Gain your first professional experience and get involved in real projects for the national mining and metallurgical industry and the reconstruction of Ukraine. These opportunities are provided by the new Steel Force programme from Metinvest Group. Its goal is to encourage the return and support Ukrainian youth who are pursuing higher education abroad.
Students from 16 higher education institutions in the United Kingdom took part in the pilot programme, which the company launched in early 2025. To identify the most talented participants, they underwent a selection process in the first stage.
Working in teams and with the support of mentors, the young people worked on business cases for Metinvest. At the same time, the company ensured maximum involvement of participants in the corporate culture and development of their personal hard and soft skills. Master classes, workshops and meetings with company managers were organised for them, as well as an excursion to Spartan UK, Metinvest's rolling mill in Newcastle.
Based on the selection results, 23 students were given the opportunity to undergo paid internships in countries where Metinvest operates, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Italy, and Poland. Some students returned to Ukraine from abroad specifically to undergo internships in Kyiv.
FACT
For three months, students completed internships under individual programmes, each in their own field: finance, investment, engineering, sales, HR, etc.
During the internship, three interns visited Metinvest's Promet Steel in Bulgaria.
Klyment YAROSH, graduate of City, University of London:
"For three months, I worked on a project that was purely research and conceptual in nature at the initial stage – to identify modern engineering solutions for the modernisation of the reheating furnace at Promet Steel, and then turn them into a full-fledged investment case. The trip to Bulgaria was an important part of the project and gave me a practical understanding of the production process that cannot be gained from documents or technical descriptions alone. Seeing the plant with my own eyes was a whole new level of immersion. The scale of production, the intensity of the thermal processes, the work of engineers and the rhythm of the plant made a very impressive impression. It was interesting to see how theory meets reality, where technological optimisations make real sense and where production constraints dictate their own rules."
The internship was an important stage in my professional and personal development. I realised that Ukrainian industry today is not only about production, but also about effective optimisation, sustainable development and a team of numerous experts who believe in what they do. I felt like I became part of this team. And I would definitely like to return to Metinvest as part of a team of professionals. Because for me, Metinvest is not just an international company with leading indicators in the industry. It is a symbol of a modern, strong Ukraine that continues to develop and support the economy even in the most difficult times.
Danylo RIABTSEV, Master's degree holder from Warwick University:
"Practical experience is one of the most important things for students who are just starting their careers. During my internship at Metinvest, I had the opportunity to work with my colleagues on real business cases for the company's development. The knowledge and skills I gained during this internship will stay with me for a long time and will definitely help me in my future career. Metinvest is a good example of a socially responsible large business that cares about young people. I hope that more and more Ukrainian companies will follow its example."
I started my internship with no experience in project management. I only had a theoretical background and some practical skills gained from previous work experience. At first, there was a lot of information to take in, and I couldn't remember everything right away. But day by day, I had fewer questions and the processes became clearer. I am grateful to my colleagues – I couldn't have done it without them. Overall, my internship left only positive impressions, and I sincerely hope that I will be able to continue my professional career at Metinvest. I want to become part of the company so that I can contribute to the recovery and growth of Ukraine and a stable and happy future for Ukrainians.
Elizaveta BULGAKOVA, graduate of London South Bank University:
"My internship with Metinvest's HR team wasn't limited to micro-tasks. I took part in complex HR processes. In particular, I worked with KPIs not only from the user's perspective, but also from the perspective of their formation and goal setting. I would also like to mention my participation in the audit of the staffing table of enterprises, which allowed me to better understand the organisational structure of a large international company."
Myroslava KONDRASHOVA, student at the London School of Economics and Political Science:
"During my internship at Metinvest, I had the opportunity to work on analysing the company's Italian assets. In particular, I researched what share of the Italian market for hot-rolled sheets less than 12 mm in thickness and normalised sheets could be served by Metinvest Trametal and Ferriera Valsider by Eurofer segments, as well as in Italy as a whole. To ensure the project's success, I actively collaborated with colleagues from various key departments. What I remember most is communicating with process engineers who advised me on the production capabilities of the plants. When I first started my internship, I had almost no technical knowledge, but thanks to the support of my colleagues, I began to understand steel grades, their differences and the bottlenecks that can arise in the production of hot-rolled sheets. I am sincerely grateful to Metinvest for this opportunity to develop and contribute to the future of our country."
Illia MESNIKOVYCH, graduate of the University of Manchester:
"During my internship, I participated in investment committee meetings. This gave me the opportunity to see how investment decisions are made in a large company, especially in wartime, which is a unique experience in crisis management. In general, I was involved in a wide variety of tasks and projects, from financial modelling to participating in strategic meetings. It really felt like a full-fledged work process, where every day brought new challenges and opportunities for development."
