In the sixth Annual Event Salary Survey Q&A, Jill Hawkins talks to Jack Jacob, managing director, Partnership Network Events. He says employers need to be ahead of the curve and offer desirable staff benefits.
Recruitment
Jill Hawkins: What is the biggest recruitment challenge facing the industry now?
Jack Jacob: It is a tough market at the moment and it’s been really difficult to find people with the experience and skill set that we need to aid the next stage of our growth. Good sales people in particular are in high demand as everyone is building back after the pandemic.
We have a very ambitious growth trajectory, so we have invested heavily in an external specialist recruitment consultancy which has led to the appointment of two very senior people who will be pivotal in our growth.
JH: Could you share any initiatives you have implemented to help recruitment?
JJ: Our company culture is really important to us and is key to attracting the right team members. We have a brilliant benefits package and a great work/ life balance, so we have been promoting this in our job advertising.
We hold two company incentive trips each year and take our teams away to exciting international destinations – the last two holidays were to Dubai and Portugal. They are brilliant bonding exercises and reward the teams for their hard work through the year.
We also offer hybrid working, a 1pm Friday finish, over 35 days holiday allowance and private healthcare.
Salary
JH: How do you currently decide the salary for new starters?
JJ: We have salary bandings in place for all roles, we also assess the market and then look at the value that each individual is bringing to the business.
The right people are worth investing in. If we find someone with the appropriate experience, with the right personality and skill set, then we are prepared to pay what’s needed to get them on to the team.
JH: What do you think will happen to salaries in the next 12-18 months?
JJ: We have just given our entire team a 10-20% pay increase because of the rise in the cost of living. Salaries will only continue to go up because of inflation and the impact it is having on the cost of living
The next generation of eventprofs
JH: What benefits are job seekers asking you for now and how do you think this may change over the next 12-18 months?
JJ: We are in a very different world now – one in which employers have to prove to staff they should stay. Employers need to be ahead of the curve and already offering the benefits that staff find desirable; if a job seeker asks you for a benefit that you are not providing then it’s already too late – this could be impacting on current staff retention.
JH: What would you say to someone thinking of coming into the industry?
JJ: I would tell them to prepare for some hard work. It’s a pressurised environment but extremely rewarding. Event professionals have a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference in the sectors that we work in. Events are a catalyst for change and event professionals are the change facilitators.
JH: What do you think the industry can do to attract the next generation of talent?
JJ: As an industry we need to be aware that a work life balance is essential to the next generation. They are looking for more fulfilment and to work in a passionate and purposeful environment and to create impact. We need to promote the fact that events can create very real and tangible change.
Not many professions have the job satisfaction of being able to look at something and say: ‘we created that from scratch and look at the impact it’s had.’
