14 former apprentices were first-class

Fourteen young skilled trade workers have been accepted by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce East Thuringia (IHK Ostthüringen) into the federal government's funding programme 'Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung' (Vocational Training Programme for the Highly Talented) due to their outstanding examination results upon graduating from their apprenticeship.

They come from different vocational training occupations such as biological laboratory technician, precision optician, mechatronics fitter and management assistant in wholesale trade and retail services. This award provides the skilled tradesmen with up to EUR 6,000 each for their advanced vocational training.

Felix Zaumseil from Gera is one of the award winners. The upper secondary school graduate trained as a management assistant in wholesale and foreign trade at the Raiffeisen Waren GmbH in Gera, where he also was offered an employment contract. He intends to use the Vocational Training Programme for the Highly Talented to attend an IHK degree course to qualify as a business administrator and to subsequently work as a branch manager for Raiffeisen.

Precision optician Laura Meisen from Keila received her training at Docter Optics and as a result of her successful graduation she started the IHK advanced training course for becoming an industrial master optician only two days after attaining her professional qualification. Her employer supports her on this path.

The same is true for Mathias Otto, who trained as an industry mechanic at Neumayer Tekfor Schmölln GmbH and likewise immediately enrolled in an IHK degree course for becoming an industrial master metal worker.

His colleague Michael Krause, electronics technician for automation technology is also one of the best and receives similar support from the Neumayer company. He now wants to complete his technician training.

Sarah Geilert from Poellwitz has the goal of becoming a head chef (IHK); she trained as a chef at the Bio-Seehotel Zeulenroda and intends to gain professional experience beyond the borders of Thuringia after successfully completing her advanced training.

Sue Brose has relocated to Dresden; she trained as a health services officer at the KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse health insurance, where she was offered a permanent employment contract after completing her apprenticeship. Her next step is to qualify as an IHK business administrator for health and social affairs.

Since 1991, a total of 736 scholarship holders have been funded via the IHK Ostthüringen with about EUR 2 million from the budget of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.