OREANDA-NEWS. On 09 February 2009 was announced, that "Lenta" continues working with young people. In 2008 the programmes realised in the company were extended territorially, crossing the borders of Petersburg. Nearly 11 thousand students and over 900 schoolchildren from 7 cities of Russia were trained in "Lenta", worked there and just familiarized themselves with the organisation of trade and new specialities, at the offices and trade store of the chain.

"Lenta" is realising three projects within the framework of the policy of work with young people. One of them is "Lenta-Career", having as a purpose attraction of students and schoolchildren to the company for training. In 2008 the project was joined by the hypermarkets of the chain in Velikiy Novgorod, Omsk and Barnaul. Within one year about 30 students were trained at the Central office of the company, more than 700 schoolchildren were trained at the hypermarkets. About 10 trainees (from among the students) were employed by the company. Within the framework of the project, the Open day was held twice for students at the central office in St. Petersburg, with participation of head executives of divisions involved in the project. Another innovation of 2008 is the Development Centre where the trainees may show their strong points and get recommendations for further professional development.

The representatives of "Lenta" take part in student events on a regular basis: scientific conferences, vacancy fairs, master classes, forums, case tournaments and other youth projects organised by the leading higher educational establishments of St. Petersburg, Omsk, Barnaul and Velikiy Novgorod. In 2008 the number of such events exceeded 50.

The second "youth" project is attraction of students to work in trade store within the framework of the personnel outsourcing project. The project was started in June 2008 and by the end of the year covered 9 out of 14 stores in Petersburg, 1 store in Volgograd and 2 stores in Krasnodar. During this period about 10 700 students worked nearly 135 000 hours at the company only in Petersburg.

Anastasia Polyanskaya, the head manager of Personnel selection department of the company "Lenta" comments: "The programme of involvement of student groups enables us to form the staff promptly at the time of seasonal recession of inflow personnel and at the period of increased consumer demand. We are relieved of many labour-consuming procedures of registration of temporary workers – our company-partner undertakes this, providing us with students, and we use the wage fund more efficiently. Strict selection and training system allows the students to ensure high standards of customer service set in our company".

The third project is work with the youngest. Schoolchildren, children from children's homes and boarding houses, children of the company employees visit the chain hypermarkets and get acquainted with the work of the store and its employees within the framework of municipal programmes or at the initiative of the company "Lenta". In 2008 such actions were held in Tyumen, Velikiy Novgorod and St. Petersburg. Over 200 children took part in them.

Irina Berlizova, Human Resources Director, member of the board of company "Lenta", comments: "Work with young people is not only the opportunity to attract most motivated and ambitious young specialists, to form the staff reserve for our future, but it also represents real help to schoolchildren in the choice of profession, and to students - in search of work and raising of professional level".