Blog Layout
“Getting it right first time – a message from BTA’s Head of Recruitment (England)
18 June 2020 / James Long
Home
/ News & Views
/ “Getting it right first time – a message from BTA’s Head of Recruitment (England)
At BTA we’ve been working hard throughout these strange times to continue to support our friends at charities across the UK, in whatever way we can. During this period, we’ve kept in touch with clients and candidates and have listened to the whole range of emotions that the sector is feeling. You may have seen our ‘values’ series of videos via our social feeds, and it is these values that have kept us going, with the support of each other as a well-connected team.
One thing we all share at BTA is the confidence that we will get through it. Yes, things will be different. Yes, unfortunately, some charities will suffer more than most, but the sector has come through difficult times in the past and can do so again.
What is for certain, however, is that if charities are to survive, and plug those holes in their budgets that have been ravaged by the pandemic, we need to get things right first time. No longer can we approach things with an element of “let’s just see how we get on” when so much is now reliant upon making the right decisions and being brave.
Recruitment most certainly falls into this category. I spoke with a client last week who was understandable quite emotional in explaining how one of her team had decided not to stay after their fixed-term contract ends as planned and that one of her most valued team members had decided to bring forward their retirement. Finding ways to replace revenue will be tough enough yet trying to do this without two of her strongest team members seemed impossible.
I completely understood the fear attached, but what impact will these gaps in the team have over the next 6 months? 12 months? Can my client afford to “let’s just see how we get on” this time, and risk overstretching herself and her remaining team? Or by trying to recruit themselves, adding further workload and risk an unsuccessful campaign with unwanted costs attached.
Our phones and inboxes have certainly not been quiet during this crisis, with candidates getting in touch with updated CVs and a fresh new outlook after time to reflect during lockdown. We are confident that we have one of the strongest candidate databases in the sector in the UK and can attract the best possible talent for your opportunity.
We have always taken on the risks of recruitment for our charity friends and this will never change. We believe now is the time for charities to be brave in the “if”, yet cautious in the “how” they recruit. Let BTA do what we do best: use our charity and recruitment expertise to deliver a successful campaign that is right first time, and ensure there are no empty chairs when the office re-opens or empty Zoom windows until that happens!
