How We’re Casting the Net Wider to Catch the Best Talent
Securing the skills needed to create and maintain the rail network of tomorrow is a difficulty all operators and contractors face. It’s probably the biggest single challenge we have to overcome.
Traditional engineering skills remain in short supply. Meanwhile, the demand for new skills in data analysis, automation and VR, alongside softer skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and communication, continues to grow.
Recruiting a more diverse workforce is an indispensable part of any solution. Within Osborne, our strategy to achieve greater diversity and meet future skills needs is based around 4 C’s: culture, collaboration, careers and compliance.
We are taking active steps to nurture the right culture; one that is based on collaboration, with consistent strengths in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at the core.
Careers and Growth
To create the workforce we need, our approach to careers is critical. We are opening different routes into and through our organisational structure. These routes are backed by rigorous selection, both in recruitment and promotion. All employees have access to high quality and accessible learning opportunities through our learning management system. We also aim to provide more opportunities for flexible working and support for those who care for others.
To be successful we have to be accountable and be certain that we are doing what we say we do. Good intentions count for nought unless we have metrics and processes to track the difference we are making at all levels.
Our Plan
Across each of the four key themes of culture, collaboration, careers and compliance we have identified specific actions and measures to provide focus and monitor progress.
Key activities include communicating our EDI strategy to all staff and reinforcing our values and expected behaviours. We’re also improving hiring and promotion processes through skill-based assessment tasks, structured interviews and having transparent processes and criteria for hiring decisions.
We know we can only achieve so much on our own. In keeping with our collaboration objectives, we seek to align activities with our customers and suppliers to ensure EDI objectives are shared and aligned.
Rail infrastructure is a traditional industry that rapidly needs to become a non-traditional one. Recruiting and developing the right people and forging the right culture is absolutely central to achieving this aim.
