An Employer’s View

Colin KempNetwork Director

Halifax Community Bank26 May 2011

What are employers worried about…?

• Many say their people are their competitive advantage…• Many say theirs is a ‘great place to work’…..• But few are distinctive in their employment proposition….

……….and, not all have a plan. • Turnover and recruitment costs are huge• They fear losing talent, and worry about not recruiting it.• Many have in-house training………

.………but may not have the ‘learning’ skills they need.

What are employers looking for, and why?

• Society is changing…..• University Tuition fees change a lot of things…..• Funding opportunities for large (and small) employers• Training cost support• 18 year olds are thinking more broadly about education• The promise of a great education……plus work• The rise and return of apprenticeships• Truly great in-house programmes……

….to attract, and retain talent into ‘destination’ jobs.

The Intrinsic Value of Learning

• Work based learning provides a second chance for many• Remembering ‘how’…..• Picking up books after 20 years…..• Developing the Capacity to learn• Reinvigoration and motivation

The feedback we have received has been astonishing,

the benefits for all are clear to see.

Academic, or In-House?

In-House: • Prescriptive• ‘Tell do’• Mass market• Functional

Academic:• Skills and Behaviours• Self managed• Reflective• Personal

Employers need both

The Employer’s Commitment

• Time and support• Space• Flexibility to do the research and learning• Genuine interest• Management need to understand, all the way to the top• Clear, measurable benefits• Full Financial Business Case• Clear internal recognition for individuals

It has to be central to their culture.

Business Benefits

• Clear, quantitative and qualitative benefits are critical• Tangible and measurable KPIs:

– e.g. Colleague Turnover and Retention rates– Speed to Competence

• Strong alignment between skills and role• Improved career planning: we can see their capability before they take a larger role

• Motivation, and ‘attachment’ to the company

But, beware the academic non – deliverer.

The importance of partnerships….

• University subsidiaries are already being formed• Vital for Quality and Credibility• The ‘Interface’• To bring together mutual understanding, for example Pace• Our cultures are different…..

……we may actually want different things.

But we have exactly the same objectives and goals.

Together, we can create very real opportunities for our people to succeed.