Professional growth and success for all. Discover how "Arterium" enhances employee training and development.

In Ukraine, the shortage of skilled workers is intensifying, significantly impacting both individual businesses and the economy as a whole. The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine estimates the labor market's skills deficit at nearly 30%. A study conducted by the European Business Association indicates that last year, 74% of employers reported a noticeable shortage of personnel, while 17% noted a partial lack of staff. "The aggravation of this issue is largely due to the large-scale migration of Ukrainians abroad and mobilization into the Armed Forces, as well as the deepening of sectoral, professional, and inter-regional disparities in the labor market. Current trends in labor demand and supply in the domestic market do not contribute to alleviating the skills shortage," states the National Institute for Strategic Studies research.

Consequently, employers face serious challenges related to the lack of qualified personnel: companies need not only to find staff but also to provide professional training, ensure safety, and retain employees, according to labor market experts. "Arterium" takes a systematic approach to addressing staffing issues: employees are offered various training programs, as well as opportunities for career growth. "Employee development is one of our priority areas. We strive to create an environment where every employee can develop their professional and personal skills. The three core values on which our employee training system is built at 'Arterium' are quality, relevance, and unlimited potential," says Olga Tsapro, HR Director of the Arterium Corporation.

Training – for Everyone. The Purpose of the Mentoring Program at "Arterium"

More than 2,300 employees are involved in the creation, production, and sale of products under the Arterium brand. From the very first months of employment, every employee begins their learning journey. "We have implemented a 360° training system at 'Arterium' for employees at all levels and areas of activity and have engaged 158 corporate trainers who share their experience and expertise, guiding employees on their career paths," says Olga Tsapro.

The first course that specialists undergo is a special adaptation program for new employees called "Welcome" — training that introduces new employees to the corporate culture, along with educational modules that help newcomers quickly integrate into the work process and understand the main aspects of their jobs. It is crucial that each new employee is accompanied during their adaptation by a mentor, who also undergoes training before taking on this role. This combination of training methods and support during the new employee's adaptation period has yielded positive results: the percentage of those who remain with the company after the probation period has increased compared to the previous year, reaching 94% in 2024 (90% in 2023).

Another important program within the company is mentoring. As part of the development program at "Arterium," all interested employees are offered the chance to participate in the mentoring program as mentees — those who acquire knowledge and experience from mentors. "We have 27 professional mentors from various departments who have undergone extensive training and are ready to assist and promote the development of our employees. Our mentors provide valuable advice and share their experiences, helping to avoid mistakes and accelerate professional and career growth. This year, management has also joined the mentoring program. Such interaction offers employees a unique opportunity to work alongside top managers, gaining invaluable experience and practical advice that help them grow and develop within the company," explained Olga Tsapro.

A bright example of a successful career in the pharmaceutical company "Arterium" is Dmytro Svynarenko. Eight years ago, after graduating from the National University of Food Technologies, Dmytro began his journey in the company as a Training Specialist. Due to his proactivity, energy, and desire for development, he quickly established himself as a promising specialist. Soon, Dmytro led the group responsible for creating electronic training programs, and as of November 1, 2024, he took on the role of Head of the Corporate University.

"All the opportunities for my professional development were provided by the company 'Arterium.' An employee only needs the desire to grow, improve skills, and exceed expectations," says Dmytro, sharing the secrets of his career success.

Everything for Professionalism. What Training and Development Programs Are Offered to Specialists at "Arterium"

Investing in the professional growth of employees is a crucial component of a successful business, as a motivated specialist climbing the career ladder can positively influence the development of the entire company. That is why the "Arterium" corporation creates dozens of development programs for employees and encourages specialists to grow both professionally and in their careers. "It is important for us that every employee has access to educational materials anytime and anywhere. To achieve this, we created an online platform that features over 200 courses across various fields. This educational base is utilized by everyone: both new employees during the adaptation period and specialists in production specialties, developers, quality standards experts, sales specialists, and others. We dedicate significant time to developing each training program so that employees absorb as much information as possible that will be useful in their work. Moreover, we encourage employees to participate in external training events and compensate for training expenses, without restricting their choices," shared Olga Tsapro.

At "Arterium," various forms of training are utilized: workshops, seminars, webinars, online courses, business games, business cases, comprehensive development programs, mentoring, and leadership programs.

"We employ employee training for various objectives, here are a few. First: when there is a need to help adapt to new technologies or processes, familiarize with new software, new equipment, etc. Second: during qualification upgrades, employees deepen their knowledge or acquire new methodologies to perform more complex tasks. Third: if an employee transitions to a new position with different functions, they may require additional training to successfully fulfill new responsibilities," says Olga Tsapro.

Of course, the modern implementation of intelligent manufacturing, conceptually new technologies, and the latest equipment requires changes in the speed and quality of training for pharmaceutical production workers. At "Arterium," a full spectrum of modern methods, forms, and training and development tools is used: the application of an electronic platform for training, simulation trainers, video instructions, enabling employees to effectively transfer knowledge and practice skills.

In addition to organizing training processes, "Arterium" annually assesses the effectiveness of the training conducted. The effectiveness of training is measured using the Kirkpatrick model at four levels: participant feedback, training effectiveness (testing and exams), changes in work behavior (results of self-assessments), and impact on business results (achievement of departmental plans and goals). After analyzing the results of the training effectiveness assessment and considering the strategic goals of the company, new training directions that require attention are identified, and training programs or entire training courses are prepared. For instance, in 2024, "Arterium" launched the R&D School for the first time. The goal of the School this year is not only to deepen employees' expertise but also to foster cross-functional development, create a knowledge base in pharmaceutical development, and ensure the transfer of knowledge and experience to a new generation of employees.

However, not only mentoring, professional courses, and training contribute to employee development; "Arterium" also focuses on improving soft skills, which can provide numerous benefits to the business: enhancing team productivity, strengthening the corporate culture within the company, increasing employee engagement at work, and overall — boosting business profitability. "For managers, skills such as time management, decision-making, team motivation, and empathy are key to successful leadership. They enable effective team management, inspire employees, and achieve better results. Corporate training can meet employees' needs not only for development but also for psychological stability," explained Olga Tsapro.

"Career Step": Unleashing the Potential of Every Employee

The shortage of skilled workers in Ukraine increasingly motivates domestic companies to invest efforts in cultivating valuable talents internally. At "Arterium," the "Career Step" program has been initiated, aimed at strengthening leadership potential, professional expertise within the company, and creating opportunities for the professional and career growth of every employee.

"Each participant in the 'Career Step' program can receive career counseling and consciously build their career growth plan. Individual development plans are formulated for each participant, depending on their goals, experiences, and abilities. 'Arterium' provides opportunities for vertical, horizontal, and cross-functional career development. Vertical growth, i.e., preparing potential managers, occurs in management and leadership schools. Horizontal development involves expanding one's competencies and knowledge within the same hierarchical level. Cross-functional growth entails acquiring skills and experience in various fields and departments of the company: the focus shifts from job level to the value that a specialist can bring to the team or project," says Olga Tsapro. In 2024, 200 participants took part in the program.

"I attended the Management and Leadership School, gained a wealth of knowledge, and today I am a project management manager," shares Hanna Podolyaka. Her colleague, qualification engineer Artem Radiyonov, states that the "Career Step" program allowed him to acquire important knowledge in management, which is crucial for his further growth within the company. Meanwhile, Viktoriya Lobashchuk reports that she started as a packager