A packed day of high-octane action at the Hendy Performance Open Day attracted thousands of motoring fans to Thruxton Motor Circuit at the weekend. The annual open day was bigger than ever before, with hundreds of cars on display and more than 6,000 fans, who were entertained by high-speed action on the track, stunning sports, classic, and new cars and celebrity guests. “This year our combination of motoring attractions and family entertainment was a winning formula,” said head of brand performance Harry Pearson. “This is our third year hosting the event at Thruxton, which is the ideal venue to offer a wide range of activities and attractions.” Highlights of the day included on track action from Hendy Ambassadors, as well as precision driver Paul Swift, and more than 600 static displays from performance car enthusiasts who showcased everything from Fords to Ferraris. The open day also provided the perfect backdrop for Hendy to showcase some of its sports and performance brands from across the group, including Maserati, Lotus and MOKE. New cars turning heads at the show included the Maserati Gran Turismo and Lotus Eletre, both attracting an excitable stream of admirers throughout the day. The new family fun area was a huge hit with children of all ages and Harry said there had been tremendous feedback from visitors on the day. “Our aim was to provide plenty of entertainment for families with a focus on motoring but lots to amuse children of all ages too,” said Harry. “We had some incredible cars on display, so our thanks go to all of the owners who showcased their own pride and joy for everyone to enjoy.”

Gebrüder Weiss is expanding its German network by acquiring B+A Luft- und Seefrachtspedition GmbH in Nuremberg. The new wholly owned subsidiary, which specializes in the import and export of groupage freight containers between Asia and Germany, will be integrated into the Gebrüder Weiss network as of June 27, 2023. “Nuremberg is one of the top logistics locations in Germany and our German Air & Sea network will be given a particular boost by the acquisition. B+A’s many years of expertise in the air and sea freight business are a perfect addition to the existing Gebrüder Weiss branch in Nuremberg, which has so far been focused on land transport and logistics. This will enable us to offer our customers in the Nuremberg metropolitan region an even more comprehensive range of services,” says Robert Stahlschmidt, Country Manager Air & Sea Germany at Gebrüder Weiss. The freight forwarder B+A was founded in Nuremberg in 1982 and is an expert in international air and sea freight services. It offers project transports and weekly container transports by sea from Asia, among other things. The groupage freight containers (LCL) are shipped from logistics centers in China and Taiwan to Hamburg, from where they are then taken by rail to Nuremberg before being delivered to regional companies. “We look forward to becoming part of an equally sound yet ambitious family business. Our employees have excellent, long-term prospects under the umbrella of Gebrüder Weiss. We will in future be able to offer our customers the entire product range of a globally operating logistics company from a single source,” says Andreas Tylewski, managing partner of B+A. The company’s 20 employees will be kept on and the company will continue to operate under the name “B+A Luft- und Seefrachtspedition GmbH”. Gebrüder Weiss has been operating in Nuremberg since 2017, having since also gained a foothold in the Air & Sea segment in this important core market in Germany. The company provides air and sea freight services at central hubs throughout Germany: Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hanover, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, Straubing – and now also in Nuremberg. The company’s already dense land transport network in southern Germany was further expanded with the acquisition of the freight forwarder Rentschler in Baden-Württemberg at the start of the year.

A packed day of high-octane action at the Hendy Performance Open Day attracted thousands of motoring fans to Thruxton Motor Circuit at the weekend. The annual open day was bigger than ever before, with hundreds of cars on display and more than 6,000 fans, who were entertained by high-speed action on the track, stunning sports, classic, and new cars and celebrity guests. “This year our combination of motoring attractions and family entertainment was a winning formula,” said head of brand performance Harry Pearson. “This is our third year hosting the event at Thruxton, which is the ideal venue to offer a wide range of activities and attractions.” Highlights of the day included on track action from Hendy Ambassadors, as well as precision driver Paul Swift, and more than 600 static displays from performance car enthusiasts who showcased everything from Fords to Ferraris. The open day also provided the perfect backdrop for Hendy to showcase some of its sports and performance brands from across the group, including Maserati, Lotus and MOKE. New cars turning heads at the show included the Maserati Gran Turismo and Lotus Eletre, both attracting an excitable stream of admirers throughout the day. The new family fun area was a huge hit with children of all ages and Harry said there had been tremendous feedback from visitors on the day. “Our aim was to provide plenty of entertainment for families with a focus on motoring but lots to amuse children of all ages too,” said Harry. “We had some incredible cars on display, so our thanks go to all of the owners who showcased their own pride and joy for everyone to enjoy.”

