Room to Grow: Building a Brighter 2025

As the pandemic fades into memory and the economy shows signs of recovery, growth is firmly back on the political agenda, taking centre stage in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent budget. As we step into a new year and work with our clients to implement their talent strategies, we see significant opportunities for economic and workforce growth, despite some challenging headwinds.

In our recent Mega Trends piece (which is downloadable on this page), we explore why the UK has struggled to achieve sustainable growth in recent years and the vital role that productivity and skills play in helping businesses realise their potential.

In this whitepaper we look at how a more strategic approach to upskilling the UK workforce could break the cycle of ‘stagflation’ – a challenging combination of stagnant economic growth and high inflation. We also considered what 2025 might hold for those focused on recruitment and retention in a rapidly evolving labour market.

The UK now faces a pivotal moment, with an opportunity to shape its future. By prioritising investments in training and technology, we can drive sustainable growth and create high-quality jobs. Alternatively, relying on short-term gains fuelled by consumer spending risks perpetuates weak structural growth, and leaves us more exposed to economic fluctuations and uncertainty.

While the prospect of lower inflation may ease some wage pressures, immediate challenges persist. Tight labour markets in key sectors and roles mean many employers still need to differentiate themselves to attract and retain talent. At the same time, rising Employer National Insurance and minimum wage rates make significant pay increases or extensive training investments difficult for many.

This is where your employer brand comes into play. By leveraging it to increase engagement, you can inspire your workforce and set your organisation apart. What’s your vision for the future? How can you share it in a way that resonates with your people and brings them on the journey with you?

The key lies in developing a clear employee proposition – one that is both grounded in truth and supported by data. But it doesn’t stop there. To truly succeed, this proposition must come to life for your employees and be seamlessly delivered across every stage of the employee lifecycle.

Make 2025 the year you take this step forward. From creating a data-driven employee proposition to embedding it across your organisation, we’re here to help you through it all.