Five Reasons Why a High Performer Would Work for You
Erin Devlin • May 8, 2017
The competition for talent is now very strong in some markets, so what can you do to make yourself standout as an employer? What attracts one person to work with one company, can be very different to what attracts another person, however these five things never really change for high performers:
1. INNOVATIVE CULTURE
Businesses which implement new trends, early and are ahead of the curve with new technology, are more likely to be attractive to not only millennials, but to all generations of workers. To know that your company is one of the most forward thinking, progressive and cutting edge in your industry, makes people feel proud. It also can reduce workloads, wowing staff with simple time-saving technology and advantages in their job that they may not enjoy elsewhere.
2. TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
No matter how experienced an employee is, high performers crave development. They seek opportunities to grow, learn and be better every day. If you give them the space to do this, as well as mentoring and structured training, then you will be repaid in productivity many times over. If you do have a great training and development structure and want to attract high performers in the first place, then highlighting this as a benefit to candidates, can often be more important than salary.
3. POSITIVE TEAM ENVIRONMENT
Most people like to work with colleagues and managers that they like. High performers tend to like working with other high performing staff and working in a positive team environment! This can be as simple as having managers who regularly celebrate the wins and coach and develop their team by highlighting great activity, teamwork, ethics or initiatives.
4. AUTONOMY
High performers don’t like to be micromanaged. They like clear direction and clear processes. If there is unreliability in their environment, such as an employee or manager who doesn’t do what they say they will do, or isn’t accountable for their actions, this can be incredibly demotivating. If you wish to attract and retain high performers, then ensuring a culture of clarity, accountability, clear objectives and clear direction will help them work towards achieving their (and your) objectives.
5. CAREER DIRECTION
If a high performer can see where they are heading with an organisation, then they are more likely to join and be retained. They won’t sit back and expect you to ‘promote’ them when a role comes up, but rather they will want to work with you to identify a pathway that they can work diligently towards and to prove their worth. Give them an idea of what’s possible and this can provide mountains of motivation. As much as you’d like to think that employees live to achieve your business goals, they don’t. If you motivate them through linking their short terms goals to their long term goals, then you can quietly ensure that these align with your business goals. Do this and you can expect high performance!
Erin Devlin is the Managing Director of people2people Recruitment Victoria and manages a team of high performing consultants in Melbourne. If you’re an employer, consultant or candidate who’d like to learn more, contact Erin on 03 9098 7420, or you can speak with one of the people2people team on 1300 338 546.
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In business since 2002 in Australia, NZ, and the United Kingdom, people2people is an award-winning recruitment agency with people at our heart. With over 12 offices, we specialise in accounting and finance, business support, education, executive, government, HR, legal, marketing and digital, property, sales, supply chain, and technology sectors. As the proud recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Large Agency and Excellence in Candidate Care Awards, we are dedicated to helping businesses achieve success through a people-first approach.
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The latest data shows that the UK labour market continues to perform steadily in 2025, with employment levels holding firm and job vacancies remaining historically high. While pay growth has slowed slightly, overall workforce activity remains strong, supported by high participation and resilient hiring demand. Liz Jones, Recruitment Director at people2people UK, says that this steady picture aligns closely with trends identified in the firm’s 2025 UK Market Report. “We are still seeing a healthy labour market,” she explains. “Employment is growing, and job openings remain strong, especially in sectors such as healthcare, logistics and professional services.” Employment Rate Rises, Unemployment Falls According to the July 2025 bulletin, the UK employment rate rose to 76.4 percent, the highest in over a year. The unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent, a level not seen since early 2020. This marks continued improvement in labour force participation following a volatile period during the pandemic recovery. Jones notes that this trend is being felt across multiple industries. "Businesses are rebuilding workforces and candidates are returning to the labour market," she says. "It is encouraging to see stronger engagement from both employers and jobseekers." Pay Growth Slows but Remains Positive One notable shift in the July update is a softening of pay growth. Annual wage increases for the period stood at 5.2 percent, down from 6.1 percent earlier in the year. This reflects a more balanced economic climate as inflation eases and employers stabilise budgets. “While pay growth is slowing, it is still above historical averages,” Jones comments. “Employers are adjusting to cost pressures, but most remain committed to offering competitive salaries to retain talent.” Vacancies Stay High, Reflecting Continued Demand Despite slower wage growth, the number of job vacancies remains elevated. Sectors such as care, education, and IT continue to post consistent hiring demand, with temporary and contract roles seeing a modest rise in 2025. “Our market report shows that employers are being more selective, but they are still hiring,” says Jones. “The competition for skilled talent is keeping demand steady, especially for roles that require specialist expertise or qualifications.” Implications for Employers With a stable employment base and slower but sustained pay growth, Jones suggests that now is a critical time for companies to refine their recruitment strategies. She recommends: Reviewing salary benchmarking to stay competitive in priority roles Streamlining recruitment processes to reduce vacancy durations Investing in retention through training and internal mobility Enhancing employer branding to attract passive candidates “The market is not slowing down,” she says. “It is settling. Employers who respond with clarity and flexibility will continue to secure great talent.” Summary The July 2025 labour market update confirms a period of stability for the UK workforce. While pay increases are moderating, employment levels remain high and hiring activity continues across core sectors. For recruitment leaders, this is a time to invest in strategy, not to pull back. With the right planning, employers can navigate this market with confidence.
