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Queen’s University Belfast: Shaping a more inclusive future of talent management in SMEs in Northern Ireland

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Queen’s University Belfast

11th Dec 2023

Recent NI Skills Strategy emphasises the need to encourage diverse individuals to be part of its ‘inclusive innovation’ and ‘10x economy’ agenda via studying STEM subjects and participating in STEM-related jobs (predominantly male-oriented) (DfE, 2021).

Despite such emphasis and the potentially transformative nature of a large diverse cohort, research on professionals who identify as women, those with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and neuro-divergent individuals and their career trajectories/experiences is sparse, particularly skills and talent management (TM) strategies within typically male-dominated industries such as construction, manufacturing and technology and more so SMEs in these industries, where talent nurturing / managing capacity is restricted by size, turnover and limited resources (DfE, 2021; Krishnan and Scullion, 2017). Against these backdrops, this project will investigate the intersections between diversity, job nature and talent management strategies in Northern Irish SME organisations. The project is particularly interested in exploring the relevant lived experiences of a diverse range of professionals working in SMEs in Northern Ireland. The project is looking to understand:

  1. What are the factors that motivate professionals who identify as women, those with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and neuro-divergent individuals to join SMEs in Northern Ireland?
  2. What are the lived experiences of such professionals within talent management systems in SMEs in Northern Ireland?
  3. What are the factors that act as enablers of their career progression and skills development shaping their career progression?
  4. What are the factors that act as barriers to nurturing their talents and skills development?
  5. How can SMEs’ talent management framework include a sustainable gender sensitive view and inclusive approach?

 

Call for Participants:

Queen’s University is calling on professionals who identify as women, those with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and neuro-divergent individuals with a degree, master’s, or PhD qualification, who have at least 5 years’ experience after graduation and/or have international working experience in SMEs in Northern Ireland to participate.  Participation involves a one-hour online interview at a time that suits the individual.  To contribute to the groundbreaking research contact: Dr. Gráinne Kelly at grainne.kelly@qub.ac.uk or Dr. Sajia Ferdous at S.ferdous@qub.ac.uk.