The digital world is moving faster than ever and COVID-19 has increased the pace of digital transformation at a speed no one would have believed possible even a year ago. In light of this, it’s crucial that businesses keep up with digital trends while adapting recruitment strategy and promoting digital career paths.
In 2019 the OECD reported that 40% of jobs created in the past ten years have been in the digital-intensive sector and the UK digital economy is predicted to grow to 33% of GDP, adding up to £764 billion.
Patrick Tame, CEO of Beringer Tame comments: “These stats demonstrate that it’s clear that the pace of change is set to only accelerate. The rise of AI and other innovations in tech, how we work and how we recruit will undoubtedly change over the coming years. As many industries have made strides towards digital transformation over the years, the current pandemic has forced our hands and heightened our need for full scale transformation. Companies are now shifting their focus to digital and there’s no doubt many companies will have a lot to do in order to stay relevant, from a product or service offering as well as ensuring they are operating efficiently by having the best workforce in place.”
With this in mind, Patrick outlines the following top tips for facilitating the right skilled digital workforce in your business:
Anticipate & Prepare
It will be essential you have employees with solid digital skills – think about what exists within your organisation already and what you will require in the future. Ask yourself whether you need ‘new blood’ to bring expertise into the organisation or whether you can invest in, and upskill, your current workforce by training from within. This will help form your long-term people strategy.
Empower people with a mix of skills to succeed in a digital world
Employees will not only need digital skills but emotional intelligence, adaptability and motivation if they are to find success. This needs to be fostered through open, consistent communication and training.
Promote training and learning opportunities
Address and remove any barriers to training for both digitally skilled and unskilled workers. Invest in career guidance, identifying skill gaps, improving learning opportunities and identifying the leaders of tomorrow.
Identify specialist external partners that can help direct the change
Partnering with digital marketing talent acquisition specialists can help you build and develop your teams based on expertise in the marketplace. They will understand the landscape, the roles within it and how to structure the best digital/ecommerce team possible. Use their knowledge to enable your organisation to be at the forefront of identifying and hiring the best talent in the market.
Be ready to take your recruitment online
Given social distancing restrictions (and the fact that offices are somewhat out of fashion at present) you’ll need to make sure you can carry out your hiring process virtually. Many people seem to think that moving to this format is going to make things harder, when in reality not much really changes, other than the absence of the first stage interviews taking place on site.
Patrick concludes, “For any business to be successful it will need plans in place to move quickly, but strategically to work within this upgraded digital space, rather than against it. Ensuring you have the best people in place for this is essential as your people are the heart of your business. Only by hiring the best, empowering them and looking after them well, will you be able to compete in the current environment. Happy, respected and valued employees will always do a better job for you!”
