It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Louisa Harrison-Walker, CEO of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.
Without the assistance of a crystal ball it’s tricky to say what curve balls might come our way in 2024. I would like to think we have had our fair share of challenges with Brexit, the pandemic, energy price hikes, inflation, and the effects of long term austerity measures. We have tested businesses more in the last few years than we have in the previous fifty. If nothing else, let’s hope that 2024 is more of a return to normality and just a bit more ‘business as usual’ – please!
We look after private, public and third sector organisations within our roughly 1000 business membership, so we see the challenges and opportunities played out in micro-SME’s and huge anchor institutions, and across all sectors.
The one common denominator is people, skills, talent and access to good employees, and being part of a local business community can help you grow your people, your markets and your networks. We know it’s been tough to recruit in 2023 and I can see that trend continuing in 2024 for those that don’t get serious about competing for talent.
Prior to the pandemic and the rise in flexible working you were in competition with employers in your city or region, now, generally speaking, you could be in competition with employers anywhere in the world.
The organisations that offer flexibility in the hours people work, a broad range of employee benefits, healthcare, mental health support, genuine support for professional development implemented by a good manager, strong social values and a good CSR programme, will have a competitive advantage.
You don’t build a business, you build people and they build your business, and they have more choice now than ever before. That’s what we need to be careful about in 2024.