20% of small businesses encounter cash flow problems thanks to late payments During this crucial half year stage for many businesses, Legateca , a leading platform for professional legal service providers, is drawing attention to the critical issue of late payments, revealing in new findings, that a concerning one-third of payments to small businesses across the UK are not made on time. The average value of each delayed payment stands at £6,142, causing significant cash flow challenges for small UK enterprises who rely on cash flow. This growing problem has also resulted in 20 per cent of small businesses encountering significant cash flow issues, hindering their growth and sustainability. Late payments have become a pervasive obstacle for small businesses across industries, impacting their ability to manage their finances effectively. With an estimated 5.9 million small businesses in the United Kingdom alone, the consequences of this issue are far-reaching. Legateca's analysis indicates that if small businesses were paid promptly, the economy could experience a boost of approximately £2.5 billion annually, leading to increased productivity and overall economic growth. Umair Zahid, CEO for Legateca, expressed concern about the significant impact of late payments on small businesses. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, contributing substantially to job creation and innovation. However, the prevalence of late payments is impeding their ability to thrive and fulfill their potential. It is crucial for both businesses and policymakers to address this issue promptly and implement effective measures to ensure timely payments." To combat this issue, Legateca calls for small business owners to be brave and take the necessary legal action in order to encourage timely settlements. Umair adds: “So often we see that small businesses are the losers in the game of chasing payments, they’re often strapped for time and resources, with a big emphasis on confidence too - especially if they are going up against bigger organisations. This doesn’t and shouldn’t have to be the case. If work was undertaken and business owners know that they fulfilled their duties but haven’t been paid - they have every right to claim their money.” As the issue of late payments to small businesses continues to persist, Legateca remains committed to raising awareness, offering solutions, and collaborating with businesses and policymakers to drive positive change. Umair concludes: “By addressing this pressing concern, we can create a more resilient and thriving small business sector, ensuring a stronger economy for all.” Zakia, an SRA-regulated freelance solicitor with extensive experience in Commercial Litigation and Business Debt Recovery says. "It's really important for small businesses to have a robust and proactive debt recovery process for late payments, which includes take legal action where necessary and efficiently and in a timely manner. I have spoken to many small business owners, who have said they didn't know they what steps to take to recover payment for overdue invoices, it's often overlooked but not having a clear process will impact cash flow thus impacting the overall stability of the business."

A packed day of high-octane action at the Hendy Performance Open Day attracted thousands of motoring fans to Thruxton Motor Circuit at the weekend. The annual open day was bigger than ever before, with hundreds of cars on display and more than 6,000 fans, who were entertained by high-speed action on the track, stunning sports, classic, and new cars and celebrity guests. “This year our combination of motoring attractions and family entertainment was a winning formula,” said head of brand performance Harry Pearson. “This is our third year hosting the event at Thruxton, which is the ideal venue to offer a wide range of activities and attractions.” Highlights of the day included on track action from Hendy Ambassadors, as well as precision driver Paul Swift, and more than 600 static displays from performance car enthusiasts who showcased everything from Fords to Ferraris. The open day also provided the perfect backdrop for Hendy to showcase some of its sports and performance brands from across the group, including Maserati, Lotus and MOKE. New cars turning heads at the show included the Maserati Gran Turismo and Lotus Eletre, both attracting an excitable stream of admirers throughout the day. The new family fun area was a huge hit with children of all ages and Harry said there had been tremendous feedback from visitors on the day. “Our aim was to provide plenty of entertainment for families with a focus on motoring but lots to amuse children of all ages too,” said Harry. “We had some incredible cars on display, so our thanks go to all of the owners who showcased their own pride and joy for everyone to enjoy.”

