Sponsor's message: A talent for change
Aug 21 2009 By Lorna Moran, NRG Chief Executive
WITH more than 30 years in business, at NRG we have experienced the best and the worst of times for the North East economy.
We are delighted to have built our business in this region and we are confident that we can play a full part in its economic recovery. We are absolutely certain that future success will depend substantially on our approach to the changing face of the human economy – our people – the region’s talent pool.
History shows that the North East goes into recession later than other areas of the country but it also emerges later. Those of us who survived the last recession learned to our cost the damage that can be done when our hard-won talent leaves the region to find work elsewhere.
That’s why NRG is playing a pivotal role in several new initiatives, including its own LEO Programme (Leadership, Enterprise, Opportunity) and One North East’s Talent Challenge, which aim to keep highly-skilled people living and working in the North East.
Having this year been through the transition from public to private ownership we have experienced change in our own business and we are very focused on realigning our products and services to meet the changing needs of the market.
Maintaining a proactive approach and constantly looking for improvements to our offering has paid dividends. Our client base includes some of the biggest and most exacting employers in the country, including Procter & Gamble, British Airways, Royal Mail and HMRC.
NRG’s chief executive and founder, Lorna Moran, says: “The employment market has changed dramatically, the challenges are different and we need to develop new strategies to meet those challenges. For the first time in two decades we are seeing very high levels of professional unemployment and a growing need for employers to reassess and, in some cases, redeploy their workforce. Flexibility and adaptation are key.
“Along with a shift away from full-time permanent roles to more flexible working, we are seeing a steady increase in interim appointments, a sure sign of a cautious market. Clients who are recruiting to permanent positions are typically taking longer to make their final selections and decisions.
“Our approach as consultative, experienced specialists, ensures candidates are prepared for longer more detailed selection processes whilst we support clients to ensure they make the right final choice and have sufficient rigour in the process.
“My message to both employers and employees is simple – prepare to change the way you think about work and make sure you put yourself in the strongest possible position to capitalise on recovery.
“We’ve made such astonishing progress in this region, attracting talent from around the world and growing our own. It should be a priority for all of us to make sure we don’t lose ground.
“We’ve survived tougher times than these and I truly believe, with the right strategies in place, we have the resourcefulness to emerge from the current situation even stronger than ever.”
