Celebrates new hires for successfully completing the corporate test
State Secretary for Energy Thomas Wünsch attended a ceremony in Ilberstedt, Saxony-Anhalt, where seven new chimney sweep apprentices were sworn in on 01 August 2025. The apprentices, comprising six men and one woman, received their journeyman's certificates and traditional headwear after completing a three-year apprenticeship and passing exams.
Wünsch expressed his belief that the apprentices will be real lucky charms for the people of Saxony-Anhalt. He also wished them a steady hand for safe and efficient heating technology, and a tailwind for their further career. The role of chimney sweeps in the energy transition, as emphasized by Wünsch, involves their crucial contribution to maintaining and optimizing heating systems for energy efficiency and safety.
Chimney sweeps have expertise in fireplaces and heating systems, which is crucial for developing sustainable and affordable heat strategies. They perform regular maintenance such as cleaning and inspecting chimneys and vents to prevent hazards and improve the efficiency of heating systems. This maintenance reduces dangerous situations and contributes to minimizing energy losses, which aligns with energy transition objectives focusing on sustainability and efficiency.
Wünsch referred to the chimney sweep profession as having creative power and added value for society. He stated that the chimney sweep apprentices have successfully completed their apprenticeship and passed their journeyman's exam. Chimney sweeps are considered future partners in the transformation of energy supply, with their knowledge of the local energy reality playing a key role in the modern chimney sweep trade, which is significant in the transformation of heat supply.
The days of merely sweeping soot are long gone in the chimney sweep trade. Chimney sweeps help ensure that heating infrastructure functions effectively, which supports the broader goals of reducing energy waste and enhancing the performance of traditional and renewable energy-based heating solutions. Their work ensures that existing heating technologies operate at peak efficiency, supporting the reduction of fossil fuel consumption and facilitating integration with newer, cleaner energy systems.
[1] Sources: Energy Transition Website, State Secretary for Energy Thomas Wünsch Speeches, Chimney Sweep Association Saxony-Anhalt.
In the spirit of the State Secretary for Energy Thomas Wünsch's speech, it would be beneficial for chimney sweeps to diversify their skills and explore opportunities in the education-and-self-development sector, as their expertise in fireplaces and heating systems can contribute significantly to creating sustainable and affordable heat strategies in that realm. Moreover, with their role transforming in the energy transition, these tradespeople could potentially find allies in the finance industry, as their knowledge of the local energy reality makes them key players in the modernization of traditional and renewable energy-based heating solutions, thus aligning with the efficiency and sustainability objectives of financial investments.
