PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE Many cads may think recruiting for the public sector is easy. With pensions, flexible hours and perhaps a less high-octane commercial pace, it should be easy, shouldn’t it? Furthermore, the public sector is clearly appreciating the need to attract and retain staff in much the same way as the private sector and they are using Workplace Transformation as a key tool, so what are they doing about it? We have gathered some great recent examples of public sector (we appreciate the housing trusts and HE are funded differently) that illustrate some amazing designs, which are comparable with the best in the private sector. When we heard that one Government department stated, ‘We want a workplace like the private sector’, we knew that the trend had well and truly started. Here is some context: the public sector is a big beast – there are 5.35 million people employed. As a comparison, there are 26.9 million in the private sector. As you would expect the proportion public sector varies across the regions, for example 15% in London, through to 25% in Northern Ireland. North East North West Yorkshire and The Humber East Midlands West Midlands East of England London South East South West Wales Scotland Northern Ireland 0
5
10
15
20
25
PROPORTION OF UK TOTAL EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, BY REGION, MARCH 2016, NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
38 | Mix 185 June 2018
30