In a year, 20 young professionals have received their first management positions: Epicenter told how to keep young people in Ukraine
24 September 2025 14:50
About 34 thousand employees and new opportunities for students. “Epicenter is not just about shopping centers. This was emphasized by Oleg Plakhtiy, Head of the HR Department, during the Discussion Forum of Educators and Employers on the
Ukrainian business is creating new opportunities for young people, even in times of war and staff shortages. New projects allow students and young professionals to develop within the country, gain practical skills and get their first management positions. Read how it works, what results have already been achieved, and how to join the company in the article
During the Discussion Forum of Educators and Employers “You Can’t Let the Youth Go”, the speakers of the third panel discussed the topic: “The Voice of Business and Employers: Does Anyone Hear It?”. Oleg Plakhtiy, Head of the HR Department at Epicenter K, spoke about the company’s unique system of attracting and developing young professionals.
“We have about 34 thousand employees. But Epicenter is not just a shopping center. We have large production facilities, an agricultural company, an online marketplace, and power generation projects. We are building the locomotives of Ukraine’s industrial development,” Plakhtiy emphasized.
The company has launched the Opportunity Hub project, which aims to attract young people aged 18 to 25. At the start of the project in 2024, the company employed about 1,200 young workers, and now there are 3,800 of them.
The project involves close cooperation with 160 educational institutions, adapted curricula, and career mentoring. Young professionals take internal courses, pass tests, and receive a clear roadmap for professional growth. During the year, 20 employees were promoted to their first management positions.
“A student or young professional comes to the company with a transparent development scheme. There is an independent assessment, testing, and career growth opportunities – it all depends on their motivation,” Plakhtiy said.
The company also demonstrates scale and innovation to its employees: visits to logistics complexes, familiarization with production and robotic processes, which allows young people to gain practical skills without going abroad.
According to the HR manager, the mobilization and departure of men aged 18-22 did not become a critical problem for the company: only 21 out of 3,000 employees left due to going abroad.
Thus, Ukrainian business is actively creating opportunities for young professionals, building the country’s human resources and demonstrating that development prospects can be realized within the country.
