Workplace engagement - the key to successful banking jobs in London

The recession has hit both businesses and individuals hard over the last couple of years and the financial services sector in particular has been impacted by the resulting austerity.

In light of this, those with or on the lookout for banking jobs in London may be turning to their employers to re-engage and re-motivate them as they play their role in rebuilding trust between the sector and the general public.

Mike Petrook, head of public affairs at the Chartered Management Institute, said that now is the time for firms to be looking closely at the human capital that is their staff by ensuring the workforce is fully engaged.

However, many people are claiming to feel disconnected from their jobs, at a time when being part of an effective and positive team may never have been more important.

Furthermore, in addition to existing staff, people seeking to enter the financial services industry and take up banking jobs in London may be keen to enter a positive and connected workplace that is keenly looking to the future.

But is such career satisfaction possible when reduced resources have put companies under pressure?

Mr Petrook said: "With all the redundancies that have happened, people have not been replaced - and those who have been left behind have low morale. This is because they have more to do and more pressure to deliver with fewer resources."

His comments would seem to suggest that now is the time for companies to look seriously at initiating a recruitment programme, which could see new blood brought into the financial services sector in order to boost morale.

In addition, Mr Petrook urged managers to focus on their engagement with existing members of staff, by opening up better lines of communication.

Indeed, in comments that could be particularly true within banks and other financial services providers, he claimed that it is important employees know what is happening within their organisation, rather than having to first hear about it in the media.

According to the latest quarterly Employee Outlook survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, job satisfaction in the UK is currently low at plus 35 - a one per cent decrease on last quarter's findings and a fall from the plus 46 recorded in the spring of 2009.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Friends Provident in its Visions of Britain 2020, a report conducted with the Future Foundation, has claimed that new talent in UK industry - such as the financial services sector - will have a crucial role to play over the coming years.

Indeed, it suggested that in 2020, human resources departments will have to do their utmost in order to attract new employees, as salary will no longer be the main deciding factor in whether or not to take a job, while career enjoyment and satisfaction will be the benefits Britons are on the lookout for.

In light of this, for skilled Britons looking for banking jobs in London, the years ahead could be set to improve.

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