PLEASE CAN YOU HELP...... FAMILY MOVING TO FINLAND

[foxtrotoscar12]

Hi Guys,
We are wanting to move to Finland, and theres a few things I want to find out. PLEASE CAN YOU HELP.

1) Is there much work in the security industry I am a qualified dog handler and trainer of german shepherds. Would I be able to do anything like that in Finland.

2) I also buy and sell antiques and collectables, And is there any antique shops in Finland and do the Finnish people like antiques and collectables.

3) And where is the best place to find a property to rent with 2 bedrooms
can anyone give me any links to the above.
YOU CAN E-MAIL ME AT: investigations@fsmail.net

Many Thanks
Mike and Family

[Xochiquetzal]

Hi Mike. I can give my perspective but hope others can fill in a bit better.

1) Is there much work in the security industry I am a qualified dog handler and trainer of german shepherds. Would I be able to do anything like that in Finland.

There are 1-2 large security companies (my brother in law works for one of them as a security guard). You could always try to find a contact there (I'm sorry, I don't have anything more specific). Securitas is a multi-national, multi-discipline organization with offices in both the UK and US. Try there first to find contacts. http://www.securitasgroup.com/

2) I also buy and sell antiques and collectables, And is there any antique shops in Finland and do the Finnish people like antiques and collectables.

I have specialized in selling antique clothing and antique fashion ephemera for about 10 years before I moved here. I brought my collection with me but never found the market in antiques to be all that great. Furniture sells reasonably well but it is difficult to get directly through to the consumer without going through a middleman. You can get an idea of the market for your antiques at the Finnish version of ebay, http://www.huuto.net/fi/cats/anti.php3

Check under these categories

76 Antiikki Huonekalut (antique furniture)

438
Matot (antique rugs)

30
Taideteollisuus
Lasi (art glass)

1559
Posliini (porcelain)

2340
Design

872
Hopea (gold)

204
Korut (jewelry)

1087
Muut
Muu antiikki (misc antiques)

You may not know the words but you can get an idea by click on links with high auction values and looking at the pics.

3) And where is the best place to find a property to rent with 2 bedrooms
can anyone give me any links to the above.

If you look in the Housing section of this forum, you will see 'sticky's' near the top with the info you need. My opinion is that etuovi.com is the best vehical for finding housing on the market right now. But again, it is all in Finnish. The first thing to do is decide in what area you would like to locate then I'm sure someone would help you with the English words to work a search engine like Etuovi.

[foxtrotoscar12]

Thanks for that.The area we are thinking about moving to is either Helsinki or Tampere.
Any further help would be appreciated. I plan to come over to visit these to places to see what they are like.Can you recommend which is better of the two.
I will be coming over for a few days sometime soon can you recommend anywhere to stay.
Thanks
Mike

[karo]

1) Is there much work in the security industry I am a qualified dog handler and trainer of german shepherds. Would I be able to do anything like that in Finland.

My understanding is that there are a bit more than 1-2 big players here, although I don't work in the security industry myself and don't have any specific info. The Finnish website of Securitas is at https://www.securitas.fi . Unfortunately it's only available in Finnish. They seem to have quite a few open positions ("avoimet työpaikat") at the moment.

A couple other big companies are FPS Security (http://www.fps-security.fi/, and a tiny little bit of info available in English at http://www.fps-security.fi/bodyguard.htm) and Falck Security, http://www.falcksecurity.fi/

2) I also buy and sell antiques and collectables, And is there any antique shops in Finland and do the Finnish people like antiques and collectables.

Yes, there are plenty of small antiques shops in Finland. It seems like very few shops have a website, but I found this in Helsinki: http://www.antiqueriviera.com/

Regarding Tampere vs. Helsinki; Helsinki is much bigger (1.1 million people in the capital region, 560 000 in Helsinki) than Tampere (abt 210 000 people, a bit short of 300 000 in the "metropolitan" area), and offers much more of everything than Tampere. I'm a Helsinki resident, but was born in Tampere. It's not a bad place, but definitely not a very big city.

[ambl]

Falck Security, http://www.falcksecurity.fi/

Somewhat ot, but IIRC Falck will change its name to Group 4 Securicor in the near future.

