Building better HR in Wollongong

Wollongong is rapidly establishing itself as a location of choice for Australian and international businesses alike – and it’s not too hard to see why. The region’s work-life balance is an attractive prospect for many employees, and staff retention is of key importance to employers. Wollongong’s large commuter pool makes talent acquisition easy for new businesses. Currently 23,000 people across white and blue-collar occupations, travel to Sydney for work.

But from an HR perspective, with a plentiful talent pool and a nearby university, how can this best be harnessed, and how can businesses be more tangibly supported?

Invest Wollongong, a partnership between the NSW Government, Wollongong City Council and the University of Wollongong (UOW), has made this a core focus of its policies – implementing practical programs to support HR managers working for businesses considering Wollongong as a base of operations.

 “A business based in a major city has a myriad of fellow employers who are looking for quality graduates to enter their companies,” says Mark Grimson of Invest Wollongong. “On the flipside, businesses here who employ graduates have a large number of applications and are literally being spoilt for choice.”

Grimson points to the example of Mercer Administration Services. Mercer employs close to 550 staff in Wollongong, with Renee Whiteside, Mercer’s People and Culture leader, noting that the business benefits from low turnover rates, in no small part due to the work-life balance afforded to employees.

“In Wollongong, Mercer employees have the ability to pick up our children from school, take them to extracurricular activities, and still be home and have some dinner on the table by 7 o'clock at night,” explains Whiteside. “Most of my industry peers that work in Sydney don't always have the luxury of having that family time. There's a general sense of purpose and meaning in life here too, whether that's caring for an elderly parent or having young children. And, equally being able to sustain a hobby on the side, whether they like studying, triathlons, golfing, or whatever that is important to them.”

Savvy HR managers and recruiters have access to a total of 1.2 million workers within one hour of the vibrant city, in fields as diverse as coders, software developers, product managers, marketers and accountants – ideal for firms in professional services and the tech industry – all the way to manufacturing, engineering and industrial employees – ideal for businesses in advanced manufacturing. It’s a rich talent pool, which is only set to expand as more businesses look to reap the benefits to be found in the region.

Productivity is also a critical component of business and it stands to reason that happier and refreshed employees are more likely to deliver high quality and high-volume work. David Laing, a Senior Principal at Cardno says being in Wollongong has changed Cardno’s employee value proposition.

“Our Wollongong Office allows us to turn up the dial and attract new staff who want more than just an attractive salary package. We pitch it to candidates that they can experience exciting projects all from a modern local office which is a short trip from home. We offer flexible hours so you can start living again and experience the advantages of this great region. Throw in the affordable homes, good schools, a great university, beaches, rainforests and you have the ultimate salary package. Many skilled people in Sydney are fed up with the congestion and chaos so choose Wollongong for a better lifestyle and we get the benefit by employing them. It is our real competitive advantage.”

To find out how your business can better harness Wollongong’s skilled workforce, visit Invest Wollongong’s new website www.investwollongong.com.au