Young construction professionals from various vocational schools competed for the Finnish championship in the Taitaja2026 competition in Tuusula. A playful Taitaja9 team competition for middle school students was also organized in conjunction with the event.
In May, the Tuusula Sports Center was buzzing with excitement as around 500 young people competed for the Finnish championship in their respective fields. Vocational students in the construction industry competed for points in building construction, civil engineering, building services and surface treatment.
At the home construction point, the competitors built a barbecue and a pergola
Jari Renlund, a construction industry veteran and Skanska's chief shop steward, who acted as a judge at the building construction site, admired the students' creativity, from which he himself was able to draw new insights.
"It's great to see how young people have developed into professionals during their studies here at the competition," said Omnia's construction teacher, summarizing her feelings. Mika Karjalainen.
Check out the video for Mika Karjalainen, Jari Renlund, and Omnia student Mikita Zhohlo's thoughts on the second day of the competition.
The Finnish Construction Industry RT was a competition partner in the Building Construction competition.
Infrastructure construction workers' skills were also tested in a new customer service role
The construction workers' competition consisted of seven modules that measured the work of an earthmoving machine operator as a whole. The competitors built pillar foundations, installed a drainage well, moved a crushed stone storage, familiarized themselves with work equipment and the use of the machine control system, and unloaded a load. In addition, a new sub-area was customer service.
GRK's training manager Jere Hänninen, who served as the main judge of the competition, believes that including a customer service task in the competition was a successful innovation. In the task, the competitor acted as a contractor's representative and discussed with the customer about asphalting the yard of a detached house.
INFRA ry was a partner in the civil engineering competition.
The Taitaja9 competition was for the Finnish Junior High School Championship.
In the final of the Taitaja9 competition, 36 teams of three competed for Finnish Championship medals in a playful skills competition aimed at 7th–9th graders. The young people got to try out the skills, teamwork and problem-solving needed in different fields.
In the construction sector, Taitaja9 finalists installed a drain, assembled a hand towel rack, completed a battery-powered machine task, and participated in a brush rally.
"The best thing about this day is the atmosphere, hanging out with friends – the whole thing," summed up the Isot Pojat team from Turku.
At the end of the day, the Turku trio Tuff Guys were announced as the winners. "What an amazing feeling, I'm so proud of us," the young people rejoiced.
The Construction Industry RT was a partner in the Taitaja9 competition.
Check out the video to see the atmosphere of the Taitaja9 final.
Race results
Congratulations to all the finalists for their amazing performances!
House construction
- Otto Niela, Novida – vocational college and upper secondary school
- Oliver Valavuo, Novida – vocational college and upper secondary school
- Jami Bremer, West Coast Education Ltd WinNova
- Turo Oikari, Gradia
- Mikita Zhohlo, Omnia, Espoo Region Education Joint Municipal Authority
- Joosua Kreivi, Education Center JEDU
- Lauri Rahja, Education Center JEDU
- Claudio Bodrug, Tampere Regional Vocational College Tredu
Infrastructure construction
- Tuomas Soikkeli, Riveria
- Mikael Viljakainen, Keuda
- Aleksi Suono, TTS
- Matias Hanhimäki, Gradia
- Juuso Janger, Luksia, Western Uusimaa Vocational College
- Onni Siitonen, Gradia
- Aki Sirén, Keuda
- Rasmus Pohjalainen, TTS
Taitaja9 top three
- Tough Guys, St. Olofs School, Turku
- Slow Yahwats, Central School, Forssa
- Veterans, Comprehensive school, Padasjoki
Housebuilding winners and judges
Infrastructure construction winners
Taitaja9 winners
Taitaja is Finland's largest professional competition
In Taitaja, students from vocational colleges compete for the championship in various professional fields. Approximately 500 young people participate in the competition annually in approximately 48 professional disciplines. The event is attended by tens of thousands of visitors. Approximately 50 people visited Tuusula between 18 and 000 May 21.5.2026.
Taitaja is Finland's largest youth event and a Finnish vocational skills championship. The main organizer of the event is Skills Finland and various vocational schools depending on the competition location. The educational institution organizer for 2026 was Keuda, the Central Uusimaa Education Association.
Next year, the Taitaja competitions will be held in Helsinki at the Messukeskus from 10 to 13 May 2027. 20 vocational education institutions are involved in the arrangements. Espoo Omnia coordinates the Taitaja competitions.
More information
Janne Suntio
Project manager
janne.suntio@rateko.fi +358 50 449 7559Construction industry training center RATEKO