In this episode, Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, talks to Helen Tomlinson, Head of Talent Development at The Adecco Group and the UK’s first-ever Menopause Employment Champion, as appointed by the Department for Work and Pensions. Helen shares her experiences of supporting women across the recruitment industry and how, in her new role as Menopause Employment Champion, she is working with employers to better support and retain women through perimenopause and menopause.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

The importance of supporting women through perimenopause & menopause in the recruitment industry.

How supporting women through perimenopause & menopause periods in their life is linked to retaining women in the workforce more broadly.

How has Adecco developed their Women’s Health strategy to support their female workforce?

Key Quotes

”I've lost count of the number of women that I've spoken to who had really senior roles in the organisation and felt that they've got no alternative but to leave because they just felt that they'd lost their mojo and left their position.” Helen

“It's not a time to step down, step back, or step out of your career. Because if the situation is handled properly both by the person and the organisation, arguably you could have the best 10 to 15 years of your career still left." Helen

“In the context of a world where we are short of high-quality recruiters, and we are short of candidates. People are going to stay at the places that they feel they belong.” Neil

In this episode, Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, interviews Chris Fletcher, GM LSIP and Policy Director at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. They provide an insight into how the local skills improvement plan is being implemented in the Greater Manchester area, what the local skills improvement plan enables and how it’s different from previous plans.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Why the current local skills improvement plan (LSIP) is different from other skills plans and how it enables the local economy to flourish.

What work has been done so far in the Greater Manchester area and the plans that they have going forward.

How the LSIPs fit with the Greater Manchester Devolution Deal and the Mayor’s plan for an integrated technical skills city region.

How the learning gained in Greater Manchester can be applied elsewhere.

In this episode, Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, interviews Sarah O'Connor, Correspondent and columnist at the Financial Times. They discuss how technology, wellbeing and the impact of freedom of movement have created challenges for the workforce and employers.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

The top challenges facing individual employees and businesses in today's workforce.

The innovative approach that can be prioritised by the government, opposition, and anyone looking to foster a positive and supportive work environment.

How businesses can successfully navigate industrial relations to improve employee satisfaction and productivity

Key Quotes

“There is video technology used in order to interview candidates... where no human will review the video either and artificial intelligence will decide whether that person is a good fit or not for the job based on the words they say, sometimes even on their tone of voice or their facial expressions!” Sarah

“There's a little bit about making sure that these tools are used appropriately, at the appropriate time, that we understand the tools and the humanity of it.” Neil

“The economy is adjusting to Brexit and this new kind of immigration regime, it’s contrary to what a lot of people predicted, net migration has gone up since Brexit and we've got more people coming into the country net than we did before. But we've got more people coming into the country with different skillsets than before”. Sarah

“There is a principle that our bus routes don't go to where people work, they go to where people shop... The bus cuts that you're seeing across the country now, if you have a restaurant in a small country town and you have members of staff who need a bus at 10:30pm and they cut the last bus back to 7 o’clock, you've got a labour supply problem.” Neil

“My third thing is ill health, it’s part of why we're having labour shortages now as we've got a rising share of people who say that they're just not well enough to work and you see that in the labour market surveys.” Sarah

In this episode Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, interviews Dr. Fiona Aldridge, Head of Insight and Intelligence in the Economic Delivery, Skills and Communities Directorate at West Midlands Combined Authority. They discuss the biggest challenges associated with local and regional skills shortages.

In this episode, you’ll hear more about:

The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) implemented by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

How the collaboration between businesses, education providers, and policy stakeholders can help to address this skills issue.

How additional funding for skills boot camps will benefit the local community and businesses in the region.

The biggest challenges facing local and regional approaches to skills development.

Key Quotes

“The vacancies we have at the minute aren't skills shortages they're labour market shortages” Fiona

This is your opportunity to show that recruiters who are deeply embedded in the areas … are a part of how we address candidate supply and show that the industry is part of the solution” Neil

“Employers don’t want long qualifications and training courses. They do want something shorter, more modular, very connected to the labour market…so that they can get people into work” Fiona

“There are many other reasons why people aren't in work. Can they get a bus or a train to their employer? Have they got the right health support?” Fiona

In this episode, Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive interviews Steve Johnson, Growth Leader of Commercial Workplace Savings at Mercer Marsh. They discuss the key requirements needed by employers to retain, engage and motivate employees.

In this episode, you’ll hear more about:

The challenges being seen by SME businesses and the need to adapt to change, including the impact of the great resignation

The specific issues/shifts being seen around the attraction, retention and motivation of employees. How the benefits package offered is relative to employee physical and psychological well-being.

How salary exchange and employee benefits education can help businesses support their employees without breaking the bank.

Key Quotes

“Running into the pandemic, it was much more about the psychological and employees wanting recognition and what we're finding now is all about the well-being agenda.” Steve

“I think as employers we're going to start thinking more about well-being and what’s the well-being impact of our benefits.” Steve

“Increasingly, employees look beyond the salary offer and they think can I replicate the things that really matter to me.” Neil

"There are some things we can do, but the lowest cost thing that you can do for your employees is communicate with them and educate them about benefits and financial well-being.” Stev

In this episode, Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive interviews Suhail Mirza, Non Executive Director at Newcross Healthcare and a global speaker and coach on inner wellness. They discuss wellbeing in the workplace in high pressured roles, the need to step back and assess how to maintain healthy practices and how to help individuals to flourish.

