businessinfomag.uk magazine 6 staying an average of 3.76 years longer than staff in organisations where inclusion is weaker. As ever, the report highlights a disconnect between the claims of leaders and the experience of employees. While 25% of leaders say DEI is fully embedded in their organisation and regularly reported on, only 15% of employees feel the same. Circa half (51%) of those surveyed feel their organisation places too much emphasis on ticking boxes and meeting regulations and not enough on fostering a genuine culture of inclusion. Only slightly fewer (45%) believe DEI initiatives focus too much on external image rather than internal change. https://www.onvero.org.uk/stateof-inclusion-report-2025/ … Booking conflicts Over one third (38%) of UK businesses are losing up to 24 hours of operational time each week due to their continued reliance on outdated workspace management systems ill-suited to today’s flexible, hybrid workforces. Over one quarter (28%) of businesses surveyed by Matrix Booking say that being unable to find space in the office when it’s needed is impacting productivity. This rises to 43% of workers in government and the public sector. More than four out of five businesses (84%) report daily problems with their current booking systems, including overcrowded spaces on peak days (30%), booking conflicts (27%) and a lack of visibility into available desks and meeting rooms (23%). Only 28% believe their current system fully meets their needs. Paul Scott, Chief Technology Officer at Matrix Booking, said: “Flexibility, consistency and inclusivity are no longer nice-tohaves, they’re non-negotiable. Unfortunately, many continue to rely on outdated one-size-fits-all systems that can’t keep up with evolving workforce expectations.” but the best offers now go to those who can drive performance through insight and innovation.” He added: “For employers, this shift means rethinking talent strategy. Developing skills is now as vital as hiring them. Training, leadership mobility and technology literacy are the levers through which firms will attract and retain top performers.” roberthalf.com/gb/en … DEI maturity linked to staff retention and productivity Organisations that embed inclusion into their culture report higher productivity, lower turnover and greater employee happiness than organisations that have a less developed DEI position, claims Onvero, a provider of DEI training and consultancy services. Its inaugural DEI report, State of Inclusion in the UK: From Ambition to Action, reveals that employees in inclusive workplaces report higher productivity levels, with 68% rating productivity as excellent, compared to 27% in organisations where inclusion is weaker. In addition, organisations with mature DEI practices have lower staff turnover, with employees Skills training valued more highly than short-term pay rises The emergence of a talent market in which capability rather than experience is the key to career advancement is causing UK workers to rate skills development more highly than short-term pay rises, reveals new research by Robert Half. In a survey for the international recruitment firm’s latest Salary Guide, 69% of UK employees said they would swap a pay rise for structured learning, certification or digital upskilling. Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director UK & Ireland at Robert Half, said: “The market is now pricing in capability, not tenure. Professionals fluent in data analytics and business intelligence, AI, project leadership, financial strategy and compliance are at the top of employers’ wish lists – and salary bands. What distinguishes these skills is their transferable impact. They create clarity, speed and resilience – attributes every board values in uncertain conditions. Competitive pay still matters, BULLETIN …continued IT skills shortage impacting nine out of 10 mid-market firms More than nine out of 10 mid-market business leaders surveyed for Node4’s Unlocking Growth in the Mid-Market report complain that they are being impacted by the current IT skills shortage. Over half say that it is having a significant impact on their operations, with nearly one in three describing it as the most significant external influence on their organisation’s IT strategy. IT support and help desk roles are the hardest to hire and retain, according to Node 4’s research, followed by data scientists and analysts, then DevOps and software engineers. More than three-quarters of midmarket business leaders are taking steps to address IT skills shortages within their organisations, compared to 20% who are doing nothing. The most popular measures include hiring external consultants or contractors (44%), investing in upskilling and training (43%), increasing use of AI and automation (41%) and expanding partnerships with MSPs (39%). Almost one third (29%) say they are prioritising a reduction in IT headcount or implementing hiring freezes in response to economic pressures. Node4 CEO Richard Moseley said: “Most mid-market organisations intend to hire contractors or consultants to address IT skills shortages. We believe this is a short-term fix while they upskill employees or get to grips with using AI and automation.” He added: “It’s noteworthy that midmarket companies also intend to expand partnerships with MSPs. This will provide short-term support while organisations look to fill individual IT roles and plug skills gaps. However, even after a successful recruitment drive, we believe these trusted IT partners will continue to play a critical role in delivering out-of-hours services. This will include supporting newly recruited employees and relieving the challenges of operational availability.” www.node4.co.uk Richard Moseley
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