Junior or less experienced people are our industries biggest asset; they’re entrepreneurial, motivated, and imaginative. However they also require time, budget and resources to grow and develop into their roles. This can result in a tricky balancing act for organisations who have to weigh up profitability and efficiency against giving someone the chance to break into the industry. This talk by Bethan Vincent explores some of the common mistakes made when onboarding junior staff and offers practical advice on supporting, mentoring and growing the people in your business sustainably. Presented at BrightonSEO, September 2021

1. Unlocking potential
and growing junior
staff sustainably
Bethan Vincent | Marketing Consultant
SLIDESHARE.NET/BETHANVINCENT
@BETHANVINCENT

2. Who gave you your
lucky break?
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

3. Who gave you a lucky break?

4. Hi, I’m
Bethan
Marketing consultant
and proficient tea
maker
@BethanVincent

5. 98,000
People aged 16-24
unemployed for over 12
months
House of Commons, Youth Unemployment Statistics, 17 August 2021
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

6. 13.1%
Unemployment rate
for 16-24 year olds
House of Commons, Youth Unemployment Statistics, 17 August 2021
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

7. 1.Remote working
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

8. We worry people
can’t learn on their
own
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

9. We worry we will
harm the start of
their career
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

10. We worry about
preserving our
existing culture
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

11. The truth is… it
wasn’t working
before
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

12. “Remote work empowers those
who produce and disempowers
those who have succeeded by
being excellent diplomats and
poor workers”
Ed Zitron, Why Managers Fear a Remote-Work Future, The Atlantic
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

13. We need to invest
time
(& reflect this in utilisation rates)
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

14. Take collective
responsibility
(everyone should muck in with training)
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

15. Treat people as
individuals
(L&D plans are not one size fits all)
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

16. Give regular feedback
(Stop waiting for formal appraisals)
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

17. 🎬 Start
✋ Stop
🔂 Continue
⬆️ Increase
⬇️ Decrease
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

18. 2. Building Skills
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

19. Graduates don’t
come out with “soft
skills”
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

20. Higher education
doesn’t teach the
right digital skills
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

21. Young people are
“lazy” or “special
snowflakes”
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

22. Mentoring is
transformative
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

23. 97%
Of people with a mentor
say it was valuable
Sage.com
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

24. 85%
Of people don’t
currently have a mentor
Sage.com
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

25. Try and find mutually
good fits
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

26. Mentors need
mentoring
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

27. 3. Providing real
progression
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

28. 82%
Of employees would
quit their job due to lack
of career progression
CareerAddict.com
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

29. 41%
Of workers were
considering quitting or
changing professions
Microsoft Work Trend Index Report 2021
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

30. Some people aren’t
suited to becoming
managers
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

31. We are a small -
there’s no room to
progress
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

32. We can’t keep on
giving people raises
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

33. Progression doesn’t
have to mean
promotion
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

34. BUT people must be
rewarded for skills and
responsibility growth
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

35. Developing a
progressive
progression process:
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

36. 1.The process should have
transparent and published
timescales
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

37. 2. The process should
include defined and diverse
decision makers
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

38. 3. Candidates should be
assessed against
consistent and relevant
criteria
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

39. 4. People should be able
to self nominate for a
progression opportunity
@BethanVincent #BrightonSEO

40. Thanks - I love
questions!
bethan@bethanvincent.com
www.bethanvincent.com
@BethanVincent