The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 14: Winter 2019 | Page 24

BUSINESS ADVICE BUSINESS ADVICE HR FOCUS FOR 2020 by Jo Kangurs, Keystone HR The world of HR is often complex and ever-changing. As we near the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, I thought it would be helpful to look at some of the key trends facing HR and what employers should be focusing on in the year ahead. • Employee’s expectations of their employer and the company they work for is evolving – more people want to work flexibly, to achieve that blend between work and home life. • We have generation z entering the workplace and their expectations are very different. They are much more digitally focused. They live in a connected world. They want to work for companies with purpose, who are socially responsible. They don’t have the same financial restrictions so are much more likely to move jobs if they aren’t happy. • Mental health and wellbeing is an issue facing employers of all sizes. Absenteeism due to mental health resulted in a loss of nearly 15.5 million working days in 2017/18 at a cost of billions to the UK economy. • Since the abolition of tribunal fees in 2017 the number of tribunal claims have increased by 26% year on year. In the year April 2017-March 2018 there were nearly 28,000 claims lodged which increased to just under 35,500 in the year April 2018-March 2019. • Possibly, unsurprisingly sex discrimination claims have seen the biggest rise in claim numbers, closely followed by redundancy (failure to inform and consult), up 35%, disability discrimination, up 24% and unfair dismissal up 20%. These examples really highlight the importance for employers to take proactive steps to ensure that their people-related documentation (contracts, handbooks) and practices are up to date and reflect not only the needs of the business and its employees but also the changing world we live in. Following the right processes will also help to protect businesses against potential claims and ensure that, when issues do arise they are being tackled in a fair and consistent way. How employers look after and manage their people – their most important assets – is going to have a big impact on how they attract, retain and motivate the best people. Creating a culture where employees are supported, valued, engaged and encouraged to achieve their full potential will set businesses apart from their competitors. If businesses attract and retain exceptional people, who love what they do, then great performance (both individual and company) will follow. If you would like to discuss your HR of people initiatives for 2020 contact Jo Kangurs by emailing: [email protected] For more info: www.keystonehr.co.uk Training company keeps it in the family with new associate coach Presentation and public speaking training company, Open Dawes Training, is not only growing the training team, but is delighted with who it has managed to tempt out of retirement. Chris Dawes, Founder and Managing Director, was looking for an experienced public speaker and trainer, with a long track- record in business, and managed to attract the perfect new recruit – his father. David Dawes has now joined the team at Open Dawes Training – which is a nice turn of events, as earlier in his career it was Chris who worked for David. “All our courses are CPD accredited and I was looking for someone I could trust and who I knew would deliver our training to our very high standards,” said Chris. “David was the obvious choice. I just wasn’t sure if I could tempt him out of the ‘good life’ now he has retired, even though he is only 64, so it is a huge vote of confidence that he believes in what we have created here. It feels like a huge coup to get him on board!” Chris’s background is in sales, and for 13 years he worked for Dad David’s company. It was here he honed his skills in sales, business, and public speaking and 24 www.tbebathandsomerset.co.uk presenting. This eventually led him to set up Chris Dawes Comms for his media work, and later Open Dawes Training Ltd to help others open doors by gaining confidence and improving their skills in public speaking and presenting. Chris continued, “David’s appointment means we have done more than just added extra resources to cope with the increased commitments, but truly added value to the organisation and its offerings.” David said, “I’ve always been a performer and I love to stand up in front of a room full of people and help them to understand how to be successful in sales and in presenting. Throughout my career I have been delivering sales presentations and seminars, and providing training for salespeople, many times alongside Chris, in my previous business until I sold it.” David hails from the Midlands and his first career was in acting. He then went into catering before deciding on a new challenge and joining the RAF. After leaving the Air Force, David went into IT sales and had a very successful career, during which he set up his own software and IT businesses, based in the Swindon and Bristol areas. David’s appointment as an associate is another stage in Open Dawes Training’s expansion plans. The company recently relocated to new Swindon offices and plans are also in hand to add further training, such as in sales, to complement the public speaking and presentation training. Chris is also a sought-after motorsports commentator, business and live event host, voiceover artist, and runs Chris Dawes Comms as a division of Open Dawes Training. Open Dawes Training runs CPD accredited public speaking and presentation training in groups and for individuals, either inhouse or at Open Dawes’s head office training centre in Swindon. For more information visit: www.opendawestraining.co.uk, call 01793 238259 or email: enquiries@ opendawestraining.co.uk