Supporting your leader

The role of the business leader is changing and companies are expected to come under closer scrutiny from the community, according to research conducted by DDI

The role of the business leader is changing and companies are expected to come under closer scrutiny from the community, according to research conducted by DDI. Ninety per cent of surveyed HR and business leaders indicated that “ethical issues will continue to increase, driving a continued focus on compliance and corporate governance,”said Bruce Watt, DDI Australia’s managing director. Eighty-two per cent of respondents believed that companies will increasingly be expected to demonstrate the contribution they make to the community, balancing ethical and moral judgements against short- and long-term financial results. “This paints an increasingly tough picture of the role of the future business leader …placing a huge challenge at the feet of business in securing and retaining future leadership talent,” Watt said.

NSW vocational education boost

In an effort to help overcome skilled labour shortages, the NSW Government has committed almost $100 million additional funding over the next four years for vocational education and training initiatives. The 2007–08 state budget includes a total investment of $1.8 billion in TAFE NSW, an increase of $55 million on the previous financial year. The new funding includes $47 million to generate 33,253 additional training places, including a network of 10 NSW Skills Centres; and $50 million to improve apprenticeship take up and completion rates, including 15 additional trade schools in schools and TAFE colleges.

Temp recruitment solid

Sixty-two per cent of employers held their contract and temporary staffing levels steady, 32 per cent increased their temporary numbers, and only 7 per cent reduced temporary staffing commitments in the April–June 2007 quarter. This, according to a Hudson report, resulted in a 24 per cent net growth in contract and temporary hiring for the same period, an increase of 2.7 percentage points over the previous quarter.

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