Access a broader pool of talent: Shining a light on new opportunities

There is a marked dearth of candidates available in the current market, particularly in what we call technical disciplines; procurement and supply chain, engineering and manufacturing, and logistics. Naturally, this means that businesses need to work harder to promote their opportunities and increase their presence in the market. 

The great thing about procurement and supply chain candidates is that their sole function within a business is to improve processes, drive down cost, and save time etc., all of which positively impact the bottom line. So why wouldn’t you be keen to hire skilled professionals to your business who have a strong track record of boosting company revenue?

Oddly, there is still a lack of general awareness amongst candidates about the opportunities within sales and operations planning (S&OP), or SIOP when including Inventory. This is a broadly encompassing function, the purpose of which is to ensure that employees within these teams make the core operation of the business run as smoothly and efficiently, or as lean, as possible. Whether that means reducing dead money sitting in a warehouse as over-flow stock, or ordering the correct volumes of raw materials to satisfy customer demand, the right people in these roles categorically will improve your supply chain.

Broadening your hiring scope to access untapped talent

Considering the demand for top talent and the heightened competition that we are experiencing in the sector, it is crucial for businesses to broaden their search, and consider other routes to market when looking to hire great new talent.

At PageGroup, we define untapped talent as a group of candidates that a business may not have previously, or currently does not have access to when hiring, due to restricting recruitment processes or a narrow focus when searching for talent. In every industry and within every business, the pool of untapped will be different. There are a plethora of benefits of broadening your scope when considering the talent you need to fill vacancies.

Graduates and entry-level professionals 

With the price of University considerably more expensive than it once was, apprenticeships are a great way for people to learn a trade or discipline instead of pursuing further education. In procurement and supply chain, this is an untapped resource for many employers, and one which may yield the leaders of the future.

Professionals from other sectors with transferable skills

While it’s completely understandable that prior sector experience might be preferred for some roles, bringing in talent from another sector can provide a fresh perspective and new ideas on how to drive improved results.

Returning parents 

Returning mothers have traditionally been a group of professionals that many businesses lose and are never able to bring back into their teams, meaning that they will miss out on a wealth of experience. These professionals represent a huge opportunity to access untapped talent. Gender diversity is crucial in this market, and returning mothers can breathe new life into a function. Of course, there is also the added benefit of the experience they possess from their time in the workforce before maternity leave.

Professionals returning from a career break

We’re seeing more and more professionals choosing to take career breaks, particularly since the importance of mental health and wellbeing has come into sharper focus. Similarly to returning mothers, these professionals are able to return to a role or business, re-invigorated and utilise their experience and expertise.

Highly experienced professionals

Technical roles in particular require a level of skill and know-how that demands experience. The value of experienced heads cannot be overstated. There is also tremendous value that an experienced hire can add from a mentoring or development perspective for junior members of the team.

Presenting your opportunities effectively 

It is important to work with a recruitment partner that you trust. The right partner will provide exclusive insight into the best ways to reach the largest possible cross-section of the candidate pool. The avenues are myriad and extend far beyond searching a database or LinkedIn. Bespoke advertising campaigns, international networking, and project recruitment are just a few examples of how to access the passive candidate market and engage with untapped talent.

There are a multitude of ways that we can help employers to access both the active and passive candidates in the market. One of our greatest strengths is the strong reputation that has been built up over the past 40+ years in the recruitment sector. When we can harness the power of our clients’ brands in conjunction with this, we are able to exploit avenues to market to access the best candidates in the quickest possible time.

If you would like to discuss how we can help source the right talent for your team get in touch with your local Michael Page office or request a call back today. Alternatively, if you are a professional looking for your next opportunity, why not create a MyPage account and make the most out of our Job Match tool to find the opportunities best suited to your skill set. 

Adam Bass  
Business Manager, Life Science & Industrial
Michael Page Procurement & Supply Chain and Engineering & Manufacturing