Managing Talent
At a time of high unemployment and an uncertain economic climate, it may seem unlikely that companies are actively revitalising their HR processes to attract and maintain top talent. However, some of the big names in retail and hospitality are doing just that.
With many companies either struggling or even disappearing from our high streets altogether, many talented retail and hospitality professionals are finding themselves either without a job or dissatisfied in the role they are in, but unwilling to make a risky change of employer.
That is where the more canny companies come in; scooping up the best talent and making sure that they hold on to them. In doing so, they are not only benefiting the company in the short term, but also creating a stronger business that can come out of the recession already a few vital steps ahead of its competitors.
In June, on-site service solutions provider Sodexo bolstered its online talent management through next-generation recruitment platform Tribepad.
From the company's point of view, the new talent management system is designed to enable it to recruit the best talent from both external and internal talent pools. Meanwhile, candidates will see an "enhanced experience" akin to a cross between a social media platform and an online job board, with the ability to manage their profile on the site as well as taking part in forums and discussions in the community section of the system. Users can also link their social media accounts to their profile on the site and add additional documents, images and videos.
Each potential candidate can not only access the job details for which they are applying, but the system also automatically flags to them other potential roles which may be of interest to them.
Melanie Hayes, head of talent at Sodexo commented: “It is not just potential employees the system benefits, it will also revolutionise how anyone within Sodexo recruits too, simplifying the process with the latest technology which matches candidates registered on the system. In short the new Sodexo Careers Centre will enable us to build real talent communities which will support engagement, aid internal hiring and ultimately enable us to hire the best candidates."
Meanwhile, the world's largest restaurant group Yum! Brands has created a leadership development scheme for its HR team within the KFC brand. Designed to capitalise on its award for Britain's Top Employer 2012 by the CRF Institute, the plan will see high achievers hired into HR Analyst roles and promoted into HR field leadership roles following 18 months of training and development. The successful candidates then progress into either an HR leadership role in the UK or elsewhere, internationally within Yum! Brands.
James Watts, VP HR, said: "The long-term career prospects within KFC & Yum! are seriously exciting and we know that high-calibre HR professionals wanting to be part of our team can grow very successfully into big global leadership roles. We are recruiting high-potential talent from all industries and know that if someone has the passion, ambition and wants to be part of a fun team then our training and development can take care of the rest".
