The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 28: Dec/Jan 2016/17 | Page 15

Higher Futures event identifies key skills to be nurtured by employers and employees

APPOINTED
From left to right: Captain Les Lester( MOD), Jo Mills( Higher Futures), Lauren Harker( Royds Withy King), Giles Woodhouse( Help for Heroes), Samantha Romanek( Patheon), Mandy Timbrell( Higher Futures), Kate Cooper( ILM)
Higher Futures, the higher level skills service that works with businesses in Swindon and Wiltshire recently ran a leadership and management‘ Insight Session’ event in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Professional Development( CIPD), at New College, Swindon.
Speakers included Giles Woodhouse, centre manager at Help the Heroes Recovery Centre, Tidworth; Kate Cooper, head of research at ILM, Captain Les Lester, British Army, Bulford and Sam Romanek, senior HR business partner at Patheon UK Limited.
Many Timbrell, Higher Futures manager said:“ This was a great opportunity to hear from local business about the challenges they are facing in tackling the higher level skills
gaps and explore some of the solutions open to them.” A pre-event survey found:
• Middle management would benefit the most from development
• 58 % felt their staff would benefit from training in how to develop a coaching leadership style, more than any other skill. The panel discussion and Q & A session highlighted challenges, including:
• The need for leaders to develop and enhance soft skills, particularly in the way they communicate and build relationships with their staff.
• Developing emotional intelligence to increase employee motivation and discretionary effort.
• Listening and learning from Generation Z, particularly in the area of technology and how reverse mentoring can really benefit individuals and the business.
• The untapped wealth of experience the military community in Swindon and Wiltshire can offer us, but this may not necessarily come to light in their C. V. Sam Romanek from Patheon UK said:
“ People leave a company because they are not challenged enough, this has an impact on the business due to high turnover and recruitment costs.”
Kate Cooper of ILM referred to a recent ILM survey, she said:“ Communication skills are key, it’ s about understanding and developing better relationships with staff.”
Les Lester, MOD added:“ Leadership and management skills and experience are introduced as soldiers move up the ranks, even before they have that responsibility – they are quality people.”
Giles Woodhouse, H4H said:“ I am being coached by the Generation Z employees within the business on my digital technology skills, it’ s important that the Millennium Generation engage with them more.”
Higher Futures is delivered by Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council on behalf of Swindon and Wiltshire LEP. To find out more about their learning and training opportunities call 01225 756174 or email MandyTimbrell @ swlep. co. uk

JOB MARKET REVIEW AN EXPERT OPINION

We asked Trowbridge-based White Horse Employment for their take on the current state of the employment market, looking at how it ' s faired in 2016 and what it ' s looking like as we move into 2017.
By Beverley Glover, FIRP
The job market is an ever changing picture and 2016 has proved a year of change with over 550,000 jobs * being created during the last 12 months.
The beginning of the year saw record levels of vacancies in the UK, whilst following Brexit in June, a degree of uncertainty entered the market and employers exhibited a degree of caution – looking to temporary support rather than making the commitment of permanent employment.
Heading towards the end of the year, locally confidence seems to have slowly crept back, and recruitment’ s happening. Skills shortages are prevalent across the UK, in many industry sectors and where the market remains competitive specialist roles are difficult to fill with a reported 56 % of employers * not being able to find people to fill their vacancies.
White Horse Employment works closely with hirers to secure high calibre applicants for any roles it handles, and having operated in the recruitment market since 1988; is well placed to advise regarding changes to the local market sector. Our advice to employers looking to recruit is ensure that you have a clear offering, focusing not only on the salary package but the added benefits, plus opportunities for personal growth and development for successful applicants, reassuring them regarding“ job security.” Skills shortages create an environment of counter offers and you need to be in a strong position to secure the best talent. For more information on using benefits to attract and retain talent; see our Employer Blogwww. wh-employment. co. uk / blog / category / employer /.
In terms of jobseekers, they should ensure they are clear concerning the knowledge, skills and expertise they are offering, what benefits they can bring to any new role, and are confident they have fully explored the opportunity on offer to ensure it matches their aspirations. If you need to enhance your skills taking a temporary or contract role is a great option. With the economy predicted to remain in growth;
White Horse Employment ' s managing director- Beverley Glover, FIRP
although at a slower pace into 2017; we can see positive moves in the future market. * Source – Recruitment and Employment Confederation research
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