BskyB
is revolutionising its HR strategy to improve staff development and the
potential for internal promotion, claims the company’s HR director.
Craig
McCoy told delegates at a Scottish conference that BskyB had problems finding suitable
internal candidates for promotion and often had to head-hunt executives.
“There
were few existing management training and development programmes. There were
recruitment and retention issues in some areas and internal communications
processes were not well developed,” McCoy said.
The
30-strong HR team was charged with changing this, but without “stifling the
entrepreneurialism at the heart of the company”.
In
autumn 2000, a survey of the 17,500 UK employees revealed a need for flexible
reward systems. Staff wanted a scheme based on development and non-cash rewards
rather than cost control.
All
staff are now given one-to-one performance meetings and training is provided in
key skills. A review of benefits is under way and jobs are to be benchmarked against
the wider market.
McCoy,
who is the first HR director appointed at board level in the company, is trying
to establish HR as a strategic function at BSkyB. He said, “We will provide
development for executives and aspiring executives.” This, he believes, will
help recruitment and retention and allow for more effective succession
planning.
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At
the National Employment Conference, at Gleneagles, he said that to enhance
internal communication, large-scale employee meetings with managers are being
undertaken, and staff are invited to monthly lunches with key senior
executives.
By
Colin Wright
