded by the German Carl Bertelsmann Foundation as recognition for the country’s early detection of the problems pertaining to an ageing work population and for the wide-ranging cooperation through which the problem has been tackled. The prize was awarded to the National Programme on Ageing Workers, which was coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in 1998–2002, and to Veto, the Finnish Workplace Development Programme TYKES and the Noste programmes, which have continued its work.

The National Programme on Ageing Workers promoted debate on the position of the ageing workforce and launched several research and education programmes. The Veto Programme promoted the attractiveness of work among the ageing population, while the Noste Programme promoted adults with no vocational qualifications to take qualifications. The TYKES Programme aims to develop workplaces in ways that simultaneously promote productivity and well-being at work. 
For its part, the Prize for Innovative Practices in Employment and Social Policy encourages Finns to continue their internationally recognised activities promoting the well-being at work of older employees. 

Further information

The fund for a national prize for innovative practices in employment and social policy 
  5.7.2007;31.12.2015;