Webinar: Rewarding and Recruiting Staff

Building and keeping a strong team in today’s market requires more than offering a higher salary. Businesses need to think more broadly about what people value, how they experience the workplace, and what encourages them to stay.

During our recent webinar, Rewarding and Recruiting Staff in Challenging Market Environments, we heard practical insights from Iain Cahill of Gewardz Health and Emma Hickey of Osborne Recruitment on how employers can compete for talent, improve retention, and build more supportive workplaces.

Competing for talent in a changing market

One of the key themes discussed was that salary alone is no longer enough to attract and retain great people. Candidates are increasingly looking at the full employment offering, including wellbeing support, flexibility, culture, and everyday benefits.

The session highlighted how employers can stay competitive by strengthening their employer brand, creating a clear employee value proposition, and making sure the recruitment process reflects the kind of organisation they want to be.

Retention starts earlier than many think

A strong message from the webinar was that retention begins at the attraction and onboarding stage. First impressions matter, and a well-structured induction process can help reduce early frustration, build loyalty, and set clear expectations from day one.

Open communication, supportive leadership, and understanding what motivates employees were also highlighted as essential to keeping teams engaged in a competitive market.

Reward and support matter

The webinar also explored the role of meaningful benefits in helping businesses recruit and retain staff. It was noted that benefits are not always monetary. Health and wellbeing supports, family-focused benefits, recognition, and flexibility can all contribute to stronger engagement and loyalty.

Employers were encouraged to think about the everyday value they provide to staff, not just pay. Practical supports that reduce stress and improve access to care can make a real difference for employees and their families.

A practical takeaway for employers

For SMEs in particular, the message was clear: competing effectively in the current market means taking a more rounded approach to recruitment and retention. Businesses that invest in onboarding, communication, employee support, and relevant benefits will be better placed to attract and keep the right people.

We have attached the webinar presentation here  and the recoding below for anyone who would like to revisit the key points and share the insights with colleagues.