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Recruitment in the UK: A Tough Nut to Crack for SMEs
Let’s face it, recruitment is hard work at the best of times, and for many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK, it can feel like an impossible task. With 68% of SMEs struggling to find skilled staff, the UK’s talent shortage is hitting smaller businesses particularly hard.
This is costing UK businesses a staggering £6.6 billion a year in extra costs like recruitment fees, higher wages, and reliance on temporary workers to plug the gaps. Yes, you read that right!
Why is it so tough for SMEs?
Limited Resources: Unlike big corporations, SMEs don’t have the same budgets or brand power to attract top talent. It’s especially tricky in sectors like manufacturing, where 70% of firms are finding it hard to get the right people.
Time-Consuming: The average vacancy in the UK takes 42 days to fill. For smaller businesses, that’s a long time to be a team member down. And when you consider that a bad hire can cost you up to £132,000, it’s clear why getting it right matters so much.
Access to Talent: There’s a shortage of 2.5 million highly-skilled workers in the UK, but a surplus of 8.1 million with lower skills. Without the networks or resources of larger firms, SMEs often struggle to connect with the skilled candidates they need.
Why You Should Combine In-House and Agency Recruitment
Having your own recruitment team is great for understanding your company culture and values, but sometimes you need a bit of outside help to find the right talent. Here’s why bringing in a recruitment agency could be the best move you make this year:
Wider Reach: Recruitment agencies have access to a larger pool of candidates and can connect you with people who might not be actively looking but are open to the right opportunity.
Save Time and Money: Agencies can do the heavy lifting by screening candidates and narrowing down your options, saving you precious time and reducing the chances of costly hiring mistakes.
Industry Expertise: Agencies know their stuff when it comes to the job market. Whether you need help navigating digital skills shortages or finding someone for a specialist role, they’ve got the expertise to help.
Get the Best of Both Worlds
Combining your in-house team’s deep understanding of your business with the expansive reach and knowledge of a recruitment agency can give you a stronger, more effective hiring strategy. It means you can focus on what you do best while leaving the talent search to the experts.
Ready to Transform Your Recruitment?
If you’re fed up with the recruitment headache, maybe it’s time to try something different. At HUC People, we’re here to help SMEs like yours find the right people to drive your business forward. Visit HUC People to learn more about how we can support you in building a strong, capable team.