Discovery's Festive Round-up!
We are delighted to share our last newsletter of the year before we close up for the festive break. To all of our readers, we wish you and your families a most relaxing and peaceful break and look forward to 2025!
Message from the CEO….
2024 despite many of its challenges, has brought much joy to my team at Discovery.? We have delivered on some wonderfully fulfilling projects across the globe.? We have recently won an award at the UK Business Awards for our sales transformation and workforce diagnostics expertise, in the category of Best Product or Service Development, and three of our team, Sarah, Rhianna and Andy were recognised as finalists with individual award nominations with Andy Brookes, gaining a Highly Commended accolade.
It saw us celebrate a major milestone with our 25th Anniversary with a black tie event held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham attended by almost 100 clients, colleagues, (past and present) and suppliers.
As we draw this year to a close I reflect with much pride on my team, with their continued efforts to drive success and delight our clients.
I wish you all a very peaceful and Happy Christmas and an incredible 2025, and we very much look forward to supporting you next year.
Jonnie Evans, CEO
Thriving in 2025 - What will it mean for your business?
The year 2025 stands on the horizon, marked by both uncertainty and promise. Economic volatility, technological advancement, geopolitical tensions, and climate imperatives are converging into a complex landscape.
For leaders, the question is not just “how to survive” but “how to thrive.” Success will not be determined by reactive strategies but by the ability to?act decisively,?behave empathetically, and?think innovatively…… ??Read more…
If you don’t plan succession, you don’t plan to succeed...
The global labour market continues to face significant challenges, with persistent skill shortages and a lack of suitably qualified, experienced talent to meet demand. These issues are particularly pronounced in the manufacturing and engineering sectors and are expected to intensify in the coming years.
This year, we’ve seen a growing number of clients, both new and longstanding, recognising the strategic importance of recruiting and developing graduates to remain competitive in 2025 and beyond. Investing in early-career talent is increasingly viewed as a critical strategy for businesses looking to secure a strong future in a challenging marketplace.
The October budget introduced measures that will increase payroll costs across the board, with many businesses unable to transfer these additional expenses to their customers. As a result, hiring graduates, who typically command lower starting salaries than experienced professionals, has become a practical and cost-effective solution to help mitigate rising costs.
Our achievements this year span a range of industries, including restaurant franchises, social care, manufacturing, and niche engineering. All of these sectors have embraced graduate recruitment as a key part of their growth strategies, with plans to expand these efforts further in 2025.
In particular, our ongoing support for the food industry has yielded great results, with our graduate model now extending through their supply chains, especially among packaging companies—a testament to its scalability and effectiveness.
Navigating Complexity: The Shift from VUCA to BANI and Leadership Implications
For decades, the VUCA framework—Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity—served as the lens through which leaders interpreted the challenges of a fast-changing world. However, as the 21st century advances, the pace and nature of change have evolved into something more intricate and overwhelming, giving rise to the BANI framework—Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible.
This model better captures the nuanced fragility of today’s world and highlights the psychological and systemic challenges that leaders must address to remain effective.
Our year in numbers
Graduate Recruitment Trends for 2025
As we approach 2025, the graduate recruitment landscape in the UK continues to evolve, shaped by technological advancements, shifting candidate expectations, and broader economic factors. Here we have collated seven key trends that will define graduate recruitment and development.? Read more….
Virtual Assessment Centres: The Future of Smarter, Inclusive Recruitment
In light of the UK's Employment Rights Bill, set to take effect in 2026, businesses are re-evaluating their recruitment strategies to ensure compliance and maintain efficiency. Virtual Assessment Centres have emerged as a pivotal tool in this transition, offering numerous advantages that align with the forthcoming legislative changes.
The impending changes necessitate a robust and adaptable recruitment process. Virtual Assessment Centres provide the efficiency, inclusivity, and flexibility required to meet these demands, solidifying their role as an essential component of modern recruitment strategies.? Read more…
As we reflect on 2024 we have much to be thankful for, not just our company achievements, but the continued opportunity to apply our expertise in recruiting and developing talent, and solving workforce challenges that enable our clients and their teams to thrive.
We wish you a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year from everyone at Discovery!