The world of work is evolving. Our clients are facing new and more complex challenges, and they need more from their workforce solutions partner. Our ability to deliver value depends on how we attract. retain and develop highly skilled individuals, committed to solving problems and enabling the long-term success of the organisations we partner with.

 

We’re implementing a new Employer Brand, one that is closely linked to our values and embodies our promise to put the customer at the heart of everything we do.

 

Elly Boggis, People and Culture Director for Enterprise Solutions, explores what this new strategy means to the most valuable asset within Hays: our people.

 

 

 

These three words have been carefully considered, with the intention of answering two vital questions – why join Hays, and why stay?

 

‘Create’ illustrates our commitment to innovation and continuous improvement, enabling people to foster their entrepreneurial spirit to build and develop solutions.

 

The scale of our organisation offers almost endless opportunities. ‘Tomorrow’ not only aligns with our brand strapline, but also explores how we’re enabling our people to shape both their career and the future of work.

 

People are at the heart of everything we do. The ‘together’ speaks to the sense of belonging that we have cultivated across a global network of employees. Strength comes from our ability to collaborate – and true value is created for our clients when we bring together the whole of Hays, across borders, functions and industries.

 

We’re so much more than a recruitment organisation, and our new Employer Brand statement underlines this.

 

 

 

While building this new proposition, we spent a lot of time working with focus groups to define what it is that makes Hays unique. We’re a people-driven business, focused on finding the best people for our clients – so we weren’t shocked that collaboration and connection topped the list!

 

An inclusive, motivating energy is what keeps individuals engaged and passionate about making a difference each day. And it’s not just limited to our ‘frontline’ recruiters or solution providers – it's also the wider team that supports them on this journey. From our Legal and Compliance departments to our Learning and Development teams, every single person has a role to play in enhancing our service offering.

 

 

 

One of our core values is to ‘Think Beyond’ and enhancing our capabilities as an organisation requires us all to continually challenge the status quo.

 

This is best embodied by our growth mindset. We need to ask questions of ourselves and our customers to ensure we are offering the best possible solutions for their needs. To do so means being agile and taking calculated risks.

 

But this also comes with a heightened chance of failure.

 

So while we ask more of our colleagues, we are also ensuring that our leadership team are granting ‘permission’ to fail. We’re always adjusting our focus, leveraging the lessons learnt rather than the mistakes we’ve made.

 

A large part of this lies in creating a culture that has psychological safety at its core. We need our people to be comfortable with vulnerability, enabling them to share diverse opinions or openly discuss pain points that could impact the success of a project.

 

The people within our business have shown time and time again that they want to be challenged. They want to put the customer at the heart of everything they do, designing solutions, trailing new ideas, anticipating change and truly adding value to their workforce strategy. Our new Employer Brand supports them on this journey.

 

 

 

It’s a value that has guided us for over a decade – and will continue to do so into the next era of Hays.

 

But we’re also reinforcing our commitment to always do the right thing for our people. From an internal perspective, this varies from celebrating innovation via internal awards and initiatives such as the ‘Partnership Pineapple’ to offering a suite of award-winning learning and development opportunities.

 

We’re committed to enabling opportunities for all – with hybrid and flexible arrangements, mentoring opportunities and a whole host of employee network groups. By dismantling the barriers to success, we’re giving our people every opportunity to flourish in their career.

 

We realise that this commitment must extend beyond the parameters of the office (virtual or otherwise). Empowered by our volunteering days, our people have the opportunity to make a difference in their local communities.

 

And as a global organisation, we’re matching this grassroots action with reductions to our emissions as part of our ambitious journey to Net Zero, as well as partnering with organisations to elevate and refine our DE&I strategies across the globe. Building a better world of work, for everyone.

 

 

 

I would never have dreamed when I kickstarted my career a decade (or two) ago that I’d be working in People and Culture – I was a recruiter through and through!

 

But as we continue to expand the scope of our recruitment and advisory services, we’re facilitating a number of lateral, diagonal or upward career opportunities, supporting people into new functions and different countries.

 

Thirty-two countries. Hundreds of roles. Thousands of opportunities.

 

Let’s discuss how we can create your tomorrow, together.