AT THE
HEART OF HIRE
T R A I N I N G S T R A T E G I E S
Recruiting good new employees is one of the perennial challenges facing hire companies. As well as the need to replace members of staff who may leave or retire, an expanding business will require more people to manage and run new depots or to work in additional operations targeting emerging markets. Also, in many instances, such growth may give existing personnel the opportunity to progress into more senior roles within an organisation and, if given the appropriate training and support, they can develop new skills and ensures the business continues to benefit from their industry knowledge and experience.
Businesses, therefore, need to be able to attract new personnel, and must have procedures in place for the on-going training and development of their existing people to avoid skills gaps or shortages.
One hirer that has recently addressed this issue is A-Plant. As our article beginning on page 15 reports, the business has successfully introduced a programme that encourages each one of the 3,500-plus employees throughout its organisation – which currently encompasses no fewer than 16 product divisions – to reflect on their career development and how they would like to progress to realise their ambitions. This is giving the company an invaluable means of identifying future training needs, as well as encouraging its people to consider their longer term career opportunities.
This initiative, called the “People Strategy”, is in addition to A-Plant’s other activities in the area of staff recruitment and retention, such as its successful apprenticeship programme, a new undergraduate programme which starts this month, and various schemes designed to attract new entrants into the industry, such as school leavers and ex-services personnel. The business is clearly delighted with the progress being made.
Elsewhere in this issue is another example of successful recruitment. A news item on page 4 reports on Leigh-based independent Astley Hire’s appointment of a new workshop technician, whose first contact with the hire industry came no less than six years ago, when he undertook a two-week work experience placement with the business. He relished working with plant and machinery and now, having continued to work for the business occasionally while completing a degree in motor sports engineering, he believes that a hire industry career is an ideal opportunity to capitalise on and develop his skills.
The above stories are just two examples showing that new entrants can be successfully attracted into our industry, and that they can be given opportunities to develop their careers. What they also illustrate is the importance of taking a longer term approach to recruitment and staff retention, and that plans need to be but in place sooner rather than later.
O N T H E R O A D A G A I N
We are thrilled to be kicking off our next series of regional events this month, as we continue our initiatives designed to bring hirers and suppliers together throughout the country.
Firstly, we are delighted to once again be bringing our dedicated Executive Hire Show Scotland to Glasgow, Tuesday, 19 September (visit
www.executivehireshow.com/scotland), followed by our popular regional Road Show events for London and the South East in Cobham on Tuesday, 19 October, for the North West in Haydock on Tuesday, 14 November, and for the West and Wales in Bristol on Tuesday, 5 December (
www.executivehireshow.com/roadshows). Check out your nearest one!
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Supported by many leading industry exhibitors, these events will enable you and your colleagues to get together with other hire professionals to discuss current issues, to take advantage of Special Deals available only on the day, to share ideas and, generally, get a real buzz from being part of our great industry.
There is no limit on attendance numbers, and hirers can bring as many of their colleagues as they want – you will all be very welcome. All we ask is that you take a minute to go on-line and register individually to confirm your attendance, to allow us to cater accordingly and to keep you updated. If you haven’t already registered, do it NOW. We look forward to seeing you!
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