The newly-elected UK government should set out to create and deliver a workforce strategy instead of an industrial strategy if the country’s economy is to rebuild and success, said James Reed CBE (above), chairman and CEO of the Reed recruitment giant.

Speaking to recruiters and suppliers to the industry at the REC Live 24 conference in London, 25 June, Reed said that a workforce strategy would have to be “really well thought-out”, as he underscored that there are fewer people working in the UK than there were before the global pandemic, which began in 2020. “We’ll certainly want to reach out to our neighbours,” Reed said about maximising economic development once more. He added: “The next prime minister will be as good as the people around them.”

Addressing a question about the values of the Reed family in contrast to the values of the Reed business, the chairman and CEO said: “We’re very clear about it in our business. Our family values are our business values. Our values are simple… and our purpose is ‘Improving lives through work’,” which is also the firm’s strapline. The company also has an adventurous, entrepreneurial aspect, Reed said: “If a bus comes along and the destination looks interesting, we’ll get on. The problem is, sometimes you find yourself walking home.” However, he added, shifting metaphors, “I’d rather eat myself than let someone else do it!”

Other highlights of Reed’s comments were:

• “The word ‘trust’ has been badly devalued.”
• As with exchanges of information between humans, when AI in its different incarnations – as candidate, as interviewer, etc – communicates with AI, “the quality of the conversation is what makes the difference”.
• The recruitment industry still has “a bit of PR to do” in showing the public and government the good it does and revealing itself as “a social good. We need to tell stories”.

Image credit | Supplied