The Shropshire & Mid Wales branch of the CIPD invited the Ashley Kate Associates Group a leading HR recruitment consultancy to contribute to a lively debate on key challenges facing HR.
A regular attendee commented “That’s the best event I have attended in the 7 years I’ve been coming to events”.
In an uncertain economic climate HR needs to move with the times, says Claire Baker, Group Operations Director at Ashley Kate Associates Group.
HR has to demonstrate its effectiveness and contribution to business productivity and the impact on the bottom line in areas including recruitment and value-added services.
Recruitment and retention, compliance, leadership, management development, change and OD are all major driving forces in the HR and business agenda according to Claire Baker who says:
“HR will be required, like all other professions, to validate their contribution against a backdrop of Social, Economic and Global conditions and Regulation”.
Social Issues – Labour market turbulence, skills shortages and demographics are challenges which face all organisations.
Competitive advantage is gained from the attraction and retention of key staff, skills and competencies for sustainability and growth.
At the Ashley Kate Associates Group, Recruitment Managers with pragmatic recruitment and talent management strategies are highly sought after.
In the Midlands and North salary packages have seen a marked increase from previous years across all industries.
Economic Issues – Decline in the housing market and increased cost of living puts pressure on organisations and their ability to respond with continuous cost competitiveness, having to do more for less.
Reward Specialists remain the highest paid HR specialism and is a fundamental part of attracting and retaining the ‘cream of the crop’. Heads of Reward in the Midlands are paid in excess of £75k.
Leadership, Management Development, Performance and Talent Management all feature strongly. Leadership Development is critical to ensure the right people are retained and that organisations have the structure in place for long term sustainability.
Salaries and demand has increased from last year with Heads of Learning commanding £80K salaries.
Globalisation – Business markets are becoming more international and competitive and UK businesses continually need to extend their global reach in order to remain competitive.
Organisational Development continues to be at the forefront with specialists commanding salaries up to £60K in the Midlands.
Regulation – Changing government legislation and a plethora of European directives increasingly affects businesses in areas such as health & safety, environment issues and corporate governance, with increased pressure to demonstrate greater social responsibility.
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HR Business Partnering model becomes more embedded as the shift to aligning HR and business with supporting line managers and delivering efficient services continues.
Business Partners play a vital commercially focused lead in HR strategy where it really matters and commanding salaries from £54-78k.
