Exeter Works doors will be closing on 31 March, but you will still be able to get support and guidance on our website. The Youth Hub will open the doors to its new home in Exeter Library from 3 April.
Access to Talent
Business owners tell us that access to talent is a core challenge of business. Here’s a starting point for organisations that can help you find the right people for your business, including local independent recruiters, specialist recruiters and help to find graduates and young talent too.
There are a number of different ways that a business can search for the talent that they need in their business, in this section we will highlight some of those routes. We are always keen to hear your own stories about recruiting and retaining talent so that we can share with others. If you would like to contribute to this section, please get in touch hello@exeterworks.org
In February 2020 the EXIST group (Exeter initiative for Science and Technology) part of Exeter Chamber, held an event that focussed on attracting talent to STEM businesses and roles. A lot of the principles will apply to any business. You can see the recording of the event below:
There are also some great examples of how local businesses promote themselves as an employer to their potential workforce, often using the great quality of life that Exeter and Devon has to offer as a key reason for wanting to work here. Thinking about this in your recruitment process, or just as part of your business information, is really important.
You can see some of these examples here:
- SPARX – https://sparx.co.uk/work-with-us/
- Dashboard – https://dashboard.net/careers/
- Applegate Marketplace – https://buyers.applegate.co.uk/apprentices-at-applegate
- Met Office – https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/careers/working-here
- Air Marketing – https://www.air-marketing.co.uk/careers-2/
- Stephens Scown – https://www.stephens-scown.co.uk/careers/benefits/
- Riverford – https://www.riverford.co.uk/about/work-with-us
- Ashfords – https://www.ashfords.co.uk/careers/meet-our-people
- Lightfoot – https://www.lightfoot.co.uk/news/2018/08/03/working-lightfoot-careers/
- Livewest – https://www.livewest.co.uk/careers/working-at-livewest
Recruitment Agencies
Working with a recruitment agency that knows the local labour market is a good way of accessing the talent that you need. They will have a good view of the skills and availability of candidates, and be able to advice you on how competitive the market is, and salary levels and expectations.
You may also need to search further than the local labour market, and therefore a national agency that specialises in your sector might be more appropriate.
To search our directory of recruitment agencies that work in the Exeter area, please click here.
Access to Graduates Recruitment
The University of Exeter have a number of great programmes to support businesses and give their students valuable Work Experience – who knows you might find your next star employee! Here are just some of the programmes that they have on offer:
- Internships: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/employment-services/recruit/internships/
- Employer Subsidies: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/employment-services/recruit/internships/subsidies/
- Career Mentor Scheme: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/employment-services/develop/mentor/
- Exepert Scheme: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/employment-services/develop/exepert/
To find out more about these schemes and how you can get involved, contact Jo McCreedie j.mccreedie@exeter.ac.uk
Grow your own
For many businesses ensuring that they have the right skills and talent for their business comes through a process of ‘Growing their own’. Which essentially means that they invest in putting into place training and development schemes to develop those skills, but recruit people who are the right ‘fit’ for the business.
It also involves thinking about how you will engage with your future workforce, engaging with schools and colleges can give you early access to some of the best talent, and encourage young people to come and work in your business when they leave education. This will take time, but should be seen as an investment in the future of your business and it’s success.
Examples of this type of approach include;
- Working with local schools and colleges to offer work experience,
- Work experience for T Levels,
- Take on a Kickstart Placement to give a young person 6 months paid work experience in your business,
- Traineeship and Apprenticeship Programmes,
- Engaging with a range of different programmes to support young people to work with employers – perhaps through developing a project that a group of students can work on or becoming a STEM ambassador, or Enterprise Advisor.
If you want to discuss how you can adopt this approach, please contact skills@exeter.gov.uk
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