The Future of Employer Engagement Rebecca Fielding, Managing Director, Gradconsult 20th June 2017 M: +44 (0)7889 375 142 T: +44 (0)114 221 0242 rebecca@gradconsult.co.uk uk.linkedin.com/in/rebeccafielding

Who am I?

Why we’re here In this session I will share what I: Know is going to happen over the next 1-2 years Expect to happen over the next 3-5 years Speculate we may see happening in the next decade and beyond I’ll also: Share practical insights into the market Ask big (often unspoken) questions about employer engagement Challenge your thinking and question your approaches

Style, tone and approach SUPPORT CHALLENGE

What’s going on now?

Current practice Advertising, fairs, presentations, sponsorship Graduate / agency recruiters moving into EE roles Targeted pro-active work e.g. sales calls/agency style service or pre-screening for interviews Employer engagement weeks/months Employer involvement/time for WBL projects, mentoring, work shadowing, curriculum design, employer advisory boards Internships and placements (more demand, funding and variety, lots targeted at SMEs) Earlier engagement e.g. 1st summer, awards CRM e.g. Career Hub, Microsoft Dynamics KPIs, SAMs and measurement One role vs everyone’s role debate

EE Principles: Underpinning practice We should never get involved in any part of the recruitment or selection process We should pre-screen, shortlist, interview or even more for employers

EE Principles: Underpinning practice EE activity should be managed by a range of people in different areas EE activity should be account managed by one person or team

EE Principles: Underpinning practice Agencies and third parties are not as important as employers, or should even be avoided Agencies and third parties are valued partners who we work with collaboratively Every student must have the same access to every employer, we shouldn’t distinguish between them We should target the students that employers are interested in

EE Principles: Underpinning practice It’s not right to charge employers for access to our students It’s right for us to charge employers for our services It’s up to employers to choose to work with us, they set the target lists We can convince employers to work with us, target lists are ‘influencable’

What I know is underway? 2019

Emergent practice Targeted/tailored marketing & pro-active prospecting Employers at open days Tiered offering to employers Assessment centres and headhunting (advanced recruiter services) International EE activity Data driven modelling and approach to student journey/outcomes Regional programmes (grad retention, SMEs, economy and LEPs) Merging teams/departments e.g. partnership teams Strategic Teaching, Research and Enterprise/Innovation collaborations e.g. Modelez and Nottingham Degree Apprenticeships e.g. PWC and Birmingham Employer training on grads The Hangout is an initiative by City University sponsored by VISA to have a business incubation facility for start ups at the heart of Tech City Capgemini at Aston University Unipart with Coventry University

Needs-based v Product-based service Emergent practice Needs-based v Product-based service

What I expect to happen.. 2022

Brexit Britain! (3-5 years) Prep for gig economy / portfolio careers not just enterprise Exclusivity agreements Grad development programmes The gig economy is coming to careers and EE! Rebalancing of roles for EE International careers development (DHLE reported for internationals) Supply chain referrals/conferences Joined up events across Uni employer engagement space

Brexit Britain! (3-5 years) Missing middle

Brexit Britain! (3-5 years) Competencies > Strengths Big swing towards strengths

Pure speculation! 2027

Hurtling towards 50…..(10+years) Grad development programmes Academic development and recognition for value of EE - Employee engagement fellows? Reverse tenders Business consultancy and provision Bye bye UCAS – the changing face of student recruitment!

Strengths > Growth Mindset

Employer Engagement is not a process It’s an Ecosystem!

Peer coaching, insights and action

Thank you Any questions? 10.40-10.45 – Questions

The Future of Employer Engagement Rebecca Fielding, Managing Director, Gradconsult 20th June 2017 M: +44 (0)7889 375 142 T: +44 (0)114 221 0242 rebecca@gradconsult.co.uk uk.linkedin.com/in/rebeccafielding