HHJ - Hyväksytty hallituksen jäsen

What HHJ - Hyväksytty hallituksen jäsen does

HHJ (Hyväksytty hallituksen jäsen, "Certified Board Member") is a Finnish national board training and certification program founded in 2004 and jointly operated by Tampere Chamber of Commerce and Hallituspartnerit ry. The program operates through all 19 regional chambers of commerce in mainland Finland and has trained more than 19,000 board professionals over 20+ years, running 60–70 HHJ core courses per year. Its portfolio covers the foundational HHJ Course and HHJ Examination (the official certification granting the HHJ professional designation), the Chairman's Course, the advanced HHJ Pro program, the Board Secretary course, a Refreshment/Review course for alumni, and the recently launched HHJ Exit for startups and growth companies. Courses are delivered in Finnish, Swedish, and English, both in-person at regional chambers and remotely via the Howspace digital collaboration platform, with English-language CBM cohorts run through the Central Chamber of Commerce for international participants.

The core technology stack is a digital learning platform built on Howspace that supports course delivery, self-assessment tools for chairpersons, group work, and a video content library (HHJ BoardCast). Pricing for the core HHJ Course ranges from €1,990 to €3,000 (+VAT) depending on chamber and member status; exam fees are €450 (+VAT), with specialized programs (Chairman's Course, Board Secretary, Refreshment, HHJ Pro, HHJ Exit) priced separately. Revenue is generated through course fees, examination fees, specialized programs, and a board-member placement service operated by Hallituspartnerit ry; the organization is a non-profit chamber-affiliated entity with no disclosed external equity, and employs 217 staff coordinated from Tampere (Kalevantie 2 D).

Customer segments are primarily Finnish SMEs and their boards, alongside entrepreneurs, corporate executives and CEOs, and increasingly startup/growth-company founders and chairpersons. The organization's competitive positioning rests on its status as Finland's nationally recognized board certification standard, its institutional partnership with Tampere Chamber and Hallituspartnerit, and its nationwide delivery network through regional chambers; recent strategic activity has focused on curriculum renewal (HHJ 2.0 in 2025–2026), the Chairman's Course reform, and the HHJ Exit startup partnership with FiBAN launched for September 2026.

Name

HHJ - Hyväksytty hallituksen jäsen

Legal name

Hyväksytty hallituksen jäsen (HHJ)

Website

https://hhj.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HHJ is Finland's national board member training and certification program, jointly run by Tampere Chamber of Commerce and Hallituspartnerit ry and delivered through all 19 regional chambers, serving SME board members, entrepreneurs, executives, and increasingly startup founders across the country.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampere

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. HHJ Training Courses: Core revenue from delivering HHJ courses through regional chambers of commerce. Each course consists of 4 half-day sessions plus group work. Standard pricing varies by chamber and membership status.
2. HHJ Examination Fees: Examination fees for board certification. Regular exam: 450 € + VAT, retake fees: 225 € + VAT for preliminary tasks or multiple-choice test.
3. Specialized Programs: Revenue from specialized training including Chairman Course, Board Secretary Course, Refreshment Course, and HHJ Exit for startups.
4. Board Member Placement Services: Hallituspartnerit ry provides board member placement services connecting companies with independent board professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HHJ delivers a national board member training and certification concept in Finland through a network of all 19 regional chambers of commerce. Its portfolio includes the foundational HHJ Course (four half-day sessions and group work), the HHJ Examination for the Certified Board Member designation, the HHJ Chairman's Course, HHJ Pro for advanced governance, HHJ Board Secretary training, HHJ Exit for startups, an English-language CBM course, the HHJ BoardCast video library, and a board member placement service.

