Partnering with industry to translate research for small to medium enterprises (SMEs)
Authors:
Shaz Gerchow and Joshua Raynor
Jobs Queensland
Theme: Workforce Development
Presentation:
One of the themes of the 2022 Queensland Workforce Summit was maximising workforce participation and this carried over into the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032.
To support the strategy, Jobs Queensland (JQ) initiated a two-stage project, Enhancing Workforce Participation, with the goal of assisting SMEs to enhance the diversity of their workforces and experience the associated benefits.
The first phase was a research phase. A literature review was conducted to identify key and common elements of strategies that support small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to employ underutilised cohorts, focussing on women, migrants, people with disabilities, and First Nations peoples. In addition an impact analysis was undertaken to identify and quantify the benefits of enhanced diversity and inclusion to SMEs.
Using the findings of the literature review, JQ developed an eight pillar Diversity and Inclusion framework with accompanying strategies. However the language and concepts used in the framework were academic and not relatable to the owners and managers of SMEs.
To contextualise the framework and strategies for an SME audience, JQ partnered with Business Chamber Queensland (BCQ). BCQ reviewed and validated the SVA Report with SMEs across Queensland and, based on their findings, reworked the Framework to realign the pillars with a business’s development and employee lifecycle, align the strategies within pillars and eliminate duplication. A Diversity and Inclusion Maturity Assessment Tool was also designed as a resource to assist SMEs assess and implement strategies relevant to their business.
Key findings emerged from this phase of the project around the existing diversity of SMEs, their understanding of diversity and inclusion and their preferred modes of training. This presentation will describe the methods and process used to adapt academic research to meet the needs of SMEs.