Hampshire County Council 'competing with supermarkets' for new recruits

HAMPSHIRE County Council is now competing with supermarkets over recruitment as it struggles to hire staff.

That was the view of the authority’s deputy director for people and organisation, Stephanie Randall, writes Natalia Forero of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The senior officer said HCC needs to make the organisation more attractive and welcoming for new candidates.

At a meeting of the corporate services and resources select committee, Ms Randall pointed out HCC was working on new ways to approach candidates as it was having difficulties hiring when up against the private sector.

"Private companies are taking all the talent and, with inflation and the cost of living, people choose those salaries that the council cannot offer," she said.

The people and organisation budget for 2023/24 will allocate more than £6m to HR operational services. With this budget approved, it is studying new tactical ways to support HCC in the long term.

Ms Randall said: "In line with the other directorates, we continue to look at innovative ways of attracting new staff including 'growing our own' through apprenticeships and other training programmes and taking part in corporate initiatives to attract and retain our workforce.

"Even supermarkets are competing against the county council for recruits."

HCC currently employs more than 37,000 full and part-time staff, with over 250 job vacancies available.

These range from teachers to highway engineers, and social workers to IT technicians– the last two being ones the council is struggling to hire due to the lack of qualified staff.

Ms Randall added: "Through travel discounts, flexible working when possible, the Local Government Pension Scheme, family-friendly policies, childcare vouchers or learning and development opportunities, we would encourage them to work with us, and to feel proud of working for the organisation.

"Recruitment to vacant roles continues to present challenges for services across the whole directorate which is driven by demand for the associated skillsets in the wider market and shortage of a suitably qualified workforce from which to draw upon.

"The county council continues to deliver its commitment to inclusion, diversity, and wellbeing for its staff, and actions are being undertaken to improve access to new working opportunities."

She added: "Every role in the organisation has a meaning. To deliver quality jobs we need people, so the chain works properly."