OREANDA-NEWS. May 23, 2011. OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (hereinafter referred to as MMC Norilsk Nickel, the Company or the Group) informs of personnel training and development results in 2010, reported the press-centre of Norilsk Nickel.

In 2010, to satisfy the demand in human resources, Russian companies of the Group selected and hired 9.7 thousand employees, of which 4.9 thousand people were 30 years old or younger. The Company uses a wide range of state-of-the-art personnel recruitment technologies for timely    employment of workers and specialists from the lot of young people who are about to finish their education in trade schools and colleges.

MMC Norilsk Nickel is a long standing partner of a range of primary, secondary, and higher education establishments. Around 30 thousand peoples undergo training and education under the Company educational programs. Particular attention is devoted to cooperation with educational establishments located in Norilsk Industrial Region and Taimyr Municipal Region. Students of these establishments have an opportunity to pass through internship at Russian divisions of the Company.

In order to provide Russian companies of the Group with young and competent professionals, the Company cooperates with over 30 Russian specialized universities. MMC Norilsk Nickel chose six establishments out of these universities to sign bilateral long-term general agreements. In 2010, the agreement for strategic partnership was concluded with Siberian Federal University.

Saint Petersburg State Mining University and MISIS National University of Science and Technology have target courses related to the specialties demanded by the Company. In 2010, the target group of 11 Norilsk second schools graduates began education in Siberian Federal University. Today the total number of such students is 41.

The target training of young workers is also carried out at elementary vocational education establishments. In 2010, 135 persons completed target training and 103 graduates received job offers.

The Company has implemented corporate programs for personnel search, selection and attraction with account for current and future demand, industrial and trade job specifics, and situation on labor market. Last year 1,960 people, including students and graduates of 13 Russian specialized universities, took part in corporate programs.

One of the main sources of competent young workers for the Company’s divisions is Work Shift program. Experienced tutors provide for training in 90 professions and students undergo social and professional adaptation in labor collective. In 2010, the number of program participants totaled 829 students, and 446 of them started to work at the Company’s enterprises.

Trainee program is aimed at attracting competent young specialists and managers aged 30 or younger. Trainees undergo training for 29 different jobs. Last year, the total number of the program participants was 209 people and 61 of them started to work at the Company’s enterprises.

Professional Start program is implemented by the Company to prepare young specialists while they are still studying in Russian universities, starting from the third year. In 2010, Professional Start program covered 353 persons.

To ensure that the demand of Kola MMC, the subsidiary of MMC Norilsk Nickel, in competent employees is satisfied, the Company has implemented Kola MMC Fellow program. In 2010, the program was joined by 32 students, 15 fellows completed internship, and five young specialists joined the ranks of Kola MMC employees upon graduation.

The Company creates living amenities and reimburses travel and accommodation expenses to the new employees in Norilsk and Taimyr Municipal Region who have rare professions and specialties. 488 specialists came to Norilsk Industrial Region subject to the Company’s invitation in 2010.

31,900 employees (40% of average headcount) of the Company’s Russian enterprises completed additional vocational training in 2010.

Kola Personnel Development Centre started to operate in February 2010. The training centre is dedicated to improving the employee education and development in the Company’s enterprises located in Monchegorsk and Pechenga district of Murmansk Region. Around 2,000 persons completed various courses in the centre last year.

International Personnel Development
Tati Nickel basic personnel development programs are aimed at improving personnel competence, career advancement, training, internship, and social grants distribution. Last year, a total of 69 personnel development events with a total of 379 participants took place. The cost of personnel development amounted USD 189 thousand.

Nkomati enterprise has developed and implemented trimestrial training program for direct personnel. Particular attention is paid to primary personnel training in regards to labor safety, as well as to continuous training in safe working practices. Last year, a total of 34 events with 787 participants took place. The cost was USD 1,089.4 thousand.

Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta Oy personnel recruitment follows the as-required principle. In the first instance, the current employees are retrained or the existing units are reorganized. Last year, a total of 384 personnel development and retraining events with 267 participants took place. The cost was USD 503 thousand.