Product overview

HHJ (Hyväksytty hallituksen jäsen - Certified Board Member) is a comprehensive national board training concept developed by Tampere Chamber of Commerce and Hallituspartnerit ry. The portfolio includes the foundational HHJ Course as the core product, followed by the HHJ Examination for professional certification, advanced programs like the Chairman's Course and HHJ Pro, specialized offerings such as HHJ Exit for startups, the Board Secretary training, and the Review Course for continuing education. The program also includes an English-language CBM course, the HHJ BoardCast video library, and a board member placement service. The training is delivered through all regional Chambers of Commerce across mainland Finland, with courses conducted both in-person and remotely via platforms like Teams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HHJ-kurssi: Core board member training course consisting of four half-day sessions and group work, covering board composition, roles, responsibilities, risk management, and working methods for SMEs.
• HHJ-tutkinto
• HHJ-puheenjohtajakurssi
• HHJ Pro
• HHJ-kertauskurssi
• HHJ Exit
• HHJ Hallituksen sihteeri
• HHJ BoardCast

Products and services

• HHJ-kurssi (HHJ Course) Foundational board member training course consisting of four half-day sessions and group work, covering board composition, roles, responsibilities, risk management, and working methods from the SME perspective. Designed for current board members and those aspiring to board positions.
• HHJ-tutkinto (HHJ Examination) Professional examination testing general board work competence, available in Finnish, Swedish, and English. Successful candidates earn the right to use the HHJ (Certified Board Member) designation. Regular exam fee EUR 450 + VAT, retake fees EUR 225 + VAT.
• HHJ-puheenjohtajakurssi (HHJ Chairman's Course) Advanced course for board chairpersons and those aspiring to chair positions. Provides tools for practical board leadership situations and includes a self-assessment element. Available in Finnish and English. Chamber member price EUR 1,890 + VAT, non-member price EUR 2,500 + VAT.
• HHJ-johdanto hallitustyöhön (HHJ Introduction to Board Work) Introductory course for those new to board work concepts and considering board participation. Serves as an entry point into the HHJ training pathway.
• HHJ Hallituksen sihteeri (HHJ Board Secretary) Training providing skills to serve professionally as a board secretary, with practical tools for daily board work, document management, and understanding of board-management cooperation. Chamber member price EUR 550 + VAT, non-member price EUR 690 + VAT.
• HHJ Exit Specialized course for founders, board members, and chairpersons of startups and growth companies covering board work in fast-paced environments, developing companies to attract investors, and building exit readiness.
• HHJ Pro Finland's most extensive board work training program for advanced professionals seeking deep expertise in corporate governance.
• HHJ-kertauskurssi (HHJ Review Course) Review course for those who have completed the HHJ course, covering the updated HHJ course content and providing confidence for the HHJ examination. Priced from EUR 320 + VAT (EUR 360 + VAT member / EUR 490 + VAT non-member in Oulu).
• Certified Board Member (CBM) Course in English English-language version of the HHJ course offered through the Central Chamber of Commerce for international participants.
• Hallitusjäsenvälitys (Board Member Placement Service) Placement service operated by Hallituspartnerit ry that connects companies with independent board professionals. Designed for SMEs seeking qualified board members.
• HHJ BoardCast Video library on YouTube featuring interviews with board work experts and governance professionals, including interviews with Ismo Salminen, Minna Metsälä, and other industry experts.
• Videokirjasto (Video Library) Collection of video interviews with board work experts and industry professionals sharing insights on governance topics.
• HHJ-yritysvalmennus (HHJ Corporate Training) Corporate training offering delivered to companies, with group work sessions typically held at the target company. Part of the HHJ training portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19,000+ board professionals trained over 20+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Tampereen kauppakamari (Tampere Chamber of Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary organizational partner that coordinates the HHJ program nationally. Develops curriculum, manages certification, and coordinates with regional chambers.
• Hallituspartnerit rycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard professional association that co-developed the HHJ program and provides board member placement services. Key partner in curriculum development and trainer network.
• Regional Chambers of Commerce (19 chambers)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAll 19 regional chambers of commerce in mainland Finland deliver HHJ courses locally. They handle enrollment, logistics, and local marketing under national standards.
• FiBAN (Finnish Business Angels Network)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed HHJ Exit program for startups and growth companies. Provides 600+ expert network for training delivery. First program launching September 2026.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HHJ_fi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLlhjwldDl-KCeaOdTxfxEh5_exIru8kEL
• Facebookfacebook.com/hyvaksyttyhallituksenjasen.certifiedboardmember
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hhj-hyv%C3%A4ksytty-hallituksen-j%C3%A4sen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 HHJ - Hyväksytty hallituksen jäsen