2017 saw strong growth and new openings

The signs of spring are also visible this year, as we finalised our accounts. In 2017, Blic continued its strong growth trajectory and our turnover rose to almost EUR 1.5 million. In fact, our growth rate accelerated from the previous year to over 45%. However, our operating profit remained at the same level as the year before, mainly due to new investments in Brussels and elsewhere.

In January 2017, we strengthened Blic's presence in Brussels with a new office and our two-man team of fighters Anssi Klemet and Petja Piilola. Work got off to a good start and we are also on a strong growth path in Brussels.

During 2017, we also hired new experts in our Helsinki office. Our team has been further strengthened and we have taken on new areas of expertise. In January this year, we added defence expertise to our team when Heidi Fransila joined our happy team.

Last year, we were able to work with major international and domestic companies and communities. The content of our assignments became even more challenging and we were able to demonstrate the high level of expertise of our team in finding solutions and taking them to the decision-making stage.

Openness and transparency in lobbying emerged as a major topic of discussion during 2017. Lobbying is part of pluralist democracy, as decision-makers need to be informed about the impact of legislation on different actors in society. But it is also crucial that citizens know who influences our decision-makers and with what agenda.

For us, openness is a core value and we want to be part of making our political system more transparent. In 2017, this goal was particularly tangible in our efforts to influence our decision-makers to create a register of lobbyists in Finland, in which Blic has been heavily involved. This work will continue in 2018.

The influencer business has developed quite strongly in Finland over the last few years and at Blic we are excited to build this industry in Finland.

Niilo Mustonen