How can a massive 180 000 m2 shopping centre, with 7.3 million annual visitors, 300 yearly events and 80 toilet facilities, be managed smoothly and sustainably? Ideapark Lempäälä, near Tampere, Finland, has found Alltime as its trusted partner in this mission through integrated facility and cleaning services.
Ideapark Lempäälä shopping centre is one of the most visited facilities in Finland – its about 180,000 m2 see 7.3 million visits and 300 events annually. It attracts visitors from all over the country, and aims to become Finland’s largest “mini-holiday destination”. As daily visitor numbers range between 10,000 and 30,000, substantial expertise, resources, and—above all—flexibility is required from partners to create an excellent experience.
“Flexibility is key for us. Our partners must be able to respond to fluctuating visitor numbers and 300 annual events. Alltime has demonstrated its ability to meet these demands, both in terms of resources and attitude,” says Visa Vainiola, CEO of Ideapark Lempäälä. “We want a partner that doesn’t focus on why something can’t be done, but finds solutions instead. Alltime is exactly that kind of partner.”
The partnership began in 2022 with property maintenance and soon expanded to include cleaning services. Today, Alltime takes care of outdoor area maintenance, property maintenance, technical facility services, event construction, shopping cart collection, as well as both general and construction cleaning. Additionally, some of the shopping centre’s stores utilise Alltime’s cleaning services. With good reason, the partnership can be described as a one-stop-shop for facility services.
“A comprehensive service offering, agility, and willingness to solve issues are definitely the best aspects of this partnership. They fit perfectly into the fast-paced and ever-changing environment we operate in. Despite being a fairly large company, Alltime provides us with truly local service,” Tero Mäkelä, Facility Manager at Ideapark, describes the collaboration.
“We want a partner that doesn’t focus on why something can’t be done, but finds solutions instead. Alltime is exactly that kind of partner.”
Visa Vainiola, CEO, Ideapark Lempäälä
Sustainability is another important theme in Ideapark’s partnerships.
The shopping centre aims to become carbon-neutral by 2030 and expects its partners to share this mindset. Alltime has demonstrated its commitment to supporting its customer reach its environmental goals by introducing electric work equipment among other initiatives.
While energy reduction is Ideapark’s primary focus, Mäkelä also emphasises the shopping center’s social responsibility. “Sustainability is made up of many factors and should be addressed comprehensively. Often, aspects like the free events we organise or the affordable spaces we offer to sports clubs go unnoticed. In terms of social responsibility, Alltime also supports us through its services.”
For Vainiola and Mäkelä, the most important aspect of responsible business is having a shared vision and objectives. As the EU’s mandatory sustainability reporting requirements come into effect, companies are already learning to navigate this challenge together.
“A hands-on attitude and the right people are what matter most to us,” Vainiola sums up.
