The newly appointed adviser to Hays in Scotland says public sector bodies must work together to address workforce issues caused by the government spending cuts.

Professor Alice Brown says it is crucial for public bodies in a region or sector to do more to work together in addressing budget cuts by re-deploying people into other public or private organisations, through secondments, career transition or training.

Brown says:  “Public bodies facing spending cuts should work under a collaborative regeneration model to reduce the negative impact on their employees and maintain the level and quality of public services. The current economic climate requires a major cultural and attitudinal shift in our thinking towards employment. We have to look strategically to the future both in terms of what skills organisations will require in two to three years’ time, and how people currently perceive their skills and experience.”

Brown continues: “Looking at establishing this model now, which takes a more holistic and strategic approach, will have a much better impact on the economy in the longer term, and will harness all the skills and talents of Scotland’s workforce.”

Professor Brown is one of Scotland’s leading government academics and was the first ever Scottish Public Service Ombudsman (Crown appointment) in 2002, until her retirement in 2009.