Ylä-Savon ammattiopisto

Name

Ylä-Savon ammattiopisto

Legal name

Ylä-Savon koulutuskuntayhtymä

Website

https://ysao.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Iisalmi

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ministry of Education and Culture state funding: Core funding from Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö (Ministry of Education and Culture), allocated per student year. In 2024, funded for 1,582 student years. Funding is subject to national budget cuts; 2025 state funding was reduced by approximately 1.3 million euros.
2. Product and service sales (YSAO shop and training services): Revenue from student-run practice enterprises and services: restaurants (Oppimestari, Ravintola Apila, Ravintola Kaisla, Ravintola Aisakello), café-shop Eväsmestari, vehicle maintenance, animal care services (Tassula/Tassutupa), hairdressing (Hiustaiturit), driving practice track, and merchandise. Also commercial training services to businesses.
3. Project and development funding: EU and national project funding (ESR+, JTF, Erasmus+, Nordplus) supporting specific development initiatives such as Tulevaisuuden maatila, Talent Hub Eastern Finland, ELLI veterinary services project, and others.
4. EduSavo Oy subsidiary revenue: EduSavo Oy, a wholly-owned subsidiary, generated 1.4 million euros in revenue in 2024 with a net result of 168,785.94 euros after taxes.
5. Commemorative book sales: Sale of the 150-year commemorative book 'Ammattiopetus Ylä-Savossa 150 vuotta: Kuvia ja Tarinoita' at 39.60 euros per copy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

YSAO delivers vocational qualifications (perustutkinto) across six competence areas — logistics, natural resources, services, construction, technology, and working life skills — through six regional campuses, workplace-based learning, apprenticeship training (oppisopimus), and English-language programmes for international students. It also operates student-run practice enterprises (teaching restaurants, hairdressing salon, vehicle maintenance, animal care, driving track) that are open to the public, and provides continuing education, skills forecasting, and commercial training services to employers via its subsidiary EduSavo Oy.

Product overview

Ylä-Savon ammattiopisto (YSAO) is a vocational education institution offering comprehensive professional training programs. The institution operates as a unified educational platform comprising multiple campus locations (Peltoniemi, Sankariniemi, Hingunniemi, Vieremä, Toivala, Liperi) delivering training across six competence areas: logistics, natural resources, services, construction, technology, and working life skills. The eYSAO digital platform serves as the central electronic learning management system, while the YSAO Shop provides branded merchandise including the commemorative 150th anniversary book. Specialized learning environments like the PETRA factory simulation (workplace skills training) and the Kood/Sisu coding school partnership complement traditional vocational programs. English-language programs support international students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vocational qualifications (perustutkinto) Finnish vocational qualifications (perustutkinto) across six competence areas, delivered through six campuses, workplace-based learning, and apprenticeship pathways. Prepares students directly for regional employment. Produced 656 degrees and 266 partial qualifications in 2024.
• Apprenticeship training (oppisopimus) Work-embedded apprenticeship training in cooperation with employers, enabling workers to study while employed. Delivered through separate tracks for employees, enterprises, and entrepreneurs.
• TUVA preparatory education (Tutkintokoulutukseen valmentava koulutus) Preparatory education for learners who need additional readiness before entering vocational qualification studies.
• MAHIS dual qualification programme (Tuplaa tutkintosi) Dual qualification pathway allowing students to combine upper secondary and vocational qualifications concurrently.
• Sports Academy (Urheiluakatemia) Programme combining vocational studies with elite-level sports training for student athletes.
• English-language vocational programmes (mechanical and production technology) English-taught vocational programmes for international students, supporting integration into the Finnish workforce; first programme is in mechanical and production technology.
• YSAO practice enterprise services (teaching restaurants, hairdressing, vehicle maintenance, animal care, driving track) Student-run practice enterprises open to students and the public across multiple campuses, including four teaching restaurants, a café-shop (Eväsmestari), a hairdressing salon (Hiustaiturit), vehicle maintenance services, animal care services (Tassula, Tassutupa), horse care services, and a driving practice track.
• YSAO Shop (branded merchandise and 150th anniversary book) YSAO's online shop selling branded merchandise and the 150-year anniversary commemorative book (39.60 euros; home delivery 7.00 euros up to 2 kg).
• Facility and space rentals (Tilavaraukset / Tilojen vuokraus) Rental of YSAO campus facilities, equipment, and meeting spaces to businesses and community organisations.
• Employer and workforce training services (YSAO kehittää, Osaamiskartoitus, Työpaikkaohjaus, Mainio koulutustyöpaikkakumppani) B2B services for employers including continuing education, skills mapping (osaamiskartoitus), workplace instructor training (työpaikkaohjaus), and the Mainio koulutustyöpaikkakumppani quality certification for workplace training partners.
• EduSavo Oy commercial training services Commercial training and education services delivered through YSAO's wholly-owned subsidiary EduSavo Oy, including paid courses and tailored employer programmes.