The culmination of the Family Business of the Year Awards 2023 saw Future Toolbox CIC and White Bicycle take home the Ones to Watch Family Business of the Year award at a gala awards evening held at The Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park in London. Organised by Family Business United, these prestigious awards are now a firm fixture in the family business calendar and celebrate the very best of British family firms from all corners of the UK. Awards are given by region, sector and nationally in recognition of qualities such as entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability, community engagement and ultimately one family business is crowned the Supreme Champions. As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, “As an organisation we champion and celebrate family-owned businesses across the UK, recognising the contribution they make in terms of employment, income generation and wealth creation as well as the impact they have on the communities in which they operate.” “Since 2012 these awards have grown to become something really special, recognising family firms from all sectors, young and multi-generational family firms alike, large and small but all sharing the same underlying values, pride and passion for what they do and a strong desire to do business the right way. Each of the winners is a great business with a strong narrative and is a great ambassador for the broader family business community too.” “Each year we identify a family business that we think is set to take the world by storm. This year we have two worthy winners of the One to Watch award.” “Our first winner is a small business that was founded in 2019 that designs and builds online learning for clients packed with interactive activities, quizzes and much more and just last year created online disability inclusion training in multiple languages for the United Nations World Food Programme. A business that is innovative and making a big impression.” “Our second winner is a social enterprise founded by a husband and wife team with a purpose to tackle social exclusion in young people and people affected by traumatic injury and injury in their families. Born from a number of personal challenges they have developed something that is truly remarkable, securing funding to develop further resources to build on their story to help others. It is inspirational and life changing and allowing them to turn their adversities into something tangible and authentic.” “Both are deserving and incredible in all that they do,” concludes Paul. As James Shore, Head of Family Business at SME Capital who presented the Ones To Watch Family Business of the Year award confirms: “Both of the winners have a fantastic story to tell that stood them out as businesses to watch going forward as they are now seeking to grow and develop an even bigger impact through the work they do. It is great to see new businesses with a positive future ahead of them and they are both businesses that the judges recognise for their potential and I look forward to watching as the next chapter in their journey unfolds.” Leah Holroyd, one of the two directors of White Bicycle alongside her brother Finn, collected the award and added, “As a brother and sister team, we are absolutely delighted to have been recognised in the Family Business of the Year Awards. Our mission is to help organisations to create engaging, effective and accessible education and training, and it’s so great to have the work that we do celebrated in this way.” As Paul concludes, “Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy and these awards celebrate their contribution. It was great to bring the family business community back together in person to recognise the incredible family firms that operate throughout the UK and to crown some fantastic winners.” “Congratulations to Future Toolbox CIC and White Bicycle on winning this award. It is fantastic recognition of what they do as a business and it was a pleasure to present them with the award during a fantastic evening that once more put the family business sector on the map.”

A Scottish wholesaler with bases in Falkirk and Perth is now one of Scotland’s largest industrial suppliers, after its owner received HR support and signposting to grant funding from Business Gateway. Established in 1974, Diamond Industrial Supplies remains an independent company, supplying quality leading brands and products throughout Scotland and the North of England. It provides specialist tools, equipment and workwear nationwide, and also offers expert advice on everything it sells, from fasteners and fixings, right through to PPE and workwear. On a mission to drive change in the sector, Director, Craig MacMorran is committed to revolutionising how they hire, train and retain their staff. Looking to grow his business, and in search of expert guidance to develop the skills necessary for turning his ambitions for growth into a reality, he approached Business Gateway for support in May 2022. Craig’s local business adviser helped him identify various routes for growth by assessing the challenges the business faced around their organisational structure, job descriptions and staffing. After receiving HR support and undergoing a Skills for Growth project with Skills Development Scotland, Craig implemented new practices such as a new organisational culture, which helped to increase employee engagement, collaboration and the ability for the team to manage through change. Business Gateway was also instrumental in signposting Diamond Industrial Supplies for grant funding from Falkirk Council’s Resilience Fund, which went towards the rebrand and launch of their new website. This established Diamond Industrial Supplies’ digital presence, increasing brand awareness and generating a 27% increase in sales as a result. More recently, following advice from Business Gateway, the business has expanded its staff from 9 to 17 including recruiting two graduates through the Education and Training Unit programmes from Falkirk Council. Going from strength to strength, Diamond Industrial Supplies was also shortlisted for two categories the Herald Family Business Awards in 2022. Craig MacMorran, Director, Diamond Industrial Supplies, said: “I recently joined my dad and uncle in the company and soon realised I wanted to drive change and growth but needed guidance to make this happen. Having one-to-one support from Business Gateway has been excellent. My adviser was a safe pair of hands throughout the process and really helped me to unpack all the obstacles that come with growing a business.” Ally Kale, Business Gateway adviser, said: “We have been able to support Diamond Industrial Supplies with a range of Business Gateway’s services. It has been fantastic to watch the business expand and develop in the way Craig wished for. I look forward to watching them continue to grow in the future.”

