Elina Lohi is Best of Taitaja 2026 – “Anyone can clean, but not everyone is a professional”

Best of Taitaja 2026 Elina Lohi. Photo: Skills Finland / Lasse Simpanen.

Best of Taitaja is an annual ambassador for vocational excellence selected from among the young competitors who have achieved the greatest success in the Taitaja Competition. This year, Elina Lohi, gold medallist in the Cleaning Services skill category, was chosen as Best of Taitaja.

Elina began her studies to become a facility cleaner in 2025 and graduated in January this year. This is her second profession. Her first qualification is in animal care. Due to the seasonal nature of animal care work, she also carried out home cleaning jobs alongside her main work.

“For a long time, I planned to earn a qualification in the cleaning sector as well. I later worked in a wide variety of environments, including commercial premises, private homes, offices and a care home. Over the past few years, I have worked as a school cleaner, and through my employer I was offered the opportunity to complete an apprenticeship,” says Elina.

Becoming a professional through apprenticeship training

Elina completed her qualification through an apprenticeship programme at Omnia, her employer’s partner educational institution. Learning in the cleaning services sector was guided by competence criteria. The practical studies are tailored to each student according to an individual learning path. The most valuable aspects of her studies were learning how to plan and carry out work tasks, as well as gaining experience in using different types of machinery and equipment.

“What I particularly appreciated about the studies was their strong connection to working life, flexibility and clear competence goals,” Elina says.

Advocating for consistent professional competence 

As Best of Taitaja, Elina will represent professional excellence in her field over the coming year. She is excited about the role and considers professional competence in the sector highly important.

“I’m looking forward to talking about cleaning and the cleaning industry, and about how important education and consistent professional competence are. Anyone can clean, but not everyone is a professional,” Elina emphasizes.

In the future, Elina hopes to expand her own business in the home cleaning sector. She already has entrepreneurial experience through her own company focused on animal care.

Over the next year, Elina will appear at Skills Finland and Taitaja events as well as on social media. Partners and stakeholders may also invite Elina to speak at various events about her competition journey.

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