A leading recruitment expert has warned Worcestershire businesses that now more than ever they must stay one step ahead of their competitors to attract the best talent.
The alert has come from local jobs and recruitment specialist James Cronin as a shortage of skilled staff has led to a scramble for businesses struggling to attract quality or experienced workers – making the competition for the best candidates tougher than ever.
He has urged bosses to go one step further to attract, recruit and retain talent if they are to thrive in the next 12 months.
Mr Cronin, Group Commercial Director at workforce solutions specialist The Jarell Group, said: “With Brexit leading to an enormous shortage in skilled staff, social media playing a major part in influencing mass behaviours, and Covid throwing normal working life on its head, employees are demanding more from their employers than ever before.
“Rival businesses are now scrambling for the best candidates, often offering up a tranche of benefits, incentive packages and training programmes to get them to sign on the dotted line.
“The ‘jobs-for-life ’philosophy that saw workers stay loyal to one employer for decades has been replaced to some extent with people now choosing to work for companies which offers the best deal.
“With that in mind, it is up to businesses across the county to ensure they are one step ahead of the competition to firstly attract the best candidates – and then keep them.
“With Covid opening up the opportunity for staff to work remotely from anywhere, businesses can now broaden their target recruitment areas to a nationwide search.
Mr Cronin said providing staff with the basics, such as a competitive salary, enhanced pensions, comfortable facilities, parking provision, quality technology and reasonable working hours, is still key.
But he added that companies now needed to do much more to attract talent and retain them, such as creative welcoming packages and inductions, ‘buddy schemes’, proving their green credentials or specially organised social events.