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The Times 100 Business Case Studies Edition 15. Meeting business needs through workforce planning Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Introduction to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. FCO is UK government department 2,700 people work in the UK
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The Times 100 Business Case StudiesEdition 15 Meeting business needs through workforce planning Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Introduction to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office • FCO is UK government department • 2,700 people work in the UK • Another 1,800 British employees working overseas • Responsible for promoting British interests overseas • helps UK companies to do business • helps British nationals in distress • FCO previously seen as traditional • Now facing a fast-changing environment • Needs people with varied talents and transferable skills • Able to undertake different roles and respond to change
Workforce planning • FCO’s people deliver its strategic objectives • Workforce planning estimates present and future staffing needs • Supports succession planning • Assesses potential gaps based on • Employees retiring, resigning, being promoted • New skills sets needed • New business or operational demands • FCO needs • Specialists – e.g. IT, economics, languages • Generalists – e.g. administrative assistants, operational officers
Challenges of workforceplanning • Involves thinking ahead • Fitting the right skills into the organisation • Balancing workloads for employees in the UK and overseas • Rotating staff between job postings • Complying with employment legislation • E.g. flexible working • Working within economic constraints • E.g. public sector budget cuts reduce recruitment
Recruitment • FCO aims for inclusive recruitment • attracts candidates from a wide background • 3 entry levels • Administrative assistant – minimum 2 GCSEs • Executive assistant – minimum 5 GCSEs • Policy entrants – requires a degree • Vetting process • To meet security requirements
Competences describe the knowledge and skills required at each level Identify the actions or behaviours expected Provide focus of job descriptions Highlight key roles and responsibilities for each post Competency framework
Selection • FCO applies policy of open and fair competition • Selection process involves • A written application • Group exercises/presentations • An interview • Internal recruitment based on job interviews • People encouraged to manage own career paths • Can choose which direction to take
Developing people • FCO encourages all staff to reach their full potential • Development includes building competences and skills through • Training – on formal courses or self-study • Coaching or mentoring – to improve confidence • Secondment or shadowing – to discover new areas of work