Mika Jost, a graduate of Umicore Galvanotechnik GmbH in Schwäbisch Gmünd, achieved 96 points in his final examination to become a surface coater, making him the best examinee in this apprenticeship in Germany in 2023. This success was honored at a ceremony held at the ECC Estrel Congress Center in Berlin during the Federal Best Apprenticeship Awards of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce.
Mika Jost was not the only one delighted with the recognition; his trainers are also proud. "Such achievements are a great reward for our commitment," says a delighted Silvia Neuhaus, Head of Training. Jost, in turn, is happy that he can also give something back with his good performance: "Umicore has really excellent specialists who actually take a lot of time to impart theoretical knowledge to the trainees.
There is also good teamwork, where it is easy to contribute ideas and apply what you have learned in practice." The best surface coater came from Umicore six years ago. The company attaches great importance to training, which is also reflected in a training rate of over 10%. This pays off - especially in times of a shortage of skilled workers, as Head of Human Resources Steffen Barth emphasizes. For Mika Jost, it quickly became clear that he wanted to continue his studies in the field of "Surface Technology and New Materials" due to his great interest in the training content. In order not to lose the practical relevance, he will remain with Umicore as a working student.
