With SMEs experiencing skills shortage difficulties and feeling hard hit by the skills shortage, specialist manufacturing and engineering recruitment consultancy, Jonathan Lee Recruitment, is working collaboratively with Midland firms to fight their corner in the war for talent.
Promoting the benefits of working for small or medium enterprises and retaining talent will be the main focus for Jonathan Lee Recruitment at Made in the Midlands Exhibition 2015 (Stand 16) taking place on the 14th May 2015 at the GTG Training & Conference Centre. The exhibition, that will bring together the very best of Midlands manufacturing and engineering from across a wide variety of sectors, will attract many of the regions SMEs who are creating new jobs to complement long term growth plans.
David Woakes, Business Development Manager at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, explains:
“The Midlands is a vibrant centre for forward thinking SMEs, with many benefiting from the buoyant economic climate and competing at international level to deliver the most innovative new products. Their size and technical capability means that they can provide an attractive, flexible and alternative career route when compared against corporate organisations.
“It can be difficult for SMEs to attract engineering and manufacturing experience when competing against organisations with big brands. However, we can bridge the gap for SMEs by understanding their business, marketing their company and highlighting the attractive opportunities available to talented candidates, whilst our Talent Management division can advise on how to retain the best talent.”
SMEs can typically offer a wide scope of opportunities, exposure, flexibility and progressive career paths. Often working in smaller teams and on more of a variety of projects, employees are likely to work on all stages of a project with the freedom and flexibility to be heard, take control and have more responsibility – ultimately making a real and visible impact with efforts and achievements getting noticed.
SMEs can also provide a broad training base that exposes employees to all parts of the business. The broad experience, knowledge and skills set gained through this exposure can thus provide the preparation and stepping stone to become senior managers of the future.
“Of course, our fundamental aim is to find the best match for both candidate and client, whatever the size of the organisation” adds Woakes. “Our consultants’ industry specific knowledge, empathy and experience, derived from many having worked within industry, ensure they provide honest and informed advice to both candidates and clients.”
While competition for skilled individuals remains high, focus on retaining talent is just as important for SMEs. Jonathan Lee Recruitment will be hosting a seminar during the exhibition from their Talent Management division to offer practical advice on identifying opportunities to engage, build positive PR and ultimately retain key staff.