The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 65: February/March 2023 | Page 17

WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE

GENERATION Z ’ s TOP DEMANDS FROM A JOB

Think you know Gen Z ? And what they want from an employer ? The results of a new survey are in revealing the top job priorities for 18 – 29-year-olds .
1 .
Flexible hours
45 %
2 .
Getting your birthday off work 39 %
3 .
A good coffee machine
28 %
4 .
Working from home at least twice a week 27 %
5 .
Gym membership 26 %
6 .
A travel card
25 %
7 .
Subsidised lunches 25 %
8 .
Free fruit
24 %
9 .
A relaxed dress code 20 %
10 .
Office cakes and pastries on a Friday 18 %
11 .
Team lunches and dinners 18 %
12 .
Fun team away days 18 %
13 .
Cycle to work scheme 15 %
14 .
Friday afternoons off 15 %
15 .
Access to a life coach or psychotherapist 15 %
16 .
Access to professional financial advice 14 %
17 .
Showers
13 %
18 .
Bean bags or comfy break out areas 12 %
19 .
Plant based milks to have with tea / coffee 11 %
20 .
The chance to take a sabbatical 10 %
21 .
Being able to bring your dog to the office 9 %
22 .
A career mentor 9 %
23 .
A smoothie / juice machine 8 %
24 .
Hair dryers
7 %
25 .
Yoga sessions 7 %
26 .
Annual duvet day allowance 7 %
27 .
Gluten or dairy free snacks 7 %
28 .
A meditation room 5 %
Source : This research was commissioned by Feedr and conducted by Perspectus Global .
This research of 2,000 18-29 year old UK-based Britons was commissioned by corporate catering firm Feedr and conducted by Perspectus Global during November 2022 .
The HR Dept Swindon North Wiltshire and East Cotswolds runs outsourced HR and recruitment services for business throughout its territory . We asked Remy Morland , Head of HR Consultancy , for her thoughts on the survey and if in her experience its reflective of what local Gen Z ’ s want . Remy said , “ Hybrid working is definitely something potential employees are looking for , regardless of their age . We recruit for our clients and we are also recruiting for ourselves currently , and can see that many candidates are coming from jobs where they have been able to work some or all of the time from home , and they would like to keep this hybrid way of working in place .
“ However , as for the other ‘ demands ’ like bring your dog to work , we haven ’ t come across this . These sorts of features fall more into the category of nice to have . What most people look at is the culture of the employer they are considering working for , as well as the overall benefits package and salary , and that goes for candidates of all ages , not just Gen Z .
“ While we are in a very competitive employment market , with a shortage of candidates , employers with enhanced benefits , and who are willing to be a bit more flexible in their employment , are likely to attract recruits .”
For more info : www . hrdept . co . uk / swindon-northwiltshire-east-cotswolds

Nurturing young talent is important to the team at Haines Watts Swindon

This is often the time of year when there is a focus on young talent across all sectors of business with the arrival of National Apprenticeship Week in February – yet apprenticeships are not the only route to a great career for enthusiastic and committed young people .
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Currently at Haines Watts there are two young adults who have taken on roles as audit and accounts trainees through a traineeship and a university placement .
Shalini Roy ( 20 ) is a former student of Royal Wootton Bassett Academy and is studying for a degree in accountancy and management at the University of Reading . She ’ s completed two years of her course and is now doing a year ’ s placement before returning to complete her final year at the end of 2023 .
“ Working at Haines Watts has been a really good experience as the entire team are friendly and welcoming . Every day you learn something new , even if it ’ s a tiny Excel trick . I have gained knowledge in preparing year end accounts for clients and VAT returns with the assistance of my helpful colleagues .
“ I have also done many bookkeeping jobs . Even smaller jobs like completing a cashbook analysis , posting a trial balance , or finishing a tax analysis is enjoyable as these are jobs that they don ’ t teach you at university .
“ I will continue to develop new skills
and gain more knowledge in the upcoming months . I believe I will be able to apply this in my studies and I will be able to share my knowledge with my friends studying the same course as me .” Another young member in the Haines
“ We need young people coming through and all accountancy firms can play a part in encouraging and nurturing the accountants of tomorrow ”
Watts team is Ryan Leigh ( 18 ) who is a former student of The Ridgeway School .
“ After leaving school at 16 , I went straight into the finance industry completing my level 2 AAT qualification elsewhere . Haines Watts has offered an open and welcoming atmosphere that has allowed me to comfortably become part of the team and become a valued member of the workplace .
“ Over the coming years , I would like to earn
my Level 3 and 4 AAT qualifications and move into a position where I can offer those who are new to the company the support and guidance I have received . Overall , I would like to be in a position where I hold some responsibility and leadership as I believe I thrive as a leader and can bring new and exciting leadership qualities to the table .”
Mike Lloyd , managing partner of Haines Watts Swindon , is an advocate of bringing young talent into the company and also the sector as a whole .
“ We need young people coming through and all accountancy firms can play a part in encouraging and nurturing the accountants of tomorrow . I had that support when I was younger , and you never forget those who support you and mentor you in the early days of your career .”
To find out more about working with the Haines Watts team , they will be exhibiting at the UK Careers Fair at the County Ground in Swindon on Wednesday 29th March or you can get in touch directly by emailing : swindon @ hwca . com .
Nationally , Haines Watts is a top 15 firm of Chartered Accountants and was named Accountancy Firm of the Year 2020 in the FDs ’ excellence awards . In 2021 the company was named as one of the UK ’ s Top Ten accountancy practices to work for after investing in staff wellbeing , cultural development and mindfulness support across the pandemic .
For more information visit : www . hwca . com / accountants-swindon
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2023 17