Human capital matters to (technology) talent

It starts with you. Potential employees are looking at more than what you do or base salaries. They are also looking at your company culture.

Young professionals and career seekers are looking to be part of a community; and opportunities to contribute to that culture rank high, along with salary, and overall well-being. A company’s vision and mission are not the only enticing factors for employment consideration, and the more connected employees feel to an organization’s culture, the more likely they are to stay with that company and contribute to its innovation. Incorporating a hospitality-driven philosophy into the workplace and hiring process can show career seekers how employees are valued within the company.

The Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council is committed to helping this region build a strong technology pipeline and believes that a hospitable approach has a place in the region’s talent retention and acquisition efforts.

We are collaborating with regional economic development partners to establish a strong regional culture rooted in an ecosystem of innovation. This effort is a three-pronged approach to:

• Enrich the science and technology talent pipeline through regional student and employer connections

• Retain recent technology graduates (0-3 years) to support regional economic growth in emerging tech industries

• Attract and retain professional technology talent with 3+ years of experience

That’s part of the reason we host so many events to get the technology ecosystem involved in the greater community and make jobs here sticky. It’s why we are advocating in Richmond to secure funding for regional incentives to help people locate here.

And we invite you to join us as we work to showcase the hospitality of our region by creating places where people want to work. That might include things like encouraging employees to participate in local events or networking, offering the opportunity to take paid leave to volunteer for a charity, or flexible schedules that bridge the gap between in-person and remote. These are just a few ideas; we know you’ll have plenty of creative solutions that fit your business and team.

When growing culture, a little bit of hospitality can go a long way.