Robert Kenward, Fitability
Recruiter at You Search & Select has been appointed as a board member of
the Meetings Industry Association (MIA).
As the sector continues to face recruitment challenges, Kenward will focus on
providing best practice guidance and strategic advice to board
members.
MIA chief executive, Kerrin
MacPhie, said: “Our latest quarterly mia Insights report revealed 70 per cent of
members reported staff vacancies, an increase of 9 per cent on October 2023, while 49 per cent consistently report a skills shortage. We’re therefore pleased that Robert
Kenward, a vocal and pragmatic exponent for strategic recruitment practices,
has joined our board. We welcome Robert’s expertise and look forward to working
with him as we continue to address the industry’s staffing issues.”
Kenward said: "I am incredibly proud to be
appointed to the MIA board. The MIA understands that recruitment is not just
about filling positions; it's a crucial part of an organisation's business
strategy. The MIA’s strategic role, their connection with government and their
ability to influence the development of our industry is something I’m eager to
support. By being on the board, I hope to amplify recruitment as a strategy and
highlight its potential as a positive force for change across our sector."
Kenward is also the co-founder of the REACH university scholarship programme
created to encourage more Black, Asian and underrepresented minority ethnic
people into the industry.
He added: “My MIA board role will
enable me to spread the importance of DEI further and help open doors and
provide more opportunities for underrepresented groups and ensuring that our
industry is as diverse and vibrant as possible.”