Pressure to Return to the Office Is Driving Resentment Among UK Workers As flexible working continues to define the future of employment, new findings suggest the UK may be facing a growing disconnect between employer expectations and employee preferences. According to people2people UK’s 2025 Market Report, more than half of workers feel increasing pressure to spend additional time in the office, a shift that is impacting engagement and retention across multiple sectors. Liz Jones, Recruitment Director at people2people UK, says that rigid workplace policies are now a leading contributor to candidate reluctance and employee churn. "Our data shows that 54 percent of UK employees feel pushed to return to the office more than they want to," she explains. "This pressure is not just inconvenient. It is reshaping how people view their current roles and future opportunities." Where the Pressure Comes From The 2025 Market Report found that much of the drive to return to the office stems from top leadership, with executive teams leading the call for more on-site presence. This push is not always aligned with performance metrics or employee feedback. "This is not about output or productivity," says Jones. "It is about outdated assumptions. Leadership often equates visibility with value, but that mindset is increasingly out of step with how modern teams work best." The mismatch between executive expectations and employee needs is contributing to declining morale, particularly in office-based roles that could easily operate on a hybrid basis. Flexibility Still Matters Despite the push to increase office attendance, flexibility remains a top priority for candidates and employees. The Market Report confirms that roles offering flexible working continue to receive more applications, fill faster, and maintain lower turnover rates. "Flexibility is not a temporary trend," Jones adds. "It is now a standard part of what professionals expect. Candidates are telling us clearly that how they work matters just as much as where or for whom." The data reveals that teams which embrace flexible models tend to report stronger engagement, better collaboration, and improved retention outcomes, especially in sectors such as tech, finance, and professional services. What Employers Should Do To stay competitive, Jones advises that employers need to reevaluate their return-to-office strategies with both data and empathy in mind. people2people UK recommends: Involving employees in setting attendance expectations Tailoring policies by role, function, and team needs Communicating the reasons for on-site requirements clearly and consistently Measuring the impact of attendance policies on productivity and engagement "One-size-fits-all approaches no longer work," Jones notes. "Companies that listen to their teams and create flexibility within structure will outperform those that rely on top-down mandates." Looking Ahead As the labour market continues to evolve, the ability to offer meaningful flexibility will be a deciding factor in who attracts and retains top talent. The 2025 UK Market Report shows a strong correlation between adaptive working policies and long-term business resilience. "Employers have a choice," Jones concludes. "They can lead with trust and flexibility, or risk losing great people to those who do."
