PEOPLE
“ A lot of the time, the answer is‘ no, we’ re too busy’. Yet we must offer these training opportunities to get the right candidates and to help them upskill.
“ Employers also need to consider benefits. When I see‘ pension’ as a benefit on an advert, it drives me up the wall because it’ s a legal requirement. A lot of people want more time off or a better work-life balance, or they would like maybe more bonus enhancements if they’ re a little bit more money-driven.”
Small Business Commissioner Emma Jones agrees. She previously ran small business organisation Enterprise Nation from London, and her team was predominantly made up of younger people.
“ Young people are absolutely looking for flexibility. You’ re likely to get the top candidates because it just seems no one really wants a five-day-a-week office presence job anymore. If you can offer the benefit of hybrid working, that really helps.
“ They have the benefit of flexibility whilst being part of a team, learning skills whilst being in an office environment. For those who want to grow within their career, salary is important, yet for some young people, other factors matter more.
“ This also includes a business which has a culture that feels right for newcomers- lots of young people want to work for businesses with a purpose, such as those looking to take on a societal wrong or are committed to sustainability.
“ Small businesses are really good at offering these kinds of opportunities, and if you can showcase that, then hopefully the talent will coalesce around that.”
One company which takes employee wellbeing seriously to try to retain the right talent is ESP Colour which has five premises nationwide with one in Swindon. Their HR manager is Rachel Weaven.
She said,“ Recruitment has become increasingly challenging, with a growing number of candidates either failing to attend interviews or lacking the necessary skills and cultural alignment. In addition, the recent National Insurance increase has required us to implement creative strategies for staff retention, as it is not always possible to compete with larger firms offering higher salaries.”
The company has taken various measures including:
• Establishing a social committee to organise events outside of the working day including a summer BBQ and Christmas party
• Ensuring every staff member gets an Easter egg
• Partnering with Prezzee to provide staff with gift vouchers that can be redeemed at a wide range of establishments as a token of appreciation
• Launched an Employee Assistance Programme to help support employees and their families with issues outside of work
•“ We are fortunate to have many staff members with notable years of service, including one individual who has achieved 38 years of dedication,” Rachel said.
•“ To acknowledge this loyalty, we are also reinstating Long Service Awards. Additionally, we aim to celebrate significant staff birthdays with a company gift. Recognising these occasions helps foster a culture in which our team members feel truly valued.
•“ We are also in the process of putting together an anonymous employee survey to understand what the employees want.”
Courses:
Some training courses for upskilling are now available from Bath Spa University and are open to employees or individuals in Wiltshire:
Skills Bootcamp in Agile Project Management and Scrum( Wiltshire) 13th October- 6th November, hybrid
Learn about key Agile Principles, values, and frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban, focusing on iterative development, continuous feedback, and adaptive planning, the Scrum Framework and how to apply them within project management scenarios. You’ ll also gain the academic knowledge and practical skills required for your chosen industry. You’ ll have the opportunity to complete the BCS Foundation Certificate in Agile and BCS EXIN Foundation Certificate in Agile Scrum from the British Computer Society( BCS).
If you are an SME employer( under 250 employees), the cost of this course is 90 % off for individuals who work for you. If you are a large employer( with over 250 employees) you’ ll receive a 70 % discount for your employees.
Creative Leadership 9th October – 4th December, £ 685, online
During this six-week Creative Leadership course, you’ ll develop a creative and interdisciplinary approach to problem solving, have space to reflect on your learning with your peers and capture simple insights about your unique approach to becoming a Creative Leader.
By the end of this course, you’ ll be equipped with tools and models that de-mystify the idea of creative leadership and allow you to transform your organisation. You’ ll also build your confidence in your ability to creatively lead others and gain a richer understanding of Creative Leadership as a concept in practice.
This Creative Leadership short course is designed for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact, including those who hold, have held or are looking to hold leadership positions.
For more info: www. bathspa. ac. uk
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2025 11