Workshop series fall 2025: Breathing New Life Into Old Walls

Workshop series fall 2025: Breathing New Life Into Old Walls  

Are you a small business owner with an empty or underused building? Are you perhaps a member of a group or an association that’s housed somewhere with a lot of empty space? Have you thought about doing something with a building, but you don’t know where to start?   

We have the solution for you! In this workshop series we’ll discover inspiring examples of buildings that have been given a new lease on life and see what steps you can take as you embark on your own journey. What was the re-purposing process like for some of the most interesting buildings in the Nordic rural areas? You don’t need to be an expert on building techniques, this workshop series will give you food for thought and a place to start.  

Together we’ll conjure up ideas, delve deeper into secrets of financing your projects, give you tools for analysing your immediate environment and kickstart your marketing schemes.   

The workshops are held in English, but participants can ask questions or comment in Finnish and Swedish.  

7.10.2025 18.00-20.00 Finnish Time / 17.00 – 19.00 Swedish Time    
First Aid: Introduction to the workshop series   

Introduction to the workshop series! What can you expect from the workshops?  
Bring your own case to the workshop which we will work on together in the coming months and get inspired by mind-blowing cases from Finland and Sweden. 

21.10.2025 18.00-20.00 Finnish Time / 17.00 – 19.00 Swedish Time    
Endless possibilities!   

Need an idea? Got an idea? Want to develop it further? We’ll explore how to come up with ideas, pick the best ones (especially the sustainable kind), and get ready to pitch them like a pro next time. Explore how to generate, evaluate, and develop your ideas into real projects.  

4.11.2025 18.00-20.00 Finnish Time / 17.00 – 19.00 Swedish Time    
Facing challenges and exploring opportunities

What if your business is based in the middle of nowhere? Perfect. We’ll check out how others have made it work, spy a bit on the competition, and talk teamwork. We’ll also discuss collaboration with local authorities, building networks, and how sustainability can be a key to success.   

18.11.2025 18.00-20.00 Finnish Time / 17.00 – 19.00 Swedish Time    
Searching for treasure and turning a profit 

This workshop dives into how to overcome the practical challenges of starting a business. Starting something new isn’t always smooth sailing, but it can be exciting. We’ll tackle the bumps in the road, talk money (grants, loans, investors – what works for you?), and get you prepped to present your funding idea next time.   

2.12.2025 18.00-20.00 Finnish Time / 17.00 – 19.00 Swedish Time    
Sharing and selling your dreams  

Learn how to make your business or project visible through strong place branding, marketing, and storytelling. We’ll also work on networking skills so the right people can find you even if you don’t reach out first. You don’t need to be everywhere, but you need to stand out and be found!  

Register here

More information on the workshop series