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KesTech (Ylä-Savon teknologiaklusteri)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Regional technology cluster uniting Itä-Suomen yliopisto, Savonia-ammattikorkeakoulu, YSAO, and Iisalmen Teollisuuskylä Oy to promote technological development in Ylä-Savo. Active since 2022, co-funded by EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) through Pohjois-Savon liitto. Organises annual Teknologiatalkoot events.
• Kood/Sisu (coding school)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Private and industry-driven coding school launched in Kuopio in 2024, co-founded by Normet, Ponsse, and YSAO along with Istekki, Novapolis, Kuopion alueen kauppakamari, Osuma Henkilöstöpalvelut, and OP Ryhmä. YSAO contributes its own sub-project to develop pathways between coding school and vocational education. First student cohort studying alongside YSAO IT students.
• Talent Hub Eastern FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation network of Itä-Suomen yliopisto, Karelian, Savonian, Riveria, SAKKY, and YSAO helping international students connect with Finnish workplaces. Provides free workplace instructor training and support sessions for employers across Pohjois-Savo.
• EduSavo OyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholly-owned subsidiary of Ylä-Savon koulutuskuntayhtymä providing commercial training and services. Generated 1.4 million euros revenue in 2024 with 168,785 euro net profit. Run by CEO Mira Repo.
• Skills Finland rycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association behind Taitaja, EuroSkills, and WorldSkills competitions. YSAO participates as competitor host, competition organiser, and provider of Finnish national team members. Satu Nasrelarab serves as team leader for WorldSkills 2026.
• Yhessä-osaamisverkostocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional skills network coordinated by YSAO, funded by Ylä-Savo municipalities at 1 euro per resident for 3 years. Brings together employers, municipalities, educational institutions, and third sector to address skills needs and investment promotion.
• EfVET (European Forum of Technical and Vocational Education and Training)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean VET association. YSAO's director Kari Puumalainen led the working group for EfVET's Four Scenarios Report on the future of European vocational education.
• Erasmus+ programme partners (Netherlands, Iceland, Croatia, Denmark, France, Latvia, Ireland, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Estonia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral Erasmus+ mobility agreements for student and staff exchanges, job shadowing, and joint projects. YSAO staff participated in job shadowing visits to Netherlands, Iceland, Croatia, Denmark, France; student exchanges to Kuressaare (Estonia); and EMEU network annual meetings.
• EMEU network (European Mobility for European Understanding)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean VET mobility network. YSAO staff (Päivi Honkanen, Kristiina Hartikainen, Rea Tuominen, Jarkko Ruotsalainen, Harri Venehsalo) participated in 2024 annual meeting in the Netherlands.
• NetInvet network (Network for Innovation in Vocational Training)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean VET network focused on innovation in vocational training. YSAO staff Lauri Niska and Ossi Räty participated in Spain meeting 2024; Silja Sallinen, Hannele Juntunen, and Laura Ahonen visited Talland College in the Netherlands.
• PonsseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForestry machinery manufacturer and co-founder of Kood/Sisu. YSAO conducted Erasmus+ preparatory visit to Ponsse's partner sites in France as part of international learning environment development.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Savon ammattiopisto (Sakky): Finnish vocational education provider in the Savo region, co-partner with YSAO in the Talent Hub Eastern Finland network. Operates under the same Finnish vocational education framework with similar student-year funding model and comparable programme offerings in technology, services, and natural resources.
• Riveria: North Karelia vocational education provider in Finland, partner in Talent Hub Eastern Finland. Comparable in scale, multi-campus footprint, and programme breadth (technology, services, natural resources), with similar reliance on state funding and apprenticeship training.
• Gradia: Finnish vocational education federation serving Jyväskylä region, offering similar vocational qualifications, apprenticeship training, and continuing education under the same national funding model. Comparable operational profile with multi-campus delivery and employer-integrated programmes.
• Koulutuskeskus Salpaus: Vocational education federation operating in Päijät-Häme region of Finland, offering parallel vocational qualifications, apprenticeship training, and continuing education. Competes in the same national joint admission (yhteishaku) and continuous admission (jatkuva haku) systems.
• Seinäjoen koulutuskuntayhtymä (Sedu): Finnish vocational education provider in South Ostrobothnia, comparable in scale and multi-sector programme offering (technology, logistics, services, natural resources). Operates under identical koulutuskuntayhtymä legal structure and Ministry of Education funding model.
• Tredu (Tampereen seudun ammattiopisto): Tampere region vocational education provider, larger in scale but directly comparable on programme breadth (technology, services, logistics, construction) and apprenticeship integration. Operates the same national admission systems and is a regular Taitaja/WorldSkills competitor.
• Omnia (Espoon seudun koulutuskuntayhtymä): Espoo region vocational education federation serving the Helsinki metropolitan area, comparable in programme breadth and apprenticeship focus. Notable for stronger international student recruitment and EdTech adoption, making it a comparable on international programme initiatives.

Regional players

• Savonia-ammattikorkeakoulu: University of Applied Sciences operating in the same Savo region, partner in KesTech technology cluster. Provides higher education adjacent to YSAO's vocational offerings and shares employer relationships; not a direct competitor for vocational qualifications but a complementary education provider.

Emerging players

• TTS Työtehoseura: Finnish vocational training organization focused on agriculture, forestry, and rural services. Overlaps with YSAO's natural resources programmes (teaching farm at Peltoniemi) and competes for students in agricultural vocational pathways.

Others

• Skills Finland ry: National vocational skills association organizing Taitaja, EuroSkills, and WorldSkills competitions in Finland. YSAO actively participates as competitor host and team leader provider (Satu Nasrelarab is team leader for WorldSkills 2026). Ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ysaomarkkinointi
• Facebookfacebook.com/ysao.fi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yl-savon-ammattiopisto
• Instagraminstagram.com/ysaoinsta
• TikToktiktok.com/@ysao_tiktok
• Xx.com/ysaotweet

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ylä-Savon ammattiopisto