Pictured above: James Calder, director at Macildowie

An East Midlands recruitment specialist has warned business owners in the region that they need to be doing more to retain key members of staff.

The advice comes from James Calder, director of Macildowie, following the inaugural meeting of the East Midlands Elite HR Leaders Forum.

The event, sponsored by Macildowie and hosted by DHL at its East Midlands Airport offices, was attended by representatives from some of the country's largest companies, including big names from the retail, pharmaceutical, logistics and utility sectors 

It provided attendees the chance to talk around the theme of the 'War on Talent', focusing on the sourcing, recruitment, development and retention of talent in the East Midlands. 

Speaking after the event, James Calder said: 

"One of the key areas of discussion to come from the forum was the ability of businesses to nurture and retain key talent at a time when a great deal of focus is being placed on streamlining and cost management. 

"Employee engagement needs to become more than just a buzz word and it is vital in order to have the strongest possible workforce as we move towards more stable economic times.

"What became apparent from the event is that many large, established businesses are already doing this well and, the fact is, they need to in order to prevent employees from being tempted to join a rival company by a more lucrative offer.

"The 'War on Talent' may sound like a dramatic phrase, but it is a very real threat. The jobs market is starting to show signs of movement once again. Whereas in the height of the economic instability, dissatisfied employees were more than willing to stay put, those who have gripes with their employers are now looking to make a move as things slowly start to pick up.

"There are certainly things that medium sized and smaller companies can learn from the big business approach to retaining talent. Factors that employers need to be aware of are:

·      Career progression can be the deciding factor when it comes to retaining or losing the services of a key employee. It is important that employers have transparent career plans in place and communicate them to staff. If people do not think they have a future at an organisation, they will go somewhere that has a clearer structure.

·      Lots of businesses have been using down periods to train their staff. This not only results in a stronger workforce, but also demonstrates that employers are prepared to invest in their staff and the future of the company. 

 ·      A higher salary will always prove to be attractive, but money alone does not create a happy employee, nor is it always achievable given the current climate. A strong benefits package can prove to be a great source of motivation. Share options and flexible working are becoming much more common, as are softer benefits such as increased holiday allowance and vouchers to reward exceptional performance. Employees are becoming a lot savvier to this kind of package, so employers need to look at what their competitors are offering.

"If more companies in the East Midlands adhered to these principals, then they will be in a much stronger position to emerge victorious from the 'War on Talent'."

Macildowie specialises in HR, finance and procurement and supply chain recruitment and operates across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.