Career growth through education: Why companies implement training programs for their employees.

Training in Companies: What Businesses Gain

• increased productivity and quality of work tasks;
• reduced employee turnover and enhanced loyalty;
• boosted innovation;
• development of corporate culture and improved employee satisfaction.

By training employees, companies not only foster their growth but also bridge the gap between what individuals know and what the organization requires.

"Nowadays, a comprehensive approach is increasingly employed, which combines various forms and methods of training that depend on the specifics of the company," says Ivanova-Bekar. — However, most companies usually have adaptation and product/service training programs, which are conducted in formats such as seminars, workshops, webinars, and training sessions. Professional development occurs through internal Academy training programs and external providers. For instance, recently, platforms like Udemy and Coursera have gained popularity."

Hard Skills and Soft Skills: Who Needs What

Currently, enhancing business competitiveness is impossible without employee training. There are many companies in the market that recognize this and place significant emphasis on training people, says Natalia Slin'ko, director of the consulting firm TalentMatch and HR expert. "For example, systematic training is always present in retail companies, as specific skills are required to sell shoes or household appliances. Such companies have developed training systems, methodologists, internal trainers, and coaches who train the trainers, and so on. All of this has one goal — to increase sales."

Training in production is structured differently and can relate to both hard skills and soft skills, the expert continues. Professional training is usually "tied" to educational institutions with which contracts are established, and certification is required upon completion. Soft skills training is present in most service-oriented companies, and it can be conducted by both internal and external trainers, depending on the specific needs of the organization.

"When it comes to industries, I primarily highlight IT, FMCG, agriculture, retail, and large manufacturing enterprises," adds Ivanova-Bekar. "In the overwhelming majority of medium and large companies, Development and Training departments or even Academies have been established, where both comprehensive professional development and soft skills enhancement take place — leadership, emotional intelligence, and communication are currently trending. They also train standards for work and customer service, which is particularly relevant for retail and the financial sector. However, beyond industry affiliation, the owner's and management's positions play a crucial role."

Regarding collaboration with universities, in recent years, amid the personnel shortage, it has only intensified, the expert continues. According to her, employers from the IT sector, agriculture, finance, and the food industry are actively collaborating with educational institutions. If 2-3 years ago, employers were interested in students from the 4th-5th years, now they are willing to consider juniors as well.

Amid the personnel shortage, collaboration between companies and universities is strengthening.

"Pharmaceutical students are being 'snatched up' as early as the 3rd-4th year," agrees Natalia Slin'ko. "They are employed part-time at companies and remain after graduation."

Forming a New Generation of Workforce: The Experience of Arterium Corporation

At the pharmaceutical corporation "Arterium," they emphasize the importance of ensuring that every employee has access to educational materials anytime and anywhere. To achieve this, they created an online platform with over 200 courses across various fields. This educational base is utilized by both new employees during their adaptation period and specialists in production roles, developers, quality standards experts, sales specialists, and others.

• Also read: Professional Growth and Success of Each Individual: How "Arterium" Develops Employee Training

For new hires, the company has developed an adaptation program that helps newcomers quickly integrate into the workflow. Each new employee is paired with a mentor, which facilitates a faster understanding of work specifics, resolves organizational issues, and effectively accomplishes assigned tasks. This program has yielded positive results: the percentage of those who remain in the company after the probation period increased from 90% in 2023 to 94% in 2024.

Employee training at Arterium serves various purposes: for adapting to new technologies or processes and familiarizing with new software; for deepening knowledge during skill enhancement; for additional training when an employee transitions to a new position with different responsibilities, etc.

Particular attention is paid by "Arterium" to collaboration with higher education institutions. "We care about developing students today so that tomorrow they can help us take care of people's health and lives," says Olga Tsapro. "The program 'fARMing the Future,' which promotes pharmaceutical science, was implemented even before the full-scale invasion. We started with educational projects for students: corporate trainers and professors conduct lectures, master classes, webinars, and we invite students for excursions to the research center and production. Over the past two years, we have attracted more than 2,000 students and collaborated with over 20 specialized universities."

At "Arterium," they care about the development of students today so that tomorrow they can help take care of people's health and lives.

The "Arterium Intern Camp" internship program provides talented students the opportunity to gain their first practical experience in a large company. Over 6 months, students work alongside experienced professionals with the guidance of a mentor. They gain knowledge, practical experience, as well as a competitive salary with bonuses and have every chance to start their career at the company.

"In 2024, we launched a comprehensive program for youth called 'fARMing Future Leaders,' which lasts 9 months and is aimed at developing essential competencies in young employees of the company (up to 25 years old): effective communication, cross-functional interaction, empathy, and motivation. We care about the company's future and are forming a new generation of workforce," concluded Olga Tsapro.

Training for All: What Programs Large Employers Implement

Training is typically more systematically organized in large organizations due to their greater resources and need for specialists.

For instance, the Roshen corporation has launched a training program after which the chances of successful employment increase. There is also a training program for internal employees aimed at enhancing the qualifications of master technologists and a two-module management training program for leaders. Additionally, employees have the opportunity to regularly attend corporate English classes: training is divided by levels and conducted using progressive methodologies.

The company "Intergal-Bud" encourages staff to engage in learning and self-development by organizing various training sessions for professional development, particularly for specialized narrow professionals — seminars, advanced training courses (KUA, accounting, law, technical supervision engineers). The company also conducts training for project management specialists in certification courses on project management.

The WOG chain of gas stations also cares about the professional development of its employees. Regular training sessions, workshops, business games, and masterminds aimed at improving service quality are conducted. The company actively utilizes and develops modern approaches to employee training and development, operating a Corporate University based on a contemporary e-learning platform.

The company SoftServe actively develops partnerships with Ukrainian universities. Within such projects, starting from the third year, students can intern at SoftServe to gain practical experience and potentially get employed by the company in the future.

In summary, employee training is a crucial project in companies that aim to cultivate true professionals within their structure and achieve good results in their work, including financial success.

An interesting anecdote regarding corporate training comes from Natalia Slin'ko.

Two entrepreneurs discuss employee training.

- Aren't you afraid that you'll train them, and they’ll leave for competitors? — one asks.

- No, — replies the other, — I'm afraid I won’t train them, and they’ll stay with me.