What the end of furlough means for recruitment
With the final phase of the furlough scheme set to end on 30 September 2021, this brings to an end over 18 months of government-backed support for businesses affected by the pandemic.
Rob Shaw, MD at South Yorkshire based recruitment consultancy, Glu Recruit, takes a closer look at what this means for the local job market.
The end of furlough is likely to bring about two different scenarios for Sheffield City Region employers – they will either bring staff back into the workplace or look at restructuring and resizing their workforce as they continue on the road to recovery.
Businesses will bring their staff back, albeit to a very different workplace to the one they left, but this could cause some staff attrition with many employees either facing redundancy or becoming more open to new job opportunities.
Welcome back!
Employers welcoming staff back will be doing so under very different circumstances – are they ready for employees to return to a different way of working?
Our research during the pandemic shows a mix of both home and office-based working patterns are high on the agenda for employees, so a phased return to the office may be a better approach than going from being at home to a full return.
The same can be said for attracting new recruits. Those working throughout COVID-19 are likely to have split their time between home and the office. Offering this flexibility has become a key driver for candidates choosing new roles.
A time of change
It’s also important to note the candidate market is moving much quicker than before. With the likelihood of more candidates entering the market once furlough ends, there’s the potential to go from not enough quality candidates to many – competition for jobs will be high.
This means employers must ensure their recruitment processes are robust and efficient. As the market pace quickens, delays could result in candidates accepting jobs elsewhere.
Whichever route a business opts for, managing expectations is key. Glu Recruit are here to help, with employee retention strategies or recruitment advice.
Contact us on 0114 321 1873 or hello@glurecruit.co.uk to start a conversation today!
New faces at Virgin Money Sheffield
Virgin Money has welcomed new hosts Iwan Zawadski, Lily Higgins, John Facer and Anna Royce.
Iwan and Lily have joined the city team. They are both fresh out of Meadowhead Sixth Form and will be with the bank for the next 12 months before they head off to university.
Vicky Travis, growth manager at Virgin Money UK said: “What really impressed us was their work ethic, both having worked part time while studying, and also their confidence.
“Iwan plans to use this time to gain experience in the financial sector before he progresses on to a Degree in Politics.
“John and Anna have joined our Hillsborough team. Coming from Debenhams and John Lewis they are both highly experienced in the retail sector.
“John has a degree in Built Environment and is already proving to be popular with customers and colleagues. His passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences is certainly shining through.
“Welcome to the Virgin family!”
The Curve bolsters senior management team
Leading software development and technology consultancy The Curve has appointed Andrew Sherwin to its senior management team.
A results-orientated director, Andrew will work alongside business development director Melise Jones, and the firm’s co-founders, to expand the current national offering to clients in a range of sectors including financial services.