The culmination of the Family Business of the Year Awards 2023 saw Little’s Chauffeur Drive take home the National Entrepreneurship Family Business of the Year award at a gala awards evening held at The Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park in London. Organised by Family Business United, these prestigious awards are now a firm fixture in the family business calendar and celebrate the very best of British family firms from all corners of the UK. Awards are given by region, sector and nationally in recognition of qualities such as entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability, community engagement and ultimately one family business is crowned the Supreme Champions. As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, “As an organisation we champion and celebrate family-owned businesses across the UK, recognising the contribution they make in terms of employment, income generation and wealth creation as well as the impact they have on the communities in which they operate.” “Since 2012 these awards have grown to become something really special, recognising family firms from all sectors, young and multi-generational family firms alike, large and small but all sharing the same underlying values, pride and passion for what they do and a strong desire to do business the right way. Each of the winners is a great business with a strong narrative and is a great ambassador for the broader family business community too.” The Little’s story spans five decades – and two generations. As a family business, they benefit from being able to innovate and quickly adapt to the changing needs of their clients, ensuring they provide the very best service at all times, offering bespoke chauffeur driven cars in over 125 countries around the world. “Family firms need to be innovative and entrepreneurial to stay the test of time, something that Little’s have done so well. One of the judges described their business as outstanding and one that demonstrably showed how that the core values of tenacity and resilience have helped them bounce back post covid 19. They maximized the opportunity that was presented by COP26 in their home city and the entrepreneurial spirit and drive of their team is certainly driving them forward,” adds Paul. As Laura Hayward, Head of Family Business at Evelyn Partners who presented the award confirms: “Little’s Chauffeur Drive is a fantastic business with a leader who is driven, passionate and considered but has entrepreneurial spirit in her DNA. Covid was far from easy for them and many others would not have survived the course but they had plenty of ideas and it is fantastic to see them coming to fruition, the business back on a growth trajectory and an entrepreneurial streak that deserves to be recognised.” Heather Matthews, Managing Director added: “The last three years have been the hardest in the company’s almost 60-year history, and to win this national award for not only surviving, but thriving, is a real honour. The resilience and loyalty of the whole team at Little’s is something I am thankful for every single day.” As Paul concludes, “Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy and these awards celebrate their contribution. It was great to bring the family business community back together in person to recognise the incredible family firms that operate throughout the UK and to crown some fantastic winners.” “Congratulations to Little’s Chauffeur Drive on winning this award. It is fantastic recognition of what they do as a business, and it was a pleasure to present them with the award during a fantastic evening that once more put the family business sector on the map.”

Leading glass packaging firm, Croxsons, together with long-term customer, Eden Mill Distillery, have produced primary packaging for the launch of Ramsay’s Gin, a premium London Dry Gin launched in collaboration with the internationally renowned chef, Gordon Ramsay. Inspired by the Scottish landscape and with a focus on sustainable produce, Ramsay teamed up with the award-winning distiller to craft a gin that was far from ordinary, derived from the very best ingredients and giving a real taste of Scotland. The bottle therefore needed to be a unique design that weaved in elements of the chef’s personality and passion, reflecting a modern twist and liking for pushing the boundaries that Ramsay’s Gin represents. It was also important that the bottle’s production was as sustainable as possible, and that it was produced in the UK. In producing the primary packaging, Croxsons opted for a bespoke, clear 70cl bottle, made from 18% less glass than the industry standard, thereby representing a lower carbon footprint. Using the ‘R’ from Ramsay’s signature, Croxsons embossed the bottle throughout. In addition, intricate lines were included to represent waves lapping on the St Andrews shoreline – the sea being a shared passion of both Ramsay and Eden Mill. On closer inspection, each line weaves into a small fishtail at the base of the bottle, a representation in glass of the chef’s love of fishing. A small label panel front and back completed the look, together with a Croxsons GPI (Glass Packaging Institute) stopper. Commenting on the project, Matthew Turner, marketing director at Eden Mill Distillery, said: “From the outset, Croxsons stood out to us as a great partner for this project due to the company’s sustainable ethos and trusted reputation.” “The process from start to finish was exceedingly smooth with Croxsons. They were on hand to help with design and any production queries, and we can’t thank them enough. Since launch, we have received comments on the distinct and modern nature of the Ramsay’s Gin bottle.” Croxsons’ CEO, Tim Croxson, added: “We are really pleased with the final product. The sustainable bottle looks incredible and the quality of the finishing adds a lot of extra value to the consumer. We look forward to being involved in future projects with Eden Mill as they continue to develop innovative and unique products.”

