As part of Digital Cities Bristol 2018, Business West and Bristol Media are working in conjunction with the BBC Academy to coordinate a series of Open Doors events. Creative and digital companies from around Bristol will be opening their doors to give a behind the scenes view of this exciting and fast paced industry.
ADLIB is one of the businesses inviting guests to come and visit them on Wednesday 28th November. We caught up with Nick Dean, MD at the company to talk skills gaps and why they wanted to take part.
Tell us more about your company and your role there?
ADLIB is a creative, data, marketing and technology recruitment business based in Bristol. For 17 years we’ve been at the heart of an industry that is met with constant change and opportunity. My job is to ensure that ADLIB constantly evolves; enabling us to respond to the also ever evolving demands of our clients, connecting ambitious organisations with their greatest assets and supporting their growth and success at pace, from start-ups through to scale-ups and corporate brands.
Have you experienced skills gaps within your own business?
Yes. ADLIB people aren’t your “stereotypical recruiters”. We look for people that want to immerse themselves within our clients’ sectors, who are driven by providing a service and are in it for the long game. We’re growing at pace and finding recruiters that share our behaviours and approach is not as simple as it sounds. We’re constantly looking to hire new people, however through building an employer brand and creating an engaging and progressive working environment, where emphasis is on teamwork, has been valuable over the years. We’re really proud of the team and what each individual brings.
Do you think there are skills gaps in the digital sector overall?
Without doubt and they evolve at pace. Digital is a broad term that incorporates technology, data, design, experience and marketing (and much, much more). Each of these aspects has its own shortages, as one skills gap appears to be improving, the next tech stack or marketing channel emerges opening another - look at the rise of data for example. It’s relentless, but that’s why we love working within an evolving and fast moving world, it creates continual opportunity and exploration to discover something new.
If we don’t address the skills gaps in the region, how do you think will this impact the digital sector?
The challenge isn’t going to go away and I think I am sage in saying there is no simple solution. The relationship between education and commercial settings has never needed to be stronger. Education is a pathway, commercial need the resource. Each of these require funding / serious investment to support each other over and above their day to day success models and not relying on good will to get by. Informing communities far and wide about the career opportunities that sit within the digital and technology sectors is essential. If we don’t inform from a young age, we’re missing a trick. ADLIB recently held a careers workshop with Babbasa who tell us that opportunities for BME (Black and minority ethnicity) are limited with significant under representation. This is a single example of an opportunity that, with the right communication and pathways, can solve bridge skill gaps and improve diversity.
In your opinion, what can we do to make the most of the digital talent in the region?
Bristol is renowned for its digital and technology output. We need to build an infrastructure that ensures the businesses that are created here stay, whilst it can seem irresistible to those organisations to look into the option to relocate or set up expansions of their existing operations further afield. Achieving this will ensure the success story continues for a long time to come.
Why did you decide to take part in our Open Doors events?
As a business, we’ve built an incredible amount of knowledge of what a career in the digital and technology sector means to all manner of people, across numerous settings. We want to share our knowledge in the hope that it will inform and educate. If we can inspire even one young person to choose a life they may not have known about, I’ll be happy. If we can multiply this into the 100s, we’ll be beyond words with contentment that we’ve done our bit.
And what can people expect if they attend your Open Doors event?
A warm welcome, access to a wealth of knowledge that should answer just about any question that they may have about their future career.
The 4 career workshops are sector specific - creative, technology, data and marketing. Our consultants will offer direction on career opportunities and avenues within these sectors. Attendees will have the room to ask all of the questions they’d like about the sector that takes their interest.
The workshops are designed for entry-level, young people aspiring to a career within the creative, marketing, technology or data industries (post 16- graduate), as well as those who are looking to transfer their skills and obtain some information about one of these career paths.
We’re really excited to be able to host sessions that will hopefully inspire the next generation of talent to aim high. Providing the right guidance and knowledge of career opportunities out there is crucial.
You can see a full list of Open Doors events here. Book now to avoid disappointment!
Meet the other Open Doors participants:
- Log in to post comments