Overview

We believe AI is one of the most exciting technological advancements for the world of HR and Talent. It democratises access to data and provides strategic insights for SMEs, previously only available to larger organisations.

It gives people teams the potential to elevate their role to a truly strategic partner within the organisation and provides companies with a fresh approach to recruitment in today’s dynamic, globalised world. The fight for talent is real. More businesses are hunting for changing skills in an ever-decreasing talent pool and with an increasingly transient workforce. The hiring landscape is seriously complex. Yet AI could be the saviour. It offers small and mid-sized companies (SMEs) an unprecedented opportunity to simplify recruitment and gain a competitive advantage.

Hiring is getting exciting again. The barriers to entry for small companies to get the same talent capabilities as large companies are being completely broken down by disruptive technology, enriching the recruitment process from beginning to end.

Key Findings

The use of AI in talent acquisition is already widespread: 71% of HR teams using it say it’s making their function significantly more effective.
AI is already changing the recruitment landscape and set to soar over the next 18 months: 72% of HR teams that haven’t yet used AI plan to adopt it within 18 months.
Talent Intelligence (TI) is poorly understood but will provide critical strategic insight over the next five years: 75% of HR and TA professionals believe TI will become increasingly important in the recruitment process over the next five years, with only 8% disagreeing.

The biggest talent challenges faced by SMEs are:

What’s the biggest challenge your team is facing now?

Skills shortages
Time / cost of the recruitment process
Increased competition for candidates
Meeting needs of younger/diverse workforce
Inefficient recruitment process
Other

Who are we?

Instant Impact is the global talent solutions provider of choice for SMEs, powering their talent acquisition. Empowered by talent intelligence and AI we are passionate about finding you the talent that gives you a competitive advantage. Our embedded team can manage your recruitment, advise on talent strategy and provide access to cutting edge technology, giving you extra capacity and the flexibility to overcome the challenges of a changing business landscape.

About our research

In June 2023, we carried out independent research with Arlington Research on 250 Heads of HR and Talent Acquisition and 50 SME CEOs in the UK for an insight into their attitudes and use of recruitment technology. Our findings focus on today’s hiring challenges and technology’s role in overcoming these challenges, attitudes to using technology and AI and how companies are adopting it. Interviewees also shared their fears on the risks of AI and its potential impact on the future of HR and Talent Acquisition Teams.

Why did we do this research?

We’re passionate about data and tech, and we believe that using it in the right way is the key for SMEs to create competitive advantage in talent acquisition. AI will create new ways to add value to the recruitment process and business strategy.

We wanted to get a better insight into the current state of AI, automation and talent intelligence in talent acquisition, and understand how it is being adopted by talent professionals, particularly SMEs.

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Thanks to contributors

We are very grateful to all our interviewees. A particularly big thank you goes to key contributors who gave so generously with their time and their insights, including:

Toby Culshaw

Head of Talent Intelligence, Amazon

Alison Ettridge

CEO, Stratigens

Jonathan Holdsworth

Former Head of Talent Acquisition, Rolls Royce

Rachael Leinster

Talent Acquisition Manager, Field via Instant Impact

Christine Morton

Principal Consultant, Proxima

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Thanks to contributors

We are very grateful to all our interviewees. A particularly big thank you goes to key contributors who gave so generously with their time and their insights, including:

Cameron Skinner

Head of Internal Talent,
Instant Impact

Diane Ward

Interim Head of Talent Acquisition for Amey,
Post Office, Mace, BBC

Alan Walker

Co-Founder, Udder

Charlie Voller Barnes

Head of Solutions,
Amdaris, an Insight company

Lauren Bass

Talent Director,
Instant Impact

Thanks to contributors

We are very grateful to all our interviewees. A particularly big thank you goes to key contributors who gave so generously with their time and their insights, including:

Jaime Manos

Talent Acquisition Partner
Anthesis
via Instant Impact

Heidi Stephens

Director of
Talent Acquisition & Professional Development, Action for Boston Community Development

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