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Flexible working is no longer a perk. It is a priority. Our people2people 2025 Market Report confirms that a lack of flexibility is pushing a significant portion of the workforce to look elsewhere. Employers who fail to adapt are already seeing the consequences. According to our research, more than one million people in the UK left their jobs in the last 12 months due to rigid working conditions. That is nearly three percent of the workforce walking out of roles that did not meet their expectations for flexibility. This shift is not limited to remote working. It also includes flexible hours, part-time arrangements and compressed working weeks. Employees are looking for control over when and how they work. A Disconnect Between Policy and Preference While flexible work continues to rank high on the list of job seeker priorities, our data shows that more than half of employers have increased expectations for in office attendance in 2025. This rise is driven primarily by leadership mandates rather than operational need. "There is a growing disconnect between leadership expectations and employee preferences," I said while reviewing our report findings. "The result is avoidable turnover and a widening talent gap in key sectors." This trend is most visible in professional services, finance and tech roles where hybrid work is both possible and preferred. Employers insisting on a return to pre 2020 working patterns are facing greater difficulty attracting and retaining skilled candidates. Flexibility Strengthens Recruitment Outcomes The business case for flexibility is clear. Our report found that job adverts which include flexible options receive up to 40 percent more applications and fill faster. These roles also report lower early-stage attrition, suggesting a better match between employer and candidate expectations. "Flexibility improves both the volume and quality of applicants," Liz Jones noted. "It gives companies an edge in a market where top talent has choices." Candidates now assess flexibility before they consider salary, commute or even job title. Those who have experienced hybrid or remote work environments are unlikely to go back to rigid models without significant trade offs. What Employers Can Do Now The solution is not a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, companies should aim to provide structure around flexibility that meets both business and employee needs. Based on our research, I recommend: Making flexibility a default part of job design and recruitment messaging Offering a mix of remote, hybrid and flexible hour options depending on role Providing training for managers to lead distributed teams effectively Tracking turnover data linked to flexible work policies to spot early warning signs The expectations of the workforce have changed. Flexibility is now a deciding factor for candidates and a retention tool for current employees. Firms that ignore these expectations will continue to lose talent. Those that embrace structured flexibility will gain a clear advantage in attraction, engagement and long-term workforce planning.
What’s Holding HR Back from Formal AI Adoption? AI use in HR is increasing across the UK. In 2025, 66% of professionals said they have used tools like ChatGPT to write policies, generate job descriptions or support internal communications. Despite this, only 3.6% of HR departments have formally integrated AI into their systems and processes. This informal use may seem practical, but it highlights a growing divide between experimentation and long-term strategy. Without formal adoption, organisations risk falling behind in areas like recruitment efficiency, data governance and candidate experience. A Lack of Time and Resources The most common reason HR professionals give for delaying AI adoption is a lack of time. Many teams are already stretched with administrative responsibilities and see AI integration as a project that requires more capacity than they currently have. Liz Jones, Recruitment Director at people2people UK, says the concern is valid but short-sighted. “We see time cited as the biggest barrier,” says Jones. “But formalising AI use actually saves time long-term. The our people2people 2025 UK Employment Trends Report shows that teams using integrated AI tools reduce administrative workload by up to 23 percent. That’s a significant gain for any HR function.” Skills and Confidence Gaps A second challenge is the skills gap. Many HR teams are unsure how to assess AI tools or ensure they are being used fairly and effectively. Without training, professionals are left guessing whether the tools they are using are making sound decisions. “Confidence is a real issue,” Jones adds. “According to our report, fewer than one in three HR professionals feel confident evaluating AI outputs. That means the majority are using tools without fully understanding how they work, or how to manage bias and risk.” This gap can create inconsistency across hiring, performance reviews and internal policies. It also limits HR’s ability to lead digital transformation initiatives. The Policy Disconnect Only a third of UK organisations have formal policies in place to manage AI use in HR. This lack of structure exposes companies to legal and ethical risk. As AI becomes more embedded in decision-making processes, clear policies will be essential. “Our report found that organisations with AI policies in place saw higher levels of trust from both employees and candidates,” says Jones. “Without those guardrails, even well-meaning use can go wrong. Formal guidance protects both the business and its people.” Recruitment Implications AI is already transforming recruitment, from automating CV screening to helping personalise outreach. But without structure and oversight, these tools can reinforce bias and exclude strong candidates. This is especially important as the UK faces a downturn in graduate hiring. According to People Management, graduate openings have dropped to their lowest level in seven years, with AI partially to blame. “Hiring fewer entry-level roles does not mean less work,” says Jones. “It means that teams need to be smarter with how they assess and engage candidates. Formal AI adoption helps ensure that recruitment remains inclusive, consistent and aligned with business goals.” Moving Forward Formal adoption of AI does not need to be complex. The key is to start with simple, structured steps such as: Using HR platforms that include integrated AI tools Creating internal guidelines to support ethical and consistent use Providing training in AI literacy and bias awareness Reviewing AI-supported decisions with human oversight The tools are already being used. The question is whether HR teams will take the lead in making their use strategic, secure and fair. Those that do will be better placed to support their people, meet compliance expectations and stay competitive in a changing labour market.
