A summer that makes a difference in the future
The first internship in your own field is something you’ll likely remember for years to come. At its best, it’s a chance to put your knowledge into action, develop new skills, and learn alongside experienced professionals. In summer 2025, more than ten seasonal employees in Finland and Estonia will get the chance to apply their studies in practice at Adven.
This summer, Nicole Sjöholm and Juho Lampinen are bringing their studies to life as trainees in Adven’s automation team in Vantaa, Finland. Both are third-year students of Electrical and Automation Engineering at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. Juho is aiming for a career in the energy sector because he sees it as a way to make a difference in the world. Nicole is particularly interested in how processes work and in sustainable development. “I’m also curious about the potential of artificial intelligence in the energy sector, especially in process control and optimization,” Nicole says.
While earning study credits, they’re also gaining valuable hands-on experience in automation technology and engineering work as part of a larger team. For Juho, it was important to find an internship at a company committed to growth and development. “During the job interview, it became clear that my values aligned with Adven’s,” he says.
Nicole hadn’t heard of Adven before applying, but was positively surprised by the company’s size and the variety of its business areas. “I value long-term thinking and the opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment. Adven immediately felt like a company that genuinely supports students in building their skills,” she says happily.
A site visit that brought everything together
Over the summer, Nicole and Juho will gain a broad range of experience in automation, including electrical design, observing testing at plants, developing counters, and HMI (Human-Machine Interface) design. During the first weeks, they’ve already learned on multiple levels. Nicole says the experience has provided just the kind of practical, hands-on learning that complements academic studies.
On their second day at work, as part of their onboarding, they visited two production sites with their supervisor, Olli Takala, Head of Automation and Electrification. Together, they explored equipment and took temperature measurements.
The visit helped them understand how complex and interdependent a production plant is – how many components are involved, and how countless details must work in harmony for the entire plant to run smoothly.
“Automation, safety systems, maintenance, processes – it all came together during the visit. The symbols on the P&ID diagrams came to life, and the plants took on a whole new dimension,” Nicole explains.
“The visit was very interesting and eye-opening. I’ve never seen plant operations in such detail before,” Juho adds.
First workplace safety observations
From day one, workplace safety has been a top priority, both in theory and practice. At the end of the site visits, the summer duo tightened their helmet straps and completed safety walks together with their supervisor and plant staff to spot their first safety observations.
Although the excellent condition of the facilities made this a challenge, the well-trained and sharp-eyed pair succeeded in identifying a few small but clear issues. They also gained new skills in reporting and managing observations in a new system.
A great team makes work energizing
A supportive and open work culture makes a real difference – whether you’re just starting out or already well into your career. When you’re part of a team that shares knowledge and offers support, understanding energy sector technologies comes naturally.
At Adven, new employees in the automation team are truly welcomed into the fold. The team environment is relaxed and open, where everyone helps each other. Workdays are balanced between projects and shared lunch breaks, which help strengthen team spirit and lower the threshold for asking questions and discussing challenges.
“Teamwork helps you grow, and it’s great to be able to share different points of view. In my team, the atmosphere is really supportive and people are always ready to help,” Juho says.
“Collaboration is very important to me, especially when it comes to planning, development, and problem-solving. When the team works well together, communication flows, and people look out for each other. That’s when you get the best results and it makes work more enjoyable. One of my favorite sayings is: ‘There’s no need to reinvent the wheel,’” Nicole adds.
Work-life balance matters, even in summer jobs
At Adven, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is encouraged and the summer trainees are good examples of that. Juho plays football and relaxes by spending time outdoors with his dog, while Nicole enjoys sports, travel, and spending time with friends.
“Traveling is one of my biggest passions. After work, I like to unwind by chatting with loved ones or going to a café, swimming, or taking a walk in the park,” Nicole says.
Nicole and Juho’s summer internship journey at Adven continues with a variety of tasks involving plant operations, data and analytics, automation software development, operational cybersecurity, and automation lifecycle management.
Both recommend Adven as an employer for its diverse opportunities, great work atmosphere, and its belief in teamwork, continuous learning, and the value of diverse perspectives.
“I recommend Adven to anyone who’s interested in sustainable development and wants to be part of something meaningful,” Nicole sums up.
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