Metinvest Group’s Zaporizhstal plant expands the targeted scholarship program for youth support “Steel Future” and includes new educational institutions in Zaporizhzhia.
The program creates opportunities to encourage and support young people in choosing industrial specialties, a quick career start and development in the profession, and attracting young specialists to the real sector of the economy. In 2026, the program is valid for students of vocational and professional educational institutions who choose specialties in demand for the metallurgical industry and receive education at the Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic Center for Vocational Education, Zaporizhzhia Metallurgical Professional College of ZNU, Zaporizhzhia Industrial Center for Vocational Education and Zaporizhzhia Professional Lyceum of Railway Transport.
The initiative helps young people gain their first professional experience, additional financial motivation, and at the same time is an effective tool for training new personnel for the metallurgical industry, which is one of the fundamental ones in the restoration and development of the country’s economic and industrial sustainability. Currently, the participants of the scholarship program are more than 50 students from these institutions, who have already received payments in the amount of almost 300 thousand hryvnias during the program.
“A strong industry begins with the training of qualified specialists, so supporting students and educational institutions is one of the strategic priorities of Zaporizhstal and Metinvest. The “Steel Future” program helps young people gain real production experience while still studying and make an informed choice of profession. We create opportunities for growth in a systemic business with long-term clear prospects, closely related to the restoration of the industry and the development of the region after the war,” says Zaporizhstal’s HR Director Maksym Ped.
Program participants receive a monthly scholarship from the first year. In addition to financial support, there is paid internship at Zaporizhstal, the basic basis of which is mentoring from experienced specialists of the enterprise. Interns also receive free meals in corporate canteens and access to the corporate discount system “Steel Bonus”, which is valid exclusively for employees of Metinvest Group. Students of the above-mentioned educational institutions studying in certain specialties can become participants in the scholarship program. The full list of areas can be found by contacting the academic director of their institution.
After completing their studies, program participants receive the priority right to employment at the plant. For young specialists, the enterprise operates a complex of social support, which includes further mentoring, the opportunity to obtain higher education at Metinvest Polytechnic University at the company’s expense, participation in the “First Job” motivational program and other employee support programs.
The plant systematically cooperates with educational institutions of Zaporizhzhia that train specialists for industry: it supports the development of their material and technical base, organizes industrial practice and implements educational and motivational programs for young people. In particular, the Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic Center for Vocational Education is modernizing a workshop for future welders with the financial support of Zaporizhstal – the company has allocated 150 thousand hryvnias for these purposes. After the workshop is renovated, it will be possible to master the profession of a welder, an electric gas welder, an electric welder on automatic and semi-automatic machines in the center. Every year, more than 500 university students, college students and vocational lyceums undergo industrial, familiarization and pre-diploma practice at the plant. (Zaporizhstal)