Guest speaker:
•	Scarlett Allen-Horton, Founder, Harper Fox Search Partners

Recruiters are in a powerful position to influence businesses on their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion positioning and advise on practical ways to deploy successful EDI strategies. We spoke to our EDI Ambassador and Founder of Harper Fox Search Partners, Scarlett Allen-Horton, to understand what it takes to drive a successful EDI strategy. 

Tune into hear: 

•	An overview of the importance of inclusive recruitment practices
•	How recruitment leaders can embrace EDI within their own businesses 
•	How to push back when clients are non-inclusive
•	What can we do as an industry to educate clients? 

Find out more about the work of Harper Fox on EDI here: https://harperfoxpartners.com/ 

For EDI resources and advice from the REC, head to our EDI hub: https://www.rec.uk.com/about-the-rec/equality-diversity-and-inclusion

Ep 16: How to promote more inclusive recruitment practices as an industry

Guest speaker:
•	Mark Thompson, Group Head of Sales, Sonovate

As we navigate ongoing skills shortages and a cost-of-living crisis, how can you ensure your business stays attractive to top talent and clients? Gone are the days where the option of work from home was seen as a "perk". So what does it take to entice highly skilled workers and remain competitive? We spoke to Mark Thompson of Sonovate on the revelations in their latest Future World of Work report 2023 . 

"Flexibility “was a recurring theme and the report uncovers what this could means for businesses, clients and candidates including:
•	64 % of respondents believe flexible working can alleviate the cost-of-living burden on their people
•	67% of businesses believe flexibility is crucial when it comes to competing for the most sought-after skills.

Hear Mark and Neil discuss the key takeaways from the report and answer some thought-provoking questions - questions you should be thinking about as you plan your workforce needs for 2023 and beyond:

•	The market has suffered from a shortage in skills for years. Can flexibility be the answer to plugging this talent gap?
•	What does flexible working and contract working mean for the recruitment industry?
•	What works in flexible companies and what doesn’t?
•	Is the cost of living making freelance working more appealing?
•	Technology has enabled a transformation in work practices, from remote working to flexible schedules. What will technology's role be as this evolution continues, and how can it create greater flexibility that works for companies and their people?

Download the Future World of Work report from Sonovate here: https://www.sonovate.com/future-world-of-work-2023/

Episode 1: Future of work: Could flexibility hold the key to solving the skills crisis?

In this episode, Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, talks to Helen Tomlinson, Head of Talent Development at The Adecco Group and the UK’s first-ever Menopause Employment Champion, as appointed by the Department for Work and Pensions. Helen shares her experiences of supporting women across the recruitment industry and how, in her new role as Menopause Employment Champion, she is working with employers to better support and retain women through perimenopause and menopause. 

In this episode, you’ll hear about:  

The importance of supporting women through perimenopause & menopause in the recruitment industry.  

How supporting women through perimenopause & menopause periods in their life is linked to retaining women in the workforce more broadly.  

How has Adecco developed their Women’s Health strategy to support their female workforce? 

 

Key Quotes 

 

”I've lost count of the number of women that I've spoken to who had really senior roles in the organisation and felt that they've got no alternative but to leave because they just felt that they'd lost their mojo and left their position.” Helen  

“It's not a time to step down, step back, or step out of your career. Because if the situation is handled properly both by the person and the organisation, arguably you could have the best 10 to 15 years of your career still left." Helen  

“In the context of a world where we are short of high-quality recruiters, and we are short of candidates. People are going to stay at the places that they feel they belong.” Neil

Episode 9: How the industry can retain and support employees through perimenopause & menopause

A regular podcast featuring the leading thinkers from across the recruitment and business world, in conversation with REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry.

*The views expressed by guests on the REC's Talking Recruitment podcast are not those of the REC and reflect the individual's personal opinions.

Episode 1: Future of work: Could flexibility hold the key to solving the skills crisis?

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