The culmination of the Family Business of the Year Awards 2023 saw Make An Entrance take home the Small Family Business of the Year award at a gala awards evening held at The Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park in London. Organised by Family Business United, these prestigious awards are now a firm fixture in the family business calendar and celebrate the very best of British family firms from all corners of the UK. Awards are given by region, sector and nationally in recognition of qualities such as entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability, community engagement and ultimately one family business is crowned the Supreme Champions. As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, “As an organisation we champion and celebrate family-owned businesses across the UK, recognising the contribution they make in terms of employment, income generation and wealth creation as well as the impact they have on the communities in which they operate.” “Since 2012 these awards have grown to become something really special, recognising family firms from all sectors, young and multi-generational family firms alike, large and small but all sharing the same underlying values, pride and passion for what they do and a strong desire to do business the right way. Each of the winners is a great business with a strong narrative and is a great ambassador for the broader family business community too.” Make An Entrance is a family-run business based in Lincolnshire. Founded from charitable roots, they have been operating online since 2005. They supply homes and businesses across the UK with made-to-measure door mats of every type. Husband and wife team, Stuart and Samantha Burlton created the business, following in the footsteps of Stuart’s father Allen, who in the 1990s, managed a Royal School for the Blind factory, where visually impaired people were employed to make handmade mats. The Burlton family has prevented this traditional skill from dying out and is now training a new generation of mat makers in their Lincolnshire workshops. As James Shore, Head of Family Business at SME Capital who sponsored the Small Family Business of the Year award confirms: “The family have built an award-winning business with an incredible web presence and become a market leader in what they do, rekindling the art of a traditional craft that was being lost.” "The duo behind the business are a formidable force and entrepreneurial in nature, treating others as they want to be treated themselves. They are professional and commercial, kind and valued as a business and a business at the heart of their community. Sustainability plays its part and innovation drives the business forward.” “As a British manufacturer this business continues to evolve, innovate and their team work hard each and every day. A great family business and truly deserving winners of the Small Family Business of the Year title," concludes James. Stuart & Samantha Burlton Co-Founders at Make An Entrance added: “We are so proud that the business we created together, following in the footsteps of Stuart’s father Allen has been recognised by these prestigious awards. Running a small family business is hard work at times and the last few years have presented significant challenges for us as UK manufacturers. To win this award is an enormous pat on the back for all the hard work of our entire team, who diligently put in the work every day for our customers. We are a family business and we count all our employees as members of that family, so this is a win for the whole team." As Paul concludes, “Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy and these awards celebrate their contribution. It was great to bring the family business community back together in person to recognise the incredible family firms that operate throughout the UK and to crown some fantastic winners.” “Congratulations to Make An Entrance on winning this award. It is fantastic recognition of what they do as a business and it was a pleasure to present them with the award during a fantastic evening that once more put the family business sector on the map.”

The German firm, Carl Kühne GmbH & Co. KG is an outstanding example of how a family business can not just survive but thrive for over 300 years and is now in the tenth generation. Only a tiny percentage ever make it to the tenth generation so how have they done it? We asked Stefan Leitz, the current chairman of the management board. What’s The Secret Of Kühne’s Success? There’s no one single answer. Part of it is about having a strong brand, recognised all over Germany, but we’ve also always been good at understanding the trends in our market and the needs of consumers and customers. The business was built on vinegar; as early as 1900 Kühne was making mustard, mayonnaise, sauerkraut, pickles, and preserves. Since then, Kühne gained a market-leading position by a combination of smart acquisitions, and continuous product development in related categories. By the time I became chairman in 2013, our customer base was ageing, and we weren’t developing enough new products to appeal to younger consumers. My challenge was obvious: to rejuvenate the Kühne brand without neglecting the master brand. So What Did You Do? We focused on new product development and renewing our working culture. So one of the first things I did was to introduce the informal way of communicating and a culture of giving and receiving feedback across all levels of the company. The management now also focuses much more on results rather than processes. This was a major change for us – we were quite traditional in the way we worked together. But it was significant as a way of signalling that things were going to change. We added other similar changes, like a more casual dress code, and various Kühne events for our employees, like regular barbecues, and an Ice Bucket Challenge to foster participation and teamwork. It was the start of a whole new ‘Kühne Kultur+’. Now we are redecorating and modernising our offices as well. The heart of this new culture is our mission of being ‘KUEHN’, which means ‘bold’ in German. Each of those letters stands for some aspect of that central idea: Konsequent (consequent), Unabhängig (independent), Erfolgshungrig (hungry for success), Herzlich (heartfelt), and Nachhaltig (sustainable). And the new culture is underpinned by our equally bold vision we created: ‘Kühne in every kitchen’. What’s Changed Since Then? We’ve been a lot bolder! You can even see it in the names of our new products: we used to have names like Gipsy (Zigeuner) Sauce or Curry Sauce; now it’s Firestarter and Sweet Angel. And the mix has changed too: we’ve developed a new sub range called Kühne Enjoy, targeted at younger consumers, and included vegan salad dressings and a new line of barbecue sauces named ‘Made for Meat’, as well as vegetable chips. All these were developed from the start with the international market in mind. We want to move from being a German company with a large international presence to an international company with German roots. Furthermore, we automated the production process in a single quantum leap, we foster internationalisation, and we are considering acquisitions. And There Is More To Come… We love our heritage and we take pride in it. Although we’ve had a successful track record for over 300 years, to be successful in the 21st century we need to think more like a start-up. That’s what we’re doing now. The proof is in the results: we’ve had record sales, growth in profitability and market share three years in a row. This feature forms part of the PwC Global Family Business Survey 2016. It has been reproduced with permission of PwC.

