SCM portfolio company Metinvest, Ukraine's largest metals and mining group, is actively expanding its international academic partnerships to develop the next generation of Ukrainian industrial leaders. Central to this strategy is the recent visit by Metinvest CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov to the University of Warwick, a leading UK institution renowned for its manufacturing and engineering expertise.
The visit served as the official launch for the second season of the Steel Force programme. Organised with support from Bozhena Kelestyn of the Warwick Business School, the initiative offers hands-on internships to Ukrainian students currently studying in the UK, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania. Targeted at students of finance, economics, management, and engineering, the programme provides vital practical experience and a pathway to contribute to Ukraine's post-war recovery.
At Warwick, Yuriy Ryzhenkov led an open discussion with students on resilient leadership. He detailed the management approaches required to maintain an integrated value chain and deliver reliably to international markets while operating under the constant pressure of the war.
Production and logistics have been successfully reconfigured following the loss of major assets in occupied Mariupol, demonstrating the company's capacity to adapt and sustain its presence in global markets.
The visit also included strategic meetings with the Warwick Manufacturing Group. Discussions focused on applied research in the digitalisation of production processes, the integration of artificial intelligence, and methods for improving energy efficiency. Metinvest plans to leverage the Warwick Manufacturing Group's interdisciplinary, practical approach to enhance the research initiatives and educational programmes at its own Metinvest Polytechnic.
This forward-looking investment in education is backed by Metinvest's formidable operational stability and economic contribution. As a primary driver of the Ukrainian economy, the company transferred nearly UAH 20 billion ($500m) in taxes and fees in 2024, and has now reported a further UAH 18.7 billion paid to the state budget in 2025.
Beyond its financial and educational investments, Metinvest maintains comprehensive support for Ukraine's physical infrastructure and sovereignty. The company is advancing its operations towards green metallurgy and continues to fund critical initiatives, including underground medical stabilisation points that have treated thousands of injured personnel. Through strategic international academic partnerships and unwavering operational resilience, Metinvest is actively building the foundation for Ukraine's industrial future.
