IT recruiter GCS Recruitment Specialists has joined forces with Henley Business School at the University of Reading to create a teaching case study aimed at providing insight into the skills that employers are looking for.

In a specially-designed set of materials, including background information for students, teaching notes and video clips, GCS managing director Chris Bartlett discusses the way the company works, some of the challenges it has faced, and how staff motivation and reward is key to its success. 

In addition, in a ‘what happened next’ style scenario, students develop a solution to a difficult real-life staff retention situation that the company faced.

Dr Zella King, who came up with the idea to help her class of third-year undergraduate HR students, said: “Our HR course covers the topic of recruitment and, with the students about to go out into a very difficult labour market, this case study provides a brilliant way to ensure they are better informed and better equipped to know what companies are looking for.

“GCS has a very good HR strategy and Chris has been able to give them a realistic insight into both the business itself and into the nature of people management, which is extremely valuable.”