Kickstarting your hiring journey

In this webinar, Emma Jones CBE, founder of Enterprise Nation, provides an introduction to the Talent Unlocked online festival.

The festival – part of Enterprise Nation's Talent Hub programme – focused on providing small business owners with the knowledge and tools they need to attract, hire and retain top staff.

The event featured a combination of panel discussions and expert presentations. Guest speakers from industry-leading organisations shared their expertise and real-world strategies to help businesses improve their hiring and retention.

Topics covered in this session

• How to create an effective hiring strategy that fits with your business's needs and goals

• Where to find top talent and what platforms or tools can help streamline the hiring process

• Ways to boost your employer branding to make your business more attractive to potential hires

• Techniques for retaining employees, including providing opportunities for career development, developing a strong workplace culture and paying competitive salaries

• How to use government-backed programmes such as apprenticeships, upskilling initiatives and return-to-work schemes for experienced professionals

Emma's key points from the webinar

Introduction and overview

• Enterprise Nation conducted a report in 2024, which highlighted that 62% of small businesses expressed a need for greater support and guidance with the hiring process.

• The Talent Unlocked event aimed to address some of the common challenges that small businesses face when working to acquire staff and manage their workforces.

• Topics included managing hybrid work environments, maintaining a strong company culture and using government initiatives to support hiring efforts.

Key challenges for small businesses

• Attracting talent: Many small business owners struggle to position themselves as attractive employers in a competitive job market.

• Managing hybrid work models: With employees working remotely or in hybrid set-ups, maintaining engagement and communication becomes more complex.

• Building a strong company culture: Developing a cohesive brand identity and workplace values can be difficult when teams are dispersed and based in different locations.

• Retaining employees: Small businesses need to find ways to motivate and keep talent engaged to prevent turnover.

• Government support and programmes: Businesses may be unaware of the programmes available or struggle to navigate them, whether they're apprenticeship schemes or initiatives aimed at bringing people aged 50 and over back into the workforce, for example.

   

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