A Derby-based recruitment agency has warned that a business bounce back will only be successful if companies anticipate gaps in their workforce post-Covid19.
Sky Recruitment Solutions, based on The Strand, is predicting that many business owners could be caught off guard if furloughed staff decide not to return to work, and redundancies are made too hastily.
The firm, which specialises in industrial roles at all levels throughout the region, foresees a potential “recruitment nightmare”, preventing companies from getting off the starting blocks when restrictions are lifted.
David Torrington, managing director of Sky Recruitment Solutions, expects that companies could be topping up with temporary agency staff to fill voids where orders are still there, but staff may not be.
It comes as the Institute for Employment Studies revealed that unemployment has already risen to at least 2.5 million, or around 7.5percent of the workforce - a far quicker rise than in any of the last three recessions. It recommends that the Government brings together a ‘Cobra’ scheme for jobs.
But David said the current climate was an opportunity for firms to review their structures to help ensure the economy recovers quickly.
He said: “Businesses are reviewing their staff because those in roles prior to the lockdown period may not be the staff required to take that same business forward.
“More than 80 percent of our client base has already started talking to us about how their businesses will need to adapt their staffing post-lockdown.
“Businesses will unfortunately make redundancies, and staff that have been furloughed may decide not to return to work once the furlough ends, leaving gaps in their workforce.”
He added that the pool of available staff has altered in the last six weeks, as high employment levels, have changed to high levels of unemployment, which means, in theory, there is a larger pool of high quality staff that companies may be able to source staff from.
For instance, if a business’ strategy changes to more of a proactive sales approach, will they have the right staff to proactively market the business? Sky Recruitment Solutions, which was established in 2014, has itself adapted to better serve companies amid the effects of lockdown, and offers free consultations for businesses to restructure or hire additional temporary staff.
David said: “We have reviewed our service offerings and adjusted our commercials to help local businesses, with a more competitive rate structure, loyalty discounts and preferential payment terms for businesses struggling to get credit or having cashflow problems.”
To find out more, visit skyrecruitmentsolutions.co.uk.