Our Story

The Society held its inaugural meeting on 15th April 1926, thanks to the initiative of Mr. Jaakko Kahma, a businessman occupying an important position in Finnish trade with Britain. The aim was to strengthen friendship and cultural relations between Finland and Britain by making British culture better known in Finland.

The Society was officially registered in 1930, and at the time members included Risto Ryti, who later became Honorary President of the Society and President of Finland. His wife Gerda Ryti was at one time Vice-Chairperson of the Society. Other notable members included newspaper publisher Eljas Erkko (council member) and writer Ester Ståhlberg, wife of former President Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg.

The Society’s early activities included talks, discussion groups, table tennis, music events, and a drama group, a high point being an English Week which in 1933 was the talk of Helsinki. Soon after, a library was founded to support Finnish-British Society activities. Rather unique for the time was the Society’s use of English in all its meetings, social events, and correspondence.

The Second World War marked a break in the Society’s activities. Although Britain formally declared war on Finland, the Prime Minister Winston Churchill never acted on this, largely thanks to his admiration for Marshal Mannerheim, thus the relationship between the countries remained friendly.

Immediately after the war, a decision was made to organise regular English-teaching activities. Teachers were recruited through the British Council to work full-time, supported by local part-time Finnish and British teachers. Society teacher secretaries and members set up the first English discussion groups, nurseries, schools, and clubs in Finland, and helped the country to become more internationally oriented and recognised.

The 1952 Helsinki Olympics continued to bring hope and development. Sporting ideals went hand in hand with the country’s sense of itself as an international player, and Prince Philip took the opportunity to further develop the burgeoning friendship, spending a whole month in Finland during the games!

In 1953, the Society acquired its own central premises on Puistokatu, with impressive views over the Kaivopuisto park. The facilities lent themselves to activities such as visits from writers and celebrities such as the New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, as well as Scottish dancing, afternoon teas, photography exhibitions, fancy dress parties, and even a wedding reception or two.

The Society has always enjoyed celebrating its anniversaries; perhaps the grandest ever will be the fiftieth, in 1976, which was marked with a gathering in the Helsinki University’s Festival Hall, theatre performances, and even a visit by Queen Elizabeth II.

As the century neared its end, the Society proved quite a social hub, with regular events for members and an active program from its associated theatre group, the Finn-Brit Players. In the classroom, courses ranged from preparation for the demanding Cambridge English proficiency exams to literary appreciation and business communication, and lively discussion groups which delighted in tackling many of the difficult topics in the international realm.

During this period, Finland was developing and opening, culminating in membership of the European Union (EU) in 1995. Air travel became less expensive and more accessible and enabled Finns to travel further afield. Greater mobility and easier access to British and American youth culture contributed to the huge popularity of English in schools. By joining the EU, Finland also began to take part in student exchange programmes, such as Erasmus.

In 1996, the Society founded a limited company, Finn-Brit Language Centre Oy (since renamed Finnbrit Language Centre Oy) to better serve company customers. Ten years later, a decision was made to move to our new, central location on the corner of Fredrikinkatu and Iso-Roobertinkatu.

Meanwhile, the British Council began to focus on the arts and promoting study in the UK. In Finland, it granted the Society the right to administer IELTS (International English Language Testing System) tests. As part of the changes, the Finnish-British Society and the Finn-Brit Language Centre adopted the name Finnbrit, with a continued emphasis on language courses and cultural activities, and newly set-up English language tests.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a shared challenge that closed borders. The Finnish-British Society had to make sacrifices, but ultimately, thanks to the determination and spirit of its members, it managed to keep the lights on, surviving and supporting all of those who depend on it, both as a source of work and of pleasure.

100 years after its foundation, Finnbrit continues to be a centre for the English language. We believe English is a gateway to education, careers, and global opportunities. Our language training and proficiency assessments open doors to studying abroad, professional qualifications, and successful immigration and integration. But Finnbrit goes beyond language; it is a place where people can connect, share experiences, and build friendships across cultures.

Connection & Community: We continuously bring people together through cultural activities, such as keynote talks, theatre trips, museum trips, Nursery Rhyme Time, Finnbrit Knitting Club, a book club, a gardeners’ meet, and many more. Along with our affiliated groups—the Finn-Brit Players, Helsinki Morrisers, and International Folk Club—we create safe spaces for creativity and friendship.

Integration & Inclusion: As well as sharing British culture with Finns and helping them to develop their language skills, we actively support newcomers to Finland. Finnbrit offers immigrants opportunities to share experiences, practice their Finnish and English, and feel at home in Finnish society. In 2024, we also began hosting the YKI test – a language certification required for Finnish citizenship applications.

Lifelong Learning: Through our English courses and wide range of social activities, we strive to promote lifelong learning, and we welcome people of all ages, from toddlers to pensioners.

In these times of international tension and divided societies, the need for trust, collaboration, community, and understanding across borders and cultures is ever more important. At Finnbrit, we are proud to play a vital role in strengthening these connections and hope to continue to do so for the next 100 years!

Here’s to Finland, The UK and to Finnbrit!