Seven & i Group believes that human resources are the wellspring for enhancing corporate value and that human resources capable of thinking and acting for themselves are essential for further growth. The Group constantly places importance on human resources, such as the training and education of employees, on the basis of our Corporate Creed of “Trust and Sincerity,” which was our founding philosophy, and the Group companies conduct human resources development to match their respective business characteristics.

In 2020, Seven & i Holdings split the educational function from the Personnel Planning Department and newly established an independent body, the Human Resources Development Department, to promote skill development and human resource development in the Group. We are making efforts to improve the human resource development setup to support the skill development and autonomous learning of individual employees, the standard bearers of value creation.

Based on the Medium-Term Management Plan, Seven & i Group aims to build an organization in which both companies and employees can grow together and to build workplaces that are pleasant for everyone. To enable our diverse employees to exercise their abilities and feel fulfilled in their work, we promote the development of each employee's capabilities and support for autonomous learning.

The Ito Training Center, which opened in 2012, is one of the educational facilities for the Group to deepen its understanding of the spirit of "Trust and Sincerity," our founding philosophy, and to develop human resources for the next generation. The training center is equipped with an archive room, where employees can learn about the Group's philosophy and the history of challenges and innovations. It also has training rooms for learning specialized skills in sales, cooking, and other areas on the business characteristics of each Group company. To enable employees to actively learn, we have installed movable desks and staircase stools that can accommodate training that is not bound by formality but is free and dynamic, as well as remote cameras and tablets that support comfortable online training. A total of approximately 440,000 employees have used the Ito Training Center to date.

Seven & i Group companies have established a training system based on business characteristics, including various level-specific training programs for managers to improve their leadership and management skills, as well as job-specific skill and technical training and self-development training, in an effort to develop the skills and career development of each individual, including part-time employees. We are also working to develop the skills and career development of each individual, including part-timers. The Group's per capita training cost for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2023, is approximately 120,000 yen and 41 hours* of training per person.

In addition to cross-group training, the Seven & i Group offers a variety of training programs by each Group company according to the characteristics of its business.

Seven & i Holdings conducts an annual program to develop next-generation management leaders. Selected executives from each group company participate in this program, learning management theory and practice from renowned lecturers and engaging in discussions.The program was launched in 2012, and by the end of February 2023, approximately 270 employees had participated. Seven & i Holdings is also promoting the introduction of 360-degree feedback at each Group company. The program is regularly implemented in order to obtain multi-rater feedback from superiors, colleagues, and members on the actions of management personnel, to understand their own strengths and challenges, and to promote behavioral change and open communication.

Seven-Eleven Japan holds a “new employee training” program for new hires at stores, and a “shift leader training” program aimed at nurturing the “shift leaders” who will serve as models for franchise store employees. Those who undergo shift leader training are presented with a certificate of completion and a business card holder.

In the fiscal year ending February 28, 2023, 10,459 training sessions were held, and 38,716 employees took the courses. Through the training, Seven-Eleven Japan lends support to the franchise store owner’s work to teach their employees, while also improving both work satisfaction for many employees and the level of customer service in the stores.

Ito-Yokado holds new employee training for all employees, including part-time employees, to teach company policies, retail fundamentals, and skills and knowledge required for work. Furthermore, training leading to on-the-job training at stores is continuously held to provide basic knowledge of products handled by affiliated section and to improve skills related to customer service and fresh food preparation. In this way, the company assists employees in upgrading their skills. Additionally, training is held for everyone from new recruits to sales floor staff, sales floor managers, division managers, and store managers, to provide knowledge of sales floor management and management skills in stages and in line with their respective positions. Advance training is also implemented to encourage employees to keep on learning and to improve their skills in preparation for their next positions.

York-Benimru uses target setting charts to assess the individual employee’s current skills and abilities as well as skills to be acquired and training targets between individual employees and their managers. The target setting charts include detailed items necessary for job performance, such as customer service, sales area management, ordering, and food preparation techniques, with the skills and abilities of the employee assessed on a six-step scale from 0 to 5. In the “skills version” for staff members and part-time employees, items are determined for each division depending on duties, job characteristics, and products handled for each analysis item. There is also a “management version” for store managers, assistant store managers, customer service managers and section managers that is intended to help raise and standardize management abilities. Based on the chart, employees confirm their skill levels with their supervisors and twice a year share the progress they have made with their supervisors and establish the next set of goals. This enables them to check their own growth, helping to boost motivation.

Akachan Honpo's headquarters training department holds an "Online Store Induction Training" for newly hired part-timers. This is a classroom training, providing an opportunity for all new employees to learn about company policies and the basics of the business. Subsequently, on-the-job training is conducted in stores based on the training plan, and basic knowledge is established over a period of three months. We also hold a "3-month follow-up sharing meeting" to resolve any concerns they may have after joining the company, thereby providing a support system that enables them to continue working for a long time after joining the company.

To provide opportunities for employees to engage in independent study, Seven & i Group subsidizes fees, and so on for those employees who are taking correspondence courses and e-learning related to business skills, knowledge, etc.

Ito-Yokado proposes 306 correspondence courses to all employees, including part-time employees, and subsidizes part of the tuition fees of employees completing a course. In the fiscal year ending February 28, 2023, 306 employees took correspondence courses.

Seven Bank supports "self-directed learning" by providing an environment for employees to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their jobs, including correspondence courses (English, financial knowledge, etc.), online courses (business knowledge, IT/DX), and commuter courses (MBA, etc.). The number of courses is approximately 240, and many employees are taking them.

Seven & i Holdings has an open recruitment system that is made available once a year through which employees can apply for open positions at any Group operating company regardless of where they work. The goal is to support all the Group’s employees to develop their diverse careers. Every year, many employees apply for the system and are active in new fields while making the most of their previous experience.

Group companies have also instituted internal recruitment systems. For example, at Ito-Yokado, employees who have worked at the company for at least one year can become candidates for managerial positions and jobs regardless of business experience or seniority. From the fiscal year ending February 28, 2021 to the fiscal year ending February 28, 2023, 218 people applied through this system and 51 people were appointed to their preferred positions or jobs.