Giving iTunes vouchers as part of a benefits package, flexible working, gym memberships, and ensuring diverse interview panels are just some of the ways Leicestershire companies are thinking differently about hiring new talent.
A packed Question Time-style event, Let’s Be Brave About Equality, looked at the challenges and opportunities that businesses faced in recruitment, particularly around encouraging more women and BAME staff to apply for roles.
The panel was chaired by Helen Donnellan, Director of Business Engagement at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), named the inaugural University of the Year for Social Inclusion by The Times and The Sunday Times.
On the panel were Jo Tallack, general manager of Highcross; Stephen Gould of Everards, Caroline Lake of wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin and Byron Dixon, CEO of Micro-Fresh.
They shared practical tips and advice on strategies they had used to encourage a more inclusive approach to staff recruitment and retention. Questions ranged from changing company culture to the role leaders’ values and ethos has in influencing staff.
The event was organised by Freeths and Eileen Richards Recruitment and was aimed at senior business leaders either based in Leicestershire or who were thinking of relocating to the area.
Emma Anderson, director of Freeths, said: “One of the things we wanted to do was collaborate with other businesses and this is an issue that really speaks to people in the business community. Equality and Diversity is absolutely fundamental to business success.”
Byron said: “The staff at your company should look and sound like the area you’re in. Leicester is such a diverse city and I think it’s important our businesses reflect that.”
Posted on Friday 2 November 2018