Divisions

The City of Helsinki organisation is divided into four divisions and the Central Administration. The divisions are: Education Division, Urban Environment Division, Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division and Culture and Leisure Division.

Get to know the Divisions

City Executive Office
The City Executive Office, which operates under the Central Administration, is responsible for developing the City of Helsinki.
Education Division
Education Division oversees the city’s early childhood education, pre-primary education, basic education, general upper secondary education, and vocational education and training in Finnish.
Urban Environment Division
The Urban Environment Division takes care of the planning, construction and maintenance of the urban environment in Helsinki.
Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division
Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division is responsible in many ways for the wellbeing, health and safety of Helsinki residents of all ages.
Culture and Leisure Division
The Culture and Leisure Division maintains and improves functions promoting an active lifestyle, learning and culture.

How do the city divisions make decisions?

Each of the four divisions of the City of Helsinki has its own division committee and one to three sub-committees that operate under the division committee. The sub-committees are tasked with specified responsibilities. Each division committee is chaired by the Deputy Mayor of the division in question.
The committees are responsible for tasks such as overseeing and monitoring the division’s operations and deciding the principles concerning organising and implementing services. Unlike the divisions, the Central Administration does not have a committee. It operates directly under the City Board. The City Council appoints the members of the division committees and their sub-committees.

Committees and boards

Find out more about decision-making

The Decisions service compiles the decisions made by parties such as Helsinki City Council, the City Board, committees and office holders. You can also appeal a decision through the service and read about current decisions and the City of Helsinki’s decision-making process.

Information on decision-making

Organisations under the Central Administration

Service Centre Helsinki
Financial Management Services (Talpa)
Helsinki City Construction Services (Stara)

Organisations under the Education Division

Finnish Adult Education Centre of the City of Helsinki
Swedish Adult Education Centre Arbis (In Swedish)

Organisations under the Urban Environment Division

Helsinki City Transport (HKL)
Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd