The Public Employment Service (DYPA) and the Shipyards of the ONEX Group continue their collaboration, inaugurating for the second school year the EPAS Syros – Branch of EPAS Elefsina, with the slogan "I choose my future!" The goal is to offer young people a stable professional prospect thru specialized training and guarantyd apprenticeship at the Shipyards.
For the first time, the specialty of CNC Machinist is being introduced, aimed at individuals aged 15-29 who seek immediate absorption into the job market. CNC Machinists specialize in the construction and processing of metal components and objects using conventional or numerically controlled machine tools.
Students gain practical experience in shipyards, training in modern laboratories, and a Vocational Education and Training Degree certified by EOPPEP.
At the same time, they enjoy significant benefits such as:
salary and full insurance coverage,
student leave of up to 30 days with pay,
military service deferment,
housing allowance (€240/month) and food allowance (€9/day) for non-permanent residents of Syros,
free books and educational materials.
The submission of applications for the school year 2025-26 is carried out exclusively thru gov.gr: https://www.gov.gr/ipiresies/ekpaideuse/eggraphe-se-skholeio/eggraphe-se-epaggelmatike-skhole-epas-tes-dypa
The choice of Syros and the ONEX shipyards as the location for the implementation of the collaboration is not coincidental. Already from the 2024 training program, the apprenticeship model had left extremely positive impressions, with trainees from outside the island participating with great success. The Neorion of Syros, a historic pillar of Greek shipbuilding activity, has been reborn under the management of Panos T. Xenokostas, Chairman & CEO of ONEX Shipyards & Technologies and Chairman of the Board of the Union of Greek Shipyards, is transforming it into a modern industrial hub with international prospects. The connection between education and the needs of the industry enhances the sustainable development of the island, creates new jobs, and contributes to social cohesion, giving young people the opportunity to stay and engage in their local area.
Already, in the summer of 2025, 15 graduates of the DYPA Elefsina Vocational Training School joined the workforce of the Elefsina Shipyards, confirming the effectiveness of the Apprenticeship Vocational Training Schools as a mechanism for bridging the gap between education and the labor market, and forecasting even greater success in the next steps.
With their collaboration, DYPA and the ONEX Group are investing in the new generation, giving young people the opportunity to "choose their future." The new dimension of this collaboration is yet another step in the journey to strengthen vocational education in Greece, creating the appropriate conditions for a more hopeful "tomorrow."