Businesses could lose the battle for talent due to automation, warns leading workforce solutions provider, Reed Talent Solutions, with research showing that Gen Zs1 are more likely to prefer human interaction in the recruitment process. A survey of 1000 people who had secured a new job, with a new company, in the last 12 months, conducted by Reed Talent Solutions, found that the majority of Gen Zs (77%) felt frustrated with not being able to speak to someone directly during the recruitment process. In comparison, only 64% of Gen X and Boomers felt the same. On top of this, the research also found that Gen Zs were much more likely to pull out from the recruitment process, with six in ten (60%) withdrawing an application early – with the most common reasons being the process was too slow (45%) and they would rather deal with a real person opposed to automation (37%). In comparison, less than a half (46%) of the Gen X and Boomer generation have withdrawn their application early, with the top reasons being the process was too slow (51%) and that they weren’t fully aware of the job description and salary (31%); only 16% of this generation withdrew due to automation. “Businesses need to reconsider how they use automation throughout their recruitment processes to attract the next generation of talent. We all assume the younger generation prefers technology and its convenience – but in reality, the human element is so important,” says Julie Hinchcliffe, Managing Director of Contingent Workforce Solutions at Reed Talent Solutions. On top of this, when asked if they would prefer more or less automation during the recruitment process, less than a third of Gen Z (31%) and Gen X (24%) candidates wanted more automated processes, in comparison to nearly half (47%) of Boomers. Julie continues: “Automation can help some recruitment processes, making it faster and easier for both the candidate and the employer. If done well, you won’t lose talent by implementing automation, but what is key, is ensuring the time it takes between encountering automation and hearing back from a person is kept to a minimum. The longer you leave it, the more disengaged the candidate will be." “Those hiring also need to make sure candidates are given all the information they may desire throughout the process – from salary to the working environment – as without speaking to someone, if the information is not there, they are likely to be frustrated. “In a market where attracting talent is more of a competitive sport than a walk in the park, businesses need to regularly assess and evaluate their recruitment processes to ensure they’re as inclusive as possible.” When asked about the effectiveness of chatbots, Gen X and Boomers were the least impressed. Nearly half of Gen Zs (43%) stated chatbots were helpful, whereas only a quarter (25%) of the older generations agreed. The survey also found that different generations of workers preferred automation at different stages of the recruitment process. The Boomer generation were much more likely to prefer chatbots when trying to book an interview (51%), whereas only 29% of Gen Zs agreed. The research also found some key trends that were quite consistent for all generations. For example, the majority of people would prefer to be told they have secured an interview for their job from someone directly, as opposed to via an automated response. The top reason for this was due to it being more personal and engaging, and because a real person can provide clarification and additional information. “The survey brings some interesting differences to light that HR teams ought to consider. We found that Gen Z candidates are much more likely to want more human interaction during the interview stage, whereas Boomers prefer human assistance during the booking of interviews and tests, and during the reference and vetting process,” continues Julie. “Knowing when to implement human interaction or chatbot assistance, can really change the recruitment experience for potential candidates. If candidates leave you feeling heard, valued and respected for their time in the application process, they are much more likely to want to accept a job offer, or even try for another job with you in the future if unsuccessful.”