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The ageing workforce and the retirement of experienced employees are major challenges for European labour markets. When senior employees leave, organisations risk losing not only skilled labour but also valuable tacit knowledge that is critical for long-term success.

Since 2024, the project, with Aalto University School of Business as the research lead, has explored how SMEs can better utilise the expertise of employees aged 55 and over. The consortium has carried out a mixed-methods study across Styria (Austria), Helsinki (Finland), Hamburg (Germany) and Riga (Latvia), with 556 employees from 68 organisations taking part in surveys, interviews and focus groups. 

The findings highlight both challenges and opportunities in areas such as workplace inclusion, knowledge sharing, employee well-being, and career development towards retirement. Across regions, many senior employees expressed a strong willingness to continue working beyond retirement age and valued flexibility and inclusion in their workplaces. At the same time, they reported barriers such as limited workplace practices to support older workers, gaps in knowledge sharing, and varying levels of job satisfaction and engagement. 

Research results and trainings

To support participating organisations, the research team at Aalto University School of Business provided individualised feedback reports comparing each company’s results with the broader sample. These reports helped SMEs identify strengths, pinpoint areas for improvement, and reflect on how to better utilise the skills and experiences of senior employees in everyday practice. 

As the project enters its final stage, the focus shifts from research to practice. Based on the findings, two free in-person training sessions will be organised at Aalto University in Espoo in autumn 2025. Each training session will last 2.5 days and will include active participation, group work, discussions and an assignment for participants to complete at their own organisations in between sessions, to enable them to apply what they have learnt.

Both training sessions will address key research findings directly. One training focuses on enabling senior employees to become mentors and share their expertise with others, thereby fostering intergenerational knowledge transfer. The other aims to outline flexible career options for senior employees.

Both trainings will be led by Dr. Tero Vuorinen, an experienced professional with extensive expertise as a consultant, coach, professor, and entrepreneur. Vuorinen has worked with hundreds of organisations and thousands of employees in identifying new opportunities and strengthening organisational practices. 

Registration 

Participation is free of charge and open only to employees aged 55 and above working in SMEs in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Places are limited to 20 participants per training and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Register by Monday, 20 October 2025:

Project partners 

The Senior Talent project brings together five partners: Styrian Chamber of Commerce, Room466 (Austria, project lead), Regional Management Office Murau Murtal GmbH (Austria), Aalto University School of Business (Finland, research lead), Hanse-Parlament (Germany), and the Latvian Adult Education Association (Latvia). 

At Aalto University, the research efforts are led by the Entrepreneurship Unit (ENTU) of the School of Business. The Aalto team includes principal investigator and associate professor Ewald Kibler, postdoctoral researcher Marco Rapp, research coordinator Kristaps Kovalonoks, and project employee Nicole Hußmann.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or OeAD-GmbH. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Project N° 2023-1-AT01-KA220-VET-000157913.