Global Citizen story Vantaa to London
Antti Luoma relocated from Vantaa, Finland to London, United Kingdom as part of AFRY Management Consulting's Global Citizen programme.
His time abroad allowed him to build stronger relationships with his London-based colleagues and clients, work more efficiently in cross-cultural environments as well as broaden his expertise in the international market.
Tell us about yourself: who are you, and what is your background?
I am Antti Luoma, a senior consultant in AFRY’s forestry and biomass management consulting team in Finland. I work on projects related to the upstream part of the forestry and biomass-consuming energy industry value chain in assignments related to woody raw material assessment, sourcing and markets.
I moved to London in August 2023 as part of AFRY’s office exchange programme, which allows employees to experience working in different locations and cultures. I have always been curious about other countries, and the best way to really learn about them is to live there like a local. London was an ideal choice for me because of the existing collaboration with my team members there and the proximity to Finland.
What kinds of differences did you experience between the Finnish and English working cultures? How did you adapt to them?
Working and everyday life in London are not very different from Finland, except for the lack of snow and the longer commute time. The transition to our London office was smooth, as almost half of my team already worked there. Additionally, in forestry and biomass, we always mix colleagues from different offices and backgrounds to get the best skill set for each assignment.
The best part was getting to know my excellent colleagues in London in person. They were often up for a pint after a busy day at the office! Of course, London's cultural and historical attractions were a huge bonus for me, as well as English football, which I had been following closely in Finland.
Did you experience any challenges?
The application process for the global mobility programme had its own challenges and delays, but I was prepared for them. Finding an apartment in London can be tricky, but I was fortunate to find a cosy flat in South Ealing with good access to our office in the heart of London, Heathrow Airport and the local Premier League football stadium.
What valuable takeaways did you bring home with you?
The exchange programme helped me to build even stronger relationships with my colleagues in London and Finland and appreciate the subtle cultural differences in our work styles. I hoped to share some insights and practices from Finland and reciprocate the learnings when I would go back. I had a wonderful time in London and am excited for the rest of my exchange!
