Feature
situation of recruitment and
retention in the face of Brexit. A
recent report conducted using
Glassdoor data, identified that,
“employee satisfaction can be a
source of competitive advantage
in challenging, uncertain times.”
The study found that, “when it
comes to investing in employee
satisfaction, the benefits
outweigh the costs involved.”
Those exhibition companies
which are balancing uncertainty
with solid investment in their
employees could be instrumental
in turning around recruitment
and retention problems. Such
strategies of investing in
employees rather than cutting
budgets ‘just in case’ could
already be filtering into the
exhibition industry, which may
0%
10%
20%
also explain the difference
between the report findings and
the experiences of exhibition
companies during this cautious
time.
For the exhibitions industry
particularly, investing in staff
training in areas of destination
knowledge, health and safety,
design and technology, social
marketing could improve
retention despite industry
uncertainty, as employers
perceive value in their own
roles and purpose, and remain
in the role. This investment-in-
staff strategy should also result
in the additional benefit of
clients and exhibition attendees
perceiving excellent value for
money because staff have these
in-demand skills.
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Further retention
80%
90%
100%
Venue
Agency
Corporate
Sporting
Exhibitions
Weddings
Charity
Luxury/Private
Parties
One option for reduced
cost, but high returns when it
comes to improved retention,
is for exhibition management
companies to offer sector,
regional and global exchange
opportunities for event planner
employees. This method doesn’t
reduce the numbers of staff
available (ideal in a cautious
budget phase) but can greatly
enhance individual and team
knowledge of best practice and
new ways of working. It also
allows individuals to experience
leadership when passing on
new knowledge and techniques,
in turn promoting greater
skill-building and employee
satisfaction.
What is positive about all this
is that although there seems
to be a mismatch between
what the exhibitions industry
is experiencing in finding and
retaining employees and what the
Event Academy report shows, the
reality is that the report offers
the latest findings in 2019.
As a barometer of what’s
changing in the world of
exhibition events, it could be
good news that the talent is
there and waiting to come into
the industry, but the onus is on
the industry to make the most
of the special talents offered
by Gen-Z and the positive
impact of investing in employee
satisfaction.
Celebrity
PR
Fashion
Festivals
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August — 27