Free event: Recruiting and retaining staff
Devon County Council and Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce are teaming up to host the New Ways to Recruit and Retain Staff in 2023 event.
With the region’s job market still facing a range of vacancies, this free event aims to help employers, organisations and charities to find out about alternative ways of recruiting and retaining staff.
The event, which will be held at Exeter Racecourse on Monday 24 April from 8:30am - 1pm, will focus on supporting employers to consider filling vacancies using a wider talent pool of people, how to support those already in employment, to better understand workplace culture and to review how traditional recruitment methods can be adjusted to attract a different audience.
Speakers on the day include Mike Adams OBE, Founder of Purple Tuesday, who will discuss what organisations must do to be disability inclusive, as well as Helen Hart, from Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce's Local Skills improvement Plan (LSIP) Project Executive, and Ruth Gripper, Research Impact Manager at the University of Exeter.
There will also be discussion groups on a number of topics including:
Workplace Culture – exploring how a positive, inclusive culture can impact your ability to recruit and retain great candidates for your business.
Differences in our wiring: Flipping the narrative –encouraging a healthy and open dialogue around some of the common strengths and abilities to be found in people with neurodiverse differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia and how we can best support some of the common needs that arise.
Reaching a wider jobs market: Inclusive recruitment – how to make your recruitment process more inclusive from writing the job description through to the interview.
Being a mindful manager – Andrea Adey from Mindful Employer will empower employers to take the lead on matters of workplace mental health and wellbeing.
Access to Work (A2W) - Job Centre Plus Disability Advisors will discuss Access to Work, a Department for Work and Pension (DWP) grant scheme which provides money to help people with a disability or long-term health condition stay in work to do their job.
Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills, said: “We’re pleased to be working with the Devon & Plymouth Chamber on this event which will address important aspects of recruitment and retention. I would encourage all local business owners to attend this event if they possibly can. With experts in recruitment and supported employment scheduled to speak, this event is one not to be missed.”
Stuart Elford, Chief Executive of Devon & Plymouth Chamber, said: “Recruiting and retaining staff is one of the biggest challenges facing businesses today. There are nearly 1.2 million vacancies across the country and massive wage inflation, so it is very hard for businesses to stay productive and profitable. We are delighted to be partnering with our Patron Devon County Council to do what we can to support businesses in the county.”
For more information and to register for the event visit https://members.devonchamber.co.uk/events/details/new-ways-to-recruit-and-retain-staff-in-2023-8510
If you have any questions please email beready@devon.gov.uk
