Allowing people to get a professional HR qualificationAccording to a recently published Tech City UK report, the digital tech sector is one of the fastest growing industries in the country. Growth is currently 32% faster than the rest of the British economy.
Successive governments have had high hopes for the sector, with many regional authorities and NGOs investing time and money promoting digital industries. Now those hopes are being realised. At present, there are 1.56 million people employed by digital tech firm’s and suppliers to the sector.
Digital generates a combined turnover of £161 billion, with a Gross Value Added (GVA) of £87bn. Average salaries are £45,108. Digital tech workers, which encompasses every profession from developing apps to UX design, also have the option to work remotely for companies abroad.
All of this is great news for employees in digital. But for employers, this makes finding the talent your business needs that much more challenging.
The Scramble for Talent
Global cloud services company, Appirio, found that 90% of C-suite executives consider recruiting tech talent a significant business challenge. According to the report, the IT Talent Wars and the Gig Economy, “The intense competition for tech talent has placed a major strain on the enterprise, and it is costing companies millions.”
Most digital workers have online portfolios, which leads to at least 28% ‘gig-based work’, on the side of full-time jobs. This can easily lead to many going freelance, further reducing the talent pool companies can access.
Hence, the difficulties many companies face when it comes to recruiting and retaining the talent they need. Here are a few ways you can start winning the talent war again.
How to Recruit and Retain Tech Talent
● Recruitment and talent retention is an ongoing activity. Promote your brand even when you aren’t actively recruiting.
● Get the word out through your network. In return, support other companies who are doing the same.
● Work on ensuring your culture, values and brand reflect a company you would want to work for. Create a brand that others are keen to promote and advocate.
● Have an active social media strategy, including niche targeting and promoting your brand through groups and skill-specific social networks.
Learn how to take a new approach when recruiting digital tech workers
While you’re building your hiring plan for the next few quarters, don’t forget to include recruiters meetups.
If the usual conferences, workshops and networking lunches aren’t working for you, it could be time to try an Unconference. HR Unconferences, where so far over 2,500 people have attended, could be a great new source of ideas, inspiration and connections. At Unconferences, attendees share their expertise and ideas on trending topics amongst their peer group. These events aren’t like your run-of-the-mill conference with hundreds of people. They’re designed for individual interaction and high level of engagement.
The next HR Unconference in the UK is in Manchester: #hruManchester – Recruiting Creatives on 17 March 2016. The aim of the event is to help recruiters focused on recruiting digital/tech talent in the growing British tech and digital sector. We aim to create and critically discuss what is working and how it will change in the future.
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GlobalHRU organizes HR Unconferences (#HRU) globally, where world’s smartest HR managers, recruiters, and sourcers come to share HR knowledge and experiences. GlobalHRU organised 42 Unconferences in 2015 attended by more than 2500 professionals in the US, Europe, and Asia.
Join us for HRU Manchester: Recruiting Creatives: March 17, 2016.
Location: Ziferblat (23 Edge Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1HW).
Discount (20 %) code: hrumedia20
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