Our CEO, Paul Ryan, took the stage at Biz Expo Ireland this year!
His presentation, “Hiring in a Talent Drought: The SME Advantage” addressed the key challenges SMEs face in hiring during a talent drought and explored how small businesses can turn hiring challenges into strategic wins.
It emphasised retention as a critical strategy and noted that:
• Turnover rates have doubled to 38% in 2025, signalling a critical need for retention-focused strategies
• Key drivers of attrition include career development, compensation, leadership quality, workplace culture and flexibility
• SMEs can gain an edge by speeding up hiring processes, maintaining strong candidate communication, and building a compelling employer brand
• Alternative talent solutions like fractional and contract roles offer agility and competitiveness in a tight labour market
To address these challenges, Paul shared actionable insights such as:
✅ Building loyalty through purpose-driven leadership.
✅ Creating retention strategies that make your employees want to stay.
✅ Leveraging agility to meet employee needs faster.
✅ Building a brand and reputation that makes people choose to work with your business.
Ultimately, the message is clear: prioritise retention, act fast when recruiting and leverage flexible talent models to thrive in a competitive market.
Remember! Retention is your secret weapon!
In a competitive market, SMEs can’t always compete with or outbid larger businesses – but they can outmatch them in culture, flexibility and employee experience.
If your business is facing retention or hiring challenges and you need advice on how to hire smarter and keep the talent you already have, then talk to Auxilia Group today to find out more.
Thanks to everyone who attended and engaged with the session.
