Navigating the Tides of Innovation: Revelations from the Whitstable Resourcing Leaders Summit

Returning once again to the serene shores of the Kent coastline,  a crew of around 30 TA leaders convened to attend the first Whitstable Resourcing Leaders Summits of the year, earlier this month. Against the backdrop of rolling waves and warm camaraderie, this summit served as a lighthouse illuminating the pathways through the evolving realms of  resourcing and talent acquisition.

Navigating the Future of Automation: HR’s Role in the Digital Labour Revolution:

Starting the sessions off on another glorious morning in the ‘bubble,  Jon Stanners 👶🏼 💭 ignited the summit with a captivating exploration of HR's pivotal role amidst the surge of automation. While many look at AI and automation with pessimism and fear, Jon painted a hopeful portrait of a future where human ingenuity merges seamlessly with technological advancement, and  suggested it is down to our HR and Talent leaders to steer this transformative voyage.

"a digital workforce can do the ordinary, leaving the human workforce to do the extraordinary"

Planning and Prepping for the Future of Work:

Thematically following on in the wake of the previous talk's waters, Indeed 's  Matt Burney navigated the fluidity of future work structures, advocating for a shift towards skill-centric roles over conventional job titles. Matt delved into scenario planning, exploring potential future work landscapes shaped by automation, and emphasised the need for organisations to adapt to this evolution, where work is centered more around tasks and skills, rather than rigid job titles. A move to this more inclusive approach will foster a workforce that reflects the rich tapestry of skills and experiences necessary for success in the digital age. 

Employer Branding: TA's Edge in Uncertain Times:

Next up and proving that sometimes two captains can be better than one, Tonic founders Mark Horley and Tom Chesterton illuminated the transformative potential of employer branding amidst uncertain times. Their striking presentation showcased how a robust employer brand not only attracts top talent, but also fortifies organisations against the turbulent currents of economic change.

Global TA Transformation Program:

After a quick trip to the galley to refuel and reflect on the morning’s learnings,  Martin Thomas guided attendees through a riveting narrative of global TA transformation, highlighting the strategic maneuvers and transformative outcomes of this odyssey. His tale underscored the significance of organisational development principles in steering businesses towards successful transformation.

Optimising Your Recruitment Process: Tips for Streamlining and Simplicity:

Next up in a collaborative case study session iCIMS' Darren C. was joined on board by Claudia Sneddon and Laura García Herrero to discuss how iCIMS  helped  them tackle some of the challenges plaguing external recruitment processes. Advocating for more streamlined, integrated solutions, ICIMs pragmatic approach to simplifying recruitment, heralds a new era of efficiency and enhanced candidate experiences. 

The collaborations continued after this, with a facilitated networking session, where delegates could discuss their current talent acquisition and attraction troubles, and hear from the RL100 partners on how they may help alleviate them. And, after a tot or two had been shared, attendees were keen to take the helm and steer the conversations about these challenges into more open waters,  during the Summit’s Soapbox session. 

Implementing a Global Change Programme:

For the final voyage of the day, Elise Hunt gave a stirring debut, and shared her courageous journey leading a global change program, weaving a tapestry of triumphs,and , even more refreshingly, some failures as well. Her narrative underscored the power of clear communication and stakeholder engagement in navigating the turbulent seas of change, and left all in the room inspired by her honesty and candidness. An incredible end to the day, and hopefully further encouragement to those toying with the idea of speaking at a Resourcing Leaders Summit.

Navigating HR's Ever-Changing Landscape:

After an evening enjoying the treasures on offer at JoJo’s tavern, attendees returned to The Marine the next morning ready to set sail once again on a voyage of discovery. And Dave Vinton did just that, offering up a panoramic view of the shifting paradigms within HR, guiding attendees through the strategic maneuvers necessary to navigate these tumultuous waters. His insights provided a compass for TA and HR professionals alike, charting a course towards innovation and resilience.

Commercial Impact of TA:

In a combined last session of the day Sam Berthoud broadened the horizon, exploring the commercial impact of talent acquisition beyond mere cost savings. Starting off with a  salute to International Women’s day by sharing some of hackajob 's most recent findings in their Women in Tech whitepaper.  Sam then called upon some help from Chris Wray  and the pair challenged attendees to envision TA's role as a catalyst for driving broader business outcomes. This resulted in an incredibly interactive roundtable session, even including an off the cuff bonus presentation from Jon Stanners. The creativity and passion from the Resourcing Leaders community knows no bounds, and this session offered a perfect culmination to the trove of insights and connections gained from these two days. As the waves of change continue to shape the Talent Acquisition industry’s journey, the collective wisdom shared at this Summit will provide the map needed to navigate these sometimes tricky waters!

As always huge thanks goes out to all those attending, especially our speakers, the content continues to shine, from both practitioners and sponsors. Final thanks to all partners in attendance including Indeed , Tonic iCIMS , hackajob , Reed Talent Solutions and Join Talent . We can't wait for the next batch of Summits in May, join the crew today - https://resourcingleaders.co/#events

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