Attracting and retaining talent with James Parker, Venari Partners – ‘I’m not sure everybody grows up wanting to be a pilot like they once did’
It is no secret that the aviation industry is struggling with staff shortages. The problem pre-dates the pandemic but was intensified by the cuts made during the crisis. More information about the labour shortages can be found by reading ‘What is holding young people back from joining the aviation industry?’
Venari Partners help businesses to identify, attract, and retain essential leadership talent globally. They operate in niche markets – including aviation and aerospace – where their industry knowledge, extensive networks, and passion for these sectors make them market leaders.
In this interview James Parker, Director at Venari Partners discussed how to inspire people to work in aviation, the challenges of this, and the nuances of taking an international approach to bringing talent into the industry.
James explained that we must first look at why people join the industry when considering how to maintain candidates’ interest in aviation. There are many benefits to this sector, from opportunities for international travel and a range of lifestyle perks, to the social nature of the work and the development of transferable skills. However, as James points out, not everyone grows up wanting to be a pilot anymore. So, what is making attracting talent to the industry difficult, and how can airlines overcome this?
The full list of questions asked in the interview is:
- How can we keep talent interested in working in the aviation industry?
- What are the main challenges to this at the moment?
- How does talent acquisition differ from region to region?
- Could you explain a little about why it is so important to take an international approach to bring talent into the industry?
For more insight into Venari Partners’ thought leadership at the World Aviation Festival read here or watch this short video summarising their session.
Article by Jess Brownlow
