Scots firms forced to make better offers to retain staff

Scottish firms are being compelled to increase wages and boost incentives because they are facing tough competition for the best business support staff, a recruiter with offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow has found.

HRC Recruitment found that high demand for personnel, combined with a restricted supply of qualified staff, drove up wages across a range of professions.

The firm’s Office Services Salary Survey for 2017 notes a rise in counter-offers for support positions - a “move previously unheard of” - in a bid to retain experienced staff at all levels.

In Glasgow, there were top-end salary increases for administrators (from £21,000 to £22,000), business development assistants (£25,000 to £26,000), office managers (£35,000 to £37,000), facilities coordinators £22,000 to £23,000) and helpdesk administrators (£18,000 to £20,000).

Jackie Macgregor, managing consultant for HRC’S office services team, said “the dynamics have shifted in favour of candidates” with firms, particularly in professional services, beginning to make counter offers for support positions to retain experienced staff at all levels.

Meanwhile, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies reported that demand for permanent professionals in Scotland saw a 28 per cent year-on-year rise to January.