AmRest Holdings - All Growth Companies are Training Companies

 I am looking at AmRest Holdings because it's founder and chair, Henry McGovern made this statement - "we're more of a training company than a restaurant company!" In 2013, AmRest invested 20,000 hours of training in Russia alone as it ramped up from 2 to 80 restaurants. 

The only way to grow a company is to grow the people first. Here is what I found about their training philosophy from last year's financial report. 

AmRest inspires and promotes self-development which is reflected in the internal promotion rate of 80%.

Here is their talent training and employee development program - they include both hard and soft skills. Each manager supports their teams, acting as coaches and mentors. 

• Career Redefined: Each employee gets to define and shape their own career. The company works to provide them opportunities to grow - new responsibilities or positions, even transferal to a different unit. 
• Review Board: A key point of AmRest unique promotion process. When ready, the employee meets with the Review Board that verifies their knowledge and readiness to be promoted to a higher level. 
• AmRest University: A tailored development program that focuses on strategy, finance, leadership and self-awareness
• AmCollege: A development program aimed at preparing for the Review Board or higher level in the organization, attended by people who have successfully passed the Assessment Centre
• AmSchool: A number of open trainings dedicated to managers of all levels. Internal trainings are generally available to all AmRest managers: KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Burger King, Blue Frog, Sushi Shop.
• Spread Your Wings: A global development program whose main goal was to identify employees with leadership talents and abilities within the organization and facilitate their growth. In this way, the organization develops the world-class leaders it needs in the context of its dynamic global growth. 
• Individual Development Plans: A tool that employees can use to organize their personal and professional development. It helps to plan development activities, monitor the progress and measure all successes achieved on your growth path.

 Store managers are offered training to develop the skills necessary to effectively manage people and restaurants, including food safety, human resource management, customer service, product marketing, promotion and sales. Restaurant workers are given job training that includes a customer-focused approach and suggestive selling.

A great strategy to implement - better, faster, cheaper - as there is little loss of knowledge taking place.