Employee development should not be seen merely as a reward contingent on job performance; rather, it is a crucial investment. Research consistently reveals that employees who receive ongoing opportunities for growth are more engaged, productive, creative, and emotionally intelligent, contributing to cohesive and profitable teams, while reducing attrition rates. Beyond financial gains, investing in staff symbolises respect and support, igniting a cycle of self-belief and positive actions.

However, there are potential pitfalls, including vague goals, misalignment with company objectives, one-size-fits-all approaches, and neglect of soft skills. Accountability, regular training, diversity and inclusion, industry adaptation, and employee involvement are critical. Investing in staff fuels organisational prosperity, promoting resilience, adaptability, creativity, and motivation across the board. It acts as a catalyst for holistic growth and success.

In the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of the creative industry, success goes beyond talent and imagination. It requires a strategic approach to human resources that understands the unique dynamics of the industry. Our work with Pink Squid and Creative Access has shown that with strong HR you can build a strong business operating in the creative industry. 

In this blog, we will explore how effective HR in the creative industry influences important areas such as challenges during expansion, workplace culture, and recruitment.  

Imagine building a sustainable, profitable business with constant growth. As a start up founder, this is something you can do but you will need to have a reliable team with shared values to achieve that vision.

Hiring the right talent is so important for startups but it can also be quite difficult, especially if you’re not an expert in HR and recruitment.

Luckily, we are and in this blog, we will share three things to think about when building your team.

At People Management Partners we make expert HR support accessible to small businesses and startups like yourself so you don’t spend your valuable time trying to navigate the complex minefield of HR.

Getting the support of an HR expert can help you grow your business in the best way possible from the start. With expert guidance and support, you can avoid common pitfalls, be confident you are complying with legal requirements and build the right culture from the beginning.

To maintain a competitive edge and improve employee satisfaction in the ever-changing business market, it's crucial for business owners to stay up-to-date. This requires implementing new technologies, keeping up with customer needs, and adding innovative features and products.

That can seem overwhelming but you can help your business stay up to date and relevant with a learning culture.

Creating a dynamic and engaging workplace starts with cultivating a learning culture where employees are eager to acquire new skills and contribute to business growth. With the right mindset, tools, and strategy, your business can thrive and stay relevant in today's fast-paced market.

Discrimination in the office happens more often than many business owners think. It can be disguised as harmless office banter or a joke, but it is worth your attention as it can negatively impact your culture and even lead to a hostile work environment.

As a small business owner, recruiting new employees can be a daunting and challenging task, especially if you’ve never done it before. No doubt whoever you hire to join your team will be an important part of your business growth so understandably you want to find the right fit early on.

Attracting top talent is becoming increasingly more difficult but there are several effective recruitment strategies you can use. In this blog post, we'll explore five ways small businesses can recruit their future employees.

Have you heard of the 4 day work week? It has been quite difficult to miss so far this year with the results of the UK’s 4 Day Week pilot trial being published.

61 companies and around 2,900 workers in the UK trialled the 4 day work week from June to December 2022. Out of the 61 companies that participated, a whopping 92% of them have chosen to continue with the shorter work week, with 18 even making it a permanent change.The results showed that employees experienced significantly less stress and burnout with a 4 day work week, with 39% reporting lower stress levels and a 71% reporting reduced burnout levels. Not only that, but the new schedule made it easier for employees to balance their work commitments with their personal lives, including household responsibilities and social engagements. Even household finances and relationships improved for some employees, highlighting just how transformative this work schedule can be.

Stressed employees are not good for business yet it is a problem that many businesses face.

The figures from The Health and Safety Executive 21/22 report showed that 914,000 people reported suffering from work-related stress, anxiety, or depression. And it's not just the impact on individuals that we should be concerned about; the economy has also suffered, with a staggering 17 million working days lost as a result of these conditions.

As well as being a cause of absenteeism in the workplace, high stress levels amongst employees can lead to a high employee turnover. When that stress builds up, it will often result in lower job satisfaction levels, and the employees are more likely start looking for new job opportunities. This is not ideal for your business either.

As a start-up entrepreneur, you want your team to succeed and make an impact in the market. But how do you create a strong team culture that will allow them to do so?

Building a strong team culture is both critical and challenging - it takes hard work, effective communication, strategy and commitment. Fortunately, there are many tried and tested strategies that can help you create a vibrant culture for your business so everyone works cohesively towards success.

How To Support Employees Celebrating Ramadan

Ramadan is approaching and over the years our team have been asked about temporary adjustments small business owners can make to support employees so we thought we would help by writing this blog.

One thing has become clear, each person will have different requests when it comes to celebrating, just like not every Christian observes Lent the same way neither does every Muslim observes Ramadan exactly the same way. So if you know an employee who is planning to observe Ramadan, talk to them about exactly what that means to them to understand the best way to offer support.

But before you do so you might like to read this blog first so you can have the conversation knowing what Ramadan is and understanding a few possible ways you can support your employees.

Although raising a child is a big job in itself, lots of parents don’t want to put their other job, their careers, on pause. In fact, research from That Works For Me shows that 98% of mothers want to keep working, while over 50% want to work four days a week or more. And since 86% of women will become mothers by the age of 40, it's important to pay special attention to parental leave and how you support employees who are parents. If you don't, your small business could lose reliable talent to other companies that offer more flexibility and understanding.