Young talents honored: State winner of the 2025 apprenticeships awarded

Young talents honored: State winner of the 2025 apprenticeships awarded

What a beautiful occasion! On November 7, 2025, the best of their years gathered in the state government guest house in Kiel to be honored by Prime Minister Daniel Günther. In a celebratory ceremony, a total of 25 graduates of the state administration were honored for their outstanding achievements. Four outstanding personalities from LBV.SH were particularly in the spotlight: Lisa Dürrer is the best computer scientist, Mercy Rohweder shines as a civil engineer, while Flemming Schnoor as a road guard and Finn Harbeck as a draftsman were able to deliver an equally impressive performance.

“With your commitment and willingness to perform, you have not only done a great service to yourself, but also to your training centers and to society as a whole,” said Prime Minister Günther during the ceremony. Accompanied by their trainers, the honorees proudly accepted their awards. Finn Harbeck had already achieved the feat in April 2025, when he was named the best trainee by the IHK. This recognition shows how highly valued craftsmanship and technical knowledge is in Schleswig-Holstein.

The importance of professional training

The honor highlights the great importance of professional training in state administration. According to a report from the IHK Schleswig-Holstein, a number of graduates have achieved excellent results in their final exams in recent years. 9,043 participants were tested in Schleswig-Holstein last year, and the best were celebrated for their achievements, as shown hl-live.de is reported. The commitment of companies and vocational schools was highlighted by Vice President Franziska Leupelt, who at the same time called for greater political support for vocational training.

It is undisputed that dual training is crucial for Schleswig-Holstein's economic future. “We have to increase the attractiveness of our local vocational schools,” demanded Leupelt and suggested deploying teachers at different locations in order to save students long commute times. Those responsible also want to expand the digital offerings in lessons so that young talents are well prepared for the job market.

A look into the future

But the challenges don’t stop there. A projection for the labor market by 2035 predicts a shortage of 326,799 workers in Schleswig-Holstein, with over 200,000 skilled workers urgently needed. To meet these future needs, increased efforts in vocational education and training are essential. The IHKs in Schleswig-Holstein annually determine the best trainees based on final grades. In order to be recognized as the best in the IHK district, at least 87 points are required. The state's best are then determined based on the highest score from both examination periods before the best talents compete in the nationwide competition.

Overall, these honors and the associated publicity show that Schleswig-Holstein has a good knack for training and supporting young talent. The achievements of the graduates are not just a personal award, but a benefit for our entire society. The responsibility now lies with politicians and educational institutions to create the framework conditions for continued successful vocational training.