In the latest instalment of out HR industry executive interview series, we spoke to Julia Turney, Partner in Employer Consulting at Barnett Waddingham, about the importance of employee wellbeing for staff retention, using data to support people strategy and introducing training and development to enable people to fulfil their job…
Tell us about your company, products and services.
Barnett Waddingham are a leading independent UK professional services consultancy at the forefront of risk, pensions, investment and insurance. I work with our clients on their people strategy, with a particular focus on HR.
What have been the biggest challenges the Human Resources industry has faced over the past 12 months?
Being able to support the recruitment and retention plans for business along with ensuring people have the right skills and training in place to help them now and in the future workplace. But there has also been plenty of talk around the challenges caused by addressing employee wellbeing – especially in light of the cost-of-living crisis – and adopting a more data-led HR function.
And what have been the biggest opportunities?
In the past twelve months, we’ve personally reviewed our Employee Value proposition and seen the introduction of a new training and development strategy with learning academies for all levels and roles.
What is the biggest priority for the Human Resources industry in 2022/23?
Bringing ‘science’ to HR and using data to support the people strategy at a board level.
What are the main trends you are expecting to see in the market in 2022/23?
More emphasis on skills gap and introducing training and development to enable people to fulfil their job now and for the future and to help those out of work get back into work. I also think there will be a renewed emphasis on employee wellness, alongside efforts to enable people to be better managers who can form meaningful relationships with teams, especially in hybrid working world.
What technology is going to have the biggest impact on the market this year?
One that can bring together all of the relevant people data, both qualitative and quantitative, and present this in a meaningful, accessible way and enable the people story to be told across the organisation, from Board to new joiners.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learnt about the Human Resources sector?
How important listening is, rather than talking! I was once told I had been given two ears and one mouth for a reason!
What’s the most exciting thing about your job?
One day is never the same as the next and I get to engage and interact with both our workforce and those of our clients and really hear about what is important to them.
And what’s the most challenging?
Getting recognition that people strategy is a key – getting it wrong is a key risk to your business and should rank highly in a corporate risk agenda; if, as is said, people are the most important asset, then really mean it!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Believe in yourself and don’t settle for second best.