[Xochiquetzal]

Antiques: Most likely the area of antiques in which you specialize will make a large difference. But this is a small marketplace and so you don't have the large consumer market as you would in North America or England. If you can give more specifics on what you have, I can give you an idea of what I've seen on auctions sites and at the antique faires and stores. But my honest opinion is that most Finns want new. New houses, new cars, new clothing. You can get an idea by going to the swap meet in Helsinki (hietalahdentori) and seeing what people are selling items for (there is also a large building with antiques on the same spot). But you'll need to get here soon since the swap meets are only open during Summer/Autumn.

Helsinki vs Tampere: Helsinki is cosmopolitan but also, like every capitol city, much more expensive to live in. Tampere less so, but then you are in a much smaller city with fewer contacts and suppliers. Tampere does have its own charm but for purposes of just moving to Finland, I would recommend starting near the capitol and *then* going deeper into Finland once you've become comfortable with the climate and culture. I also don't recommend living in the Helsinki city proper - not because it is unpleasant or unsafe (the opposite is true!) but because the two neighboring suburbs, Espoo and Vantaa, are less expensive and much more family friendly. Your best bet would be to find a nice row house (rivitalo) with a small backyard. Espoo would most likely be more what you are accustomed to than Vantaa.

[karo]

But you'll need to get here soon since the swap meets are only open during Summer/Autumn.

Actually, the flea market in Hietalahti is open also in winter, Mon - Fri 8 am to 2 pm and Sat 8 am to 3 pm. But it's much, much busier in summer, so better come now, like Xochiquetzal says. Here's the website of Hietalahden Antiikki- ja Taidehalli, the big building filled with with antiques: http://www.antiikki.fi/ (in Finnish only, unfortunately)

[Hank W.]

1 ) You need to have a licence to be a security guard. The licence is gotten after a test and course and applying one from the local police. The companies usually pay for the course, which of course is in Finnish. Naturally, to be hired as a security guard you need to be fluent in Finnish, so that settles that question. If you have military background theres a few outfits, like Auvo Niiniketo's one that hire personal security /bodyguards. Dog training is a niche job - again the language is the key here. The kennelliitto would be a place to ask... theres a few places that offer dog training for speciality stuff.

2) Your definition of "antiques" might be different of the one here. Helsinki centre is riddled with small antique shops, and the "lovejoys" do ask prices. Actually the best place to hit is the Hhietalahti market hall. There is a bustling flleamarket in front, but the inside is now converted to shops of old jun... err... historical artefacts. Wanna buy an icon comrade? I could actually take you shuffling one weekend... but no bloody auctions.

3) there is civilization and then there is the area beyond the ring III...

[littlefrank]

>>>Hi Guys<<<

There are 'gals' on this forum too, but you're from Northamptonshire, no Doc Martins anymore, no jobs except security, wandering around a lot of empty factories, but then I'm 'Biased from Bedfordshire'. Best of luck over here btw 'Lovejoy would probably buy stuff over here and sell it in Britain.

[Mark I.]

There are at least five small antique shops in the block where I live, between Pietarinkatu, Kapteeninkatu, Tehtaankatu and Neitsytpolku. And more around this area (Ullanlinna, close to sea and Kaivopuisto park). I don't think any other place in Finland can beat that.

Take number 3 tram, and check it out.

[agn71]

Thanks for that.The area we are thinking about moving to is either Helsinki or Tampere.
Any further help would be appreciated. I plan to come over to visit these to places to see what they are like.Can you recommend which is better of the two.

Well this is a matter of taste and I would recommend Tampere. Other people have give you already some background info. I recommend you to check also http://www.tampere.fi and http://www.hel.fi website for more information.

[Rosamunda]

2) Your definition of "antiques" might be different of the one here. Helsinki centre is riddled with small antique shops, and the "lovejoys" do ask prices. Actually the best place to hit is the Hakaniemi market hall. There is a bustling flleamarket in front, but the inside is now converted to shops of old jun... err... historical artefacts. Wanna buy an icon comrade? I could actually take you shuffling one weekend... but no bloody auctions.

...not Hakaniemi... I think you mean Hietalahti. But I agree, it was a great idea to convert the old market hall but there isn't much to see there. There are an increasing number of small shops opening up with "modern" antiques, 1950's onwards. huuto.net is also a great place for finding furniture. There are also antiikki messut (antiques fairs ) regularly in many towns : eg Helsinki at the Wanha Satama building and also in Lahti, Turku and other big fairs. In summer there are big fairs in Billnas and Mustiolinna - but you have missed those. I suggest you buy some monthly antiques magazines (Glorian Antiikki is one) and read all the ads in the back .

[Hank W.]

Oh yes, Hakaniemi/Hietaniemi get always a dyslexia treatment....