Tune in to hear about:

* The challenges and opportunities that we are now facing post pandemic

* How to promote and facilitate a better culture in the workplace, and the need to eliminate toxic working cultures, micromanagement and the stigmatisation of those facing mental health challenges

* Working smarter so that individuals are maintaining wellbeing in an environment where we’re adapting to the fast-paced nature of the workforce.

In this episode, Neil Carberry interviews Samantha Beggs, our very own Campaigns and Government Relations Manager at the REC. They discuss the politics, economics and labour market drivers that will be informing Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget announcement on 15 March.

In this episode, you’ll hear more about:

The challenges the Chancellor will face around how to balance the books in light of reduced government spending, while boosting growth and providing support.

How we obtain growth in the UK economy and what we need to do to get there, and what levelling up really means for local communities.

The solutions the REC are taking to Government on behalf of the UK recruitment industry, and how we go about positioning a market that contributes over £42 billion to UK GDP a year.

Guest speaker:

• Ed Thompson, CEO and Founder, Uptimize

Our recent research in partnership with neurodivergent training experts Uptimize revealed some astonishing findings about the state of neuroinclusive recruitment in the UK. We surveyed REC members to understand the level of awareness of neuroinclusive recruitment practices within organisations. Here are some key findings:

• Only 30% of recruiters in our study have knowingly placed neurodivergent candidates.

• Almost 80% of respondents said they had received no training on neuroinclusive recruitment and only 20% understood how to conduct a neuroinclusive interview.

• 70% of recruiters believe there is high potential in untapped neurodiverse talent pool.

So, what does it take to become a neuroinclusive recruiter? What practical steps can leaders take to drive the movement? We spoke to Ed Thompson, CEO of Uptimize to guide us through this unexplored area of recruitment which could hold the key to tackling the ongoing skills shortages. You'll hear about:

• What did we (collectively!) learn from surveying REC members on this topic?

• What is the particular role/responsibility that recruiters have when it comes to (neuro)diversity and (neuro)inclusion?

• Why do conventional hiring processes and practices often disadvantage neurodivergent candidates?

• What are some of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to neurodiversity and recruitment?

• What can REC members do right now to bring greater neuroinclusion to their own work?

• What can REC members do right now to bring greater neuroinclusion to their teams/organisations?

• What are the key messages/takeaways of the REC/Uptimize guide?

Download our guide to recruiting neurodiverse talent. https://www.rec.uk.com/our-view/research/practical-guides/rec-uptimize-guide-how-to-recruit-neurodiverse-candidates

Guest speaker:

• Mark Thompson, Group Head of Sales, Sonovate

As we navigate ongoing skills shortages and a cost-of-living crisis, how can you ensure your business stays attractive to top talent and clients? Gone are the days where the option of work from home was seen as a "perk". So what does it take to entice highly skilled workers and remain competitive? We spoke to Mark Thompson of Sonovate on the revelations in their latest Future World of Work report 2023 .

"Flexibility “was a recurring theme and the report uncovers what this could means for businesses, clients and candidates including:

• 64 % of respondents believe flexible working can alleviate the cost-of-living burden on their people

• 67% of businesses believe flexibility is crucial when it comes to competing for the most sought-after skills.

Hear Mark and Neil discuss the key takeaways from the report and answer some thought-provoking questions - questions you should be thinking about as you plan your workforce needs for 2023 and beyond:

• The market has suffered from a shortage in skills for years. Can flexibility be the answer to plugging this talent gap?

• What does flexible working and contract working mean for the recruitment industry?

• What works in flexible companies and what doesn’t?

• Is the cost of living making freelance working more appealing?

• Technology has enabled a transformation in work practices, from remote working to flexible schedules. What will technology's role be as this evolution continues, and how can it create greater flexibility that works for companies and their people?

Download the Future World of Work report from Sonovate here: https://www.sonovate.com/future-world-of-work-2023/

Guest speaker:

• Kate Shoesmith, Deputy CEO, REC

Our latest Recruitment Industry Status report (RISR) demonstrates the huge role recruitment and staffing firms have played in driving the recovery from the pandemic. Our industry made 22.4 million temporary / contract placements and 540,000 permanent placements in 2021.

However, ongoing skills shortages presents a big challenge for our economy, and could constrain growth. Our Overcoming Shortages report predicts that, without a strategy to address growing labour demand, UK GDP would fall by between £30 & £39 billion a year from 2024. In addition, we are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and one of the most turbulent periods in UK political history.

But the outlook for 2023 isn't all gloomy, and the opportunities are out there for recruitment consultancies that get it right. So, what does it take to overcome the ongoing challenges and stand out from the crowd?

Our final podcast of 2022 takes you through some of our predictions for next year - backed by our own research, member feedback and intel gathered from countless meetings and discussions with key stakeholders over the year. Tune in as we take you through:

• A deep dive into REC's research data and what it tells us about clients' appetite to hire

• What should be at the top of the government's 2023 agenda, to drive pragmatic change in our industry and combat skills shortages

• Predictions for opportunities in 2023 and key drivers of growth

• How can recruiters and recruitment leaders set yourselves up for success next year

• What should recruiters champion in 2023?

Useful links:

Download our Overcoming shortages report: https://www.rec.uk.com/our-view/policy-and-campaigns/labour-shortages/overcoming-shortages-creating-sustainable-labour-market

Download the Recruitment Industry Statement Report: https://www.rec.uk.com/our-view/research/recruitment-and-industry-status-report/uk-recruitment-industry-status-report-202122

Download the futureproofing guide

https://www.rec.uk.com/recruiters/business-support/futureproof-your-recruitment-business