A leading recruitment specialist has urged businesses to ensure they have strategies in place to identify and develop talented workers and future leaders if they are to remain at the forefront of their industries.
James Cronin, Group Commercial Director of Midlands, The Jarell Group, has issued the alert, saying it is crucial for any business, whatever size, to identify its key positions and develop its succession planning strategy before talented people move on – potentially lost forever to rival businesses.
Mr Cronin said: “Even the most successful companies will suffer if they don’t have a solid strategy for identifying and developing future leaders – not just at the very top but for major roles at all levels.
“Succession planning is key in helping your business prepare for all contingencies by identifying high-potential workers for career advancement.”
He said the current candidate climate is at its most turbulent since the 1970s, with the impacts of Brexit and Covid both playing a part in a national shortage of skilled staff and a transformation of ‘normal’ working patterns that has seen employees demanding more and more from their employers.
“In the current climate, solid succession planning and sourcing those candidates with the long-term ambition to grow and develop within the business is more important than ever before,” he added.
“Attracting the right candidates initially who have the potential to progress in the business in future requires innovation from a company and the ability to stand out as the most attractive prospect amongst the competition. Competitive salaries, flexible working options, additional benefits such as free parking and organised social events, ‘buddy schemes’, well thought-out inductions and opportunities to develop additional skills are among the things companies could look at introducing to get the best workers on board.
“And then it is vital every business has a solid succession planning process in place to ensure those talented candidates are supported to enable them to move into more senior roles.
“Businesses clearly shouldn’t wait for a crisis to test whether a candidate has the right attitude and abilities to assume a more advanced role. It’s a good idea to have a potential successor assume some responsibilities of a manager while they are on annual leave, for example.
“Solid succession plans can also integrate well into a business’ hiring strategy by highlighting any talent gaps that may open up if those currently in critical roles left the organisation – meaning recruitment efforts can be focused on candidates with specific skillsets going forward.
“It’s a well-known phrase that ‘failing to plan is planning to fail’ – and it’s crucial employers remember this when it comes to identifying and developing the skills of those talented workers destined to be the leaders of the business in the future.”
The Jarell Group provides workplace solutions for a whole host of companies and has offices in Birmingham, London, Leeds and Walsall. Earlier this year the company expanded by acquiring KHS Personnel and Bridge Recruitment in Nottingham and York respectively.
For more information about The Jarell Group, go to: https://jarell.co.uk/.
