Media Release
Friday 11 March 2005
Better employers needed for Bay business growth
The growth of Bay businesses is being limited by poor employment practices according to the Bay of Plenty Sustainable
Business Network (SBN).
At a time of record low unemployment and significant skill shortages many businesses are struggling to recruit and
retain the right people due to poor employer skills, according to Calum Revfem, SBN regional manager. “There is an
urgent need for Bay businesses to become better employers if the region is to achieve sustainable economic growth.”
Employers need to become smarter in the way they recruit staff as employees now have the choice of who they want to work
for. “We are constantly hearing about businesses that lose staff because of the unattractive work environment that they
create, their lack of staff training and having no flexible working arrangements that take into account family and
lifestyle. People move to the Bay for its great environment and for lifestyle reasons. If we’re to keep them here, then
we have to take that into account as their employers, and consider business practices like work-life balance.”
SBN which promotes sustainable economic, social and environmental business practices conducted a business survey in
November 2004 and found that the recruiting and retaining of staff was the number one issue challenging the
sustainability of their members. In response SBN is running a series of three workshops on ‘How to become a better
employer’. The workshops are presented by local practitioners in the employment industry including Karen Bisset of HR
Consulting, Chris Freeman of Future Pace and Mereana Mills of M2 Communicate.
ENDS