Future of Recruitment: Notes from the North West

Manchester was the scene of our latest Future of Recruitment Forum in partnership with LinkedIn. What are the hiring vibes in the North West? What juicy new opportunities are emerging for industry leaders in the region? Here’s a few: 

Finding new solutions. In the words of Phil Edwards, Global Accounts Leader at LinkedIn: “Workforce planning is becoming mission critical”. Forward-thinking recruiters will be key in finding new solutions for evolving skills and staffing challenges in the region.

Changing perceptions. The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter – which the REC fed into through our work with the Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham – is a great platform for promoting good recruitment practice and the role of recruiters in the region. The underlying premise is that good recruitment and employment practices can boost productivity – this is something that the REC wholeheartedly supports. 

Harnessing data. Recruiters are increasingly using skills data to help clients with longer-term workforce priorities and to build more strategic relationships. As part of this ‘strategic partner’ dynamic, recruiters in Manchester provided great examples of how they are taking a lead on flexible work, wellbeing and inclusion. 

Pre-empting future needs. Infrastructure investment in the North West and the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ agenda will continue to drive skills needs and provide new opportunities for specialist recruiters. Feeding into the work of Local Enterprise Partnerships is good way to get ahead of the game and help to make a difference. 

Building bridges. We were joined at the forum by the Careers & Enterprise Company. Several recruiters in the North West are already working with local schools and colleges to build bridges into work and boost their brand awareness. We want to showcase this contribution and drive further engagement through our Future of Jobs Ambassadors network. 

Recruiting the next generation. There has been a 63% increase in demand for recruitment professionals since 2016. How will skills needs within the recruitment sector evolve over the coming years? LinkedIn data shows that specialist roles in talent analytics, marketing, technology, candidate experience and change management will make the most impact. 

A big thanks to all those who took part in Manchester. The next stops on our journey into the future of jobs are Birmingham on 3 March and Edinburgh on 5 March. See you on the road!