Expanding human capital
The NST Group has reduced fixed expenses and general & administrative expenses by drastic improvement of value-added productivity and reorganization, consolidation, and elimination of the Group’s manufacturing and sales bases. In order to achieve further future business growth in new demand fields such as carbon neutrality and overseas growth markets, we will focus on further expanding our human capital, securing the human resources to support profit growth, and training professional human resources, and will focus investment of our strategic sales capabilities in fields and regions where future growth is expected.
Securing the human resources that will support profit growth
In order to achieve continuing profit growth, it is essential that we secure a diverse range of human resources who will carry out our growth strategies. In the future, we will actively expand hiring of new graduates and mid-career recruiting to further advance as a group of professionals who can identify customer needs from diverse perspectives and can accurately meet those needs. Beginning from October 2024, we introduced hiring of alumni (employees who retired from the company) and a system for leave to accompany a spouse who has been assigned overseas.
Conducting events and internships for students
In FY2023, we conducted a 2-day workshop and 5-day internships. At the 2-day workshop, participants learned trading company business basics, and contents that allowed them to experience a career at NST through work activities modeled after actual experiences of NST employees. At the 5-day internships, the interns asked questions to employees and presented ideas for new trading business from a student perspective, allowing them to fully experience the excitement of working at NST.
Training and making active use of professional human resources
As prescribed in our Corporate Philosophy, we are “aiming to become the kind of organization that increasingly cultivates, utilizes, and values human resources and their talents,” and human resources development is an important management theme. As a strong growth company that contributes to society, professional human resources are essential in order to realize the company growth strategies through initiatives such as developing new products and services, opening new markets, and improving productivity so that we can continually improve our corporate value. NST provides a wide range of opportunities for growth that support the ambition and efforts of each individual employee for self-improvement. We also have prepared skills development programs including training the next generation of management and management candidates, and strengthening global abilities and expertise, and we are focused on training professional human resources. We are also making active use of our human resources, such as by introducing a human resources rotation system.
Skills development is based on OJT, and is conducted in combination with a variety of group training such as level-specific training and specialized training. We carry out a wide range of training including training for younger employees to deepen their knowledge needed to carry out business operations, management position training for learning management basics and acquiring knowledge and skills that contribute to strengthening group management, and global training aimed at developing human resources who can be active in a wide range of business areas. We also have prepared a system for online learning and other independent learning by employees which allows them to select and learn the curricula that they want to learn.
From FY2023 to FY2024, we conducted new CDP (Career Development Program) training for 15 younger employees from all business divisions to discuss the mechanisms and systems that are necessary in order for them to grow independently and achieve what they want, and to make proposals to management regarding their thoughts.
Global training
In actively carrying out business overseas, global human resources training is an important subject. NST has prepared a variety of systems and training programs so that our employees are able to be active globally.
Overseas Challenge Program
This is an overseas training program for selected employees that is intended to expand and enhance human resources for overseas business. It is conducted for career-track employees in their third to 15th year, and consists of a six to 12 month “language course” consisting of language training only, and a “language + practical course” consisting of overseas OJT training in addition to language training.
Short-term overseas training for new employees
This is a system for new (career-track) employees that sends all of them, regardless of the division where they are assigned, to experience work at an overseas Group company, supplier, or other company. It is intended to instill an awareness of the need to strive to be a global human resource at an early stage, as well as a complete dedication to on-site, first-hand experience.
Overseas trainee system
As the core trading company of the Nippon Steel Group, in order to train and expand the overseas human resources necessary for expansion of our growing overseas business, the Steel Division has introduced the “overseas trainee system.” Employees are sent to an overseas subsidiary or other company where they engage in actual duties for around 18 months to two years to develop overseas capabilities.