Apprenticeship Opens New Career Paths - the First Apprenticeship Group of Ovako Imatra Graduated
Ovako’s apprenticeship program offers a hands-on way to become a professional in metal refining. Henri Luostarinen and Marjo Saarela both started this journey with different backgrounds but share the same goal: to gain a new profession in a stable and diverse industrial company. They began their studies in 2022, and their two-year program will conclude in December 2024.
Luostarinen, originally trained as a machinist, saw the apprenticeship as an opportunity to try something new.
"Studying alongside work has been a good solution for me. It’s rewarding to develop myself further, and Ovako makes it possible,” he explains.
Saarela, on the other hand, has had a long career in the forestry industry and has also worked as an entrepreneur. The apprenticeship program felt like a natural way to return to working for a large company, even though she stumbled upon the opportunity by chance.
“I know what it’s like to work in a large industrial company. Here you have regular working hours and excellent employee benefits, which really appealed to me. Apprenticeship is a great model – you learn by doing, but your income is secured,” Saarela says.
In the apprenticeship program, students are employed and receive a salary while learning new skills – a significant advantage, according to both.
Locally Delivered Training
Ovako runs its apprenticeship program in collaboration with the local Saimaa Vocational College Sampo. The students complete a vocational qualification in process industry with a specialization in metal refining.
Most of the learning takes place on the job, guided by workplace mentors, and is complemented by theoretical studies provided by Ovako and the vocational college.
To qualify for the apprenticeship, applicants for production roles need a secondary-level degree, and those aiming for mechanical maintenance positions require a technical secondary-level degree.
Both Saarela and Luostarinen work in production roles: Saarela currently operates as a crane driver, while Luostarinen works as an inspector on the inspection lines, both within the Business Unit Finished Products. During their studies, they have become familiar with various workstations.
“We’ve covered pretty much the entire process. When I first started with the crane, I had no idea about the big picture. Through the training, I’ve learned how the whole process works, and I now understand the machinery and equipment much better,” Saarela says.
One of the benefits of the apprenticeship program is that students gain skills in multiple roles. For versatile employees, there is always work available at the mill.
“Ovako provides excellent opportunities for employees to grow, whether by moving sideways to different departments and roles or advancing upwards. Staff are trained for supervisory positions as well as various development roles,” Ovako’s HR team explains.
New Skills and Versatile Work
When asked about the best aspects of their jobs, both Saarela and Luostarinen highlight the variety of tasks, which keep the work interesting and help them develop new skills.
"On the inspection lines, there’s a lot of hands-on work, which I enjoy. You also move around a lot during the day, which is nice. The workdays are very different depending on which station you’re working at,” says Luostarinen.
On the inspection lines, steel bars are checked for internal and surface defects, for example, using ultrasound. The bars are processed, treated for rust prevention if needed, marked according to customer specifications, and finally bundled for delivery.
Crane operation, on the other hand, is simpler: the primary task is to lift and move loads or materials from one workstation to another. According to Saarela, good depth perception is the most important skill for this role.
“Depth perception is tested during the initial job medical check, and it improves with practice. You need to work calmly and always be aware of what you’re doing. Rushing only creates unnecessary safety risks,” she says.
Strength in Collaboration
Both Luostarinen and Saarela have received support for their studies from Ovako and Saimaa Vocational College. Ovako’s flexible approach to learning has been particularly important.
“The employer has been very supportive. I’ve even been able to complete practical assessments during working hours when the workload allowed,” Luostarinen explains.
“I’ve also received help from Sampo whenever I needed it, especially with assessments. We’ve had great teachers from the college,” Saarela adds.
They believe the industrial sector and apprenticeship programs are ideal for those interested in technology and hands-on work. The industry offers nearly endless opportunities, and in export-driven companies, the whole world is open.
“I encourage everyone to try new things and not leave doors closed because of fear. Follow your intuition – the perfect job might be found in unexpected places,” Saarela concludes.
Apprenticeship in a Nutshell
- Degree: Vocational Qualification in Process Industry, specializing in Metal Refining
- Duration: 1.5–2 years
- Scope of Studies: 150 competence points (cp).
- Age Range: Approximately 20–55 years
- Requirement: Minimum age of 18
- Educational Background Requirement: Secondary-level qualification (technical qualification for maintenance roles)
- Ovako’s Responsibility: Organizing the training, providing theoretical studies, workplace guidance, and conducting competence demonstrations in collaboration with teachers.
- Sampo’s Role: Coordinating the training, organizing team days, and conducting competence demonstrations.
