HR is all about people and relationship building, so Sarah McKenna HR Recruitment was delighted to recently welcome over 50 of the region's best HR professionals to a collaborative event held between the recruitment agency and 50:50 Future's Co-founders Lyndsey Britton-Lee and Lynsey Harbottle.
The event saw the return of one of the first HR specific events in the region, with a focus on Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, hosted at Hope Street Xchange, Sunderland.
The 90 minute session provided an overview on how to avoid tick-box narrative and embed inclusion holistically across an organisation, with delegates from a wide range of companies, from small start-ups to commercial heavyweights in attendance. Openreach, BT, The NHS, the Tyneside Cinema, Northern Gas & Power, END. and Northumbria Police were just some of the organisations occupying seats within the room with varying HR roles.
Sarah McKenna, Founder and Owner said: “This was my first in-person event held since covid, and the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion session with 50:50 Future certainly could not have gone any better! Everyone was eager to learn, share knowledge and hear about the successes of other businesses in the region when it comes to implementing a successful ED&I strategy.
The overriding feeling was one of positivity and everyone had a genuine interest in finding out about new ways of working and were looking forward to being in a room full of like minded HR professionals, it has been far too long.”
The event focussed on why Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) within the workplace is so imperative. It was highlighted that when ED&I is present in the working environment, teams generally perform better, there is more engagement out of staff, and productivity levels reach new highs. HR specialists across the globe are responsible for hiring diverse talent, nurturing inclusive workplaces, and of course, dealing with ED&I claims, tribunals and grievances. HR professionals are also catalysts for inclusion and equipped to break down barriers within the workplace and this event really instilled how powerful that can be.
The main takeaway for everyone in the room was to not to fall into the trap of affinity bias; be sure to check yourself and ensure that you’re not just speaking to, or hiring people, based solely on the premise that they are similar to you. Naturally, potential candidates have to be a great cultural fit for the company in question, but that individual’s identity and unique traits should be respected and appreciated even when they’re different to what you’re used to.
Sarah added:”Events like this are key for building and connecting industry professionals. Relationship building is at the heart of what I do, may that be with recruiters, candidates or industry peers. I look forward to hosting more events in the future, it was a great catalyst for open discussions.”
Sarah McKenna HR Recruitment applies over a decade of experience recruiting HR professionals throughout the North East and Yorkshire regions. Specialising in all levels of HR recruitment and offering a fully consultative customer-driven approach with a personable and flexible style. Sarah McKenna HR Recruitment have recently been working closely with the team at The Office Rocks to further build the brand exposure of company with plans for further growth. With the founder and Managing Director, Laura Middleton at the helm, The Office Rocks, the parent company behind the recent sale of e-commerce business WHAT ABOUT THIS (WAT) has created and grown substantially over the last six years by leveraging their expertise in community building and digital marketing.
Laura Middleton, Founder and Managing Director, The Office Rocks said: “We are really excited to be working closely with Sarah McKenna HR Recruitment. Sarah has such a strong presence and reputation across the industry, and we look forward to building the brand presence of her phenomenal company even further.” Whether you are looking to grow your HR team or seeking your next career move, Sarah McKenna can really add value to the process, by understanding your culture, values and individual needs.