Innovation: the relocation perspective

The science, technology and engineering sectors rely on global mobility. Oil and gas and engineering, for example, are major users of expatriates; some 8 per cent of the oil and gas workforce are international assignees, compared with around 3 per cent as an all-industry figure.These sectors have innovation at their very core. Energy exploration, for example, requires knowledge of technical and scientific disciplines and expertise on the ground.As this sector expands into ever-more-challenging locations and focuses on new energy technologies, the need to ensure that the mobility of employees (and their families) follows suit becomes increasingly high profile.Engineering, too, is expanding its reach with more challenging projects; what appears to be ‘impossible engineering’ is rapidly becoming a reality in both the industrialised and the newly industrialising world. Other scientific disciplines that are expanding their global reach include the pharmaceuticals and chemicals sectors, while consumer goods industries are also becoming more innovative in their use of production processes.All these sectors have mobility and innovation at their heart, and envisage that the global movement of personnel will grow. The link between innovation and the global mobility function is therefore fundamental.

Sourcing the best talent

One of the key challenges facing STEM industries relates to talent. Traditionally, girls have not followed STEM subjects at school; this leads, of course, to fewer young women than young men taking university subjects in these disciplines. In turn, this results in a gender imbalance in graduates with relevant tertiary qualifications.Engineering is a prime example. The major expatriate employers (oil and gas and engineering) rely on talent development, using graduate trainees on their international mobility programmes to build competencies for their future workforces. It is clear from the current profile of expatriate gender diversity in these sectors – which is significantly lower than the all-industry average – that such industries are missing out on the wider perspectives that a diverse workforce brings.In the short to medium term, the UK will need to demonstrate its commitment to innovation as it prepares to leave the EU. To forge ahead with potential new trade partners, its emphasis, as a nation, on innovation and technology will come under scrutiny. Its ability to draw upon the very best talent from all of its workforce will also be of vital importance if it is to succeed.Looking ahead, the UK will need to ensure that diversity, in all its forms, is harnessed in such a way that it can deliver successfully in an increasingly competitive global market.It is therefore important to ensure that the value of STEM careers is promoted as widely as possible.

Raising STEM awareness

Relocate is taking action to widen awareness of STEM subjects by working with a range of stakeholders to develop interest in this field, and thus helping to address both the talent and the gender diversity agenda. This is of major significance.The tenth-anniversary Relocate Awards gala dinner, held at the enthralling venue of the Science Museum, drew attention to the marvels of science. Relocate aims to inspire global mobility professionals to consider the STEM discipline in their everyday activities and work with clients to encourage innovation in the transfer of personnel into new locations.So how can the relocation industry and global mobility professionals play a part? Given that the STEM challenge lies in children’s early years, the schools sector has a major role to play.Relocate has great links with international schools, so its initiative to promote awareness of STEM careers is of direct relevance to this sector. Raising awareness of the value and benefits of STEM careers to expatriates’ children attending international schools is one avenue that should be followed.Relocation management firms that work with their clients to help with policy design addressing expatriate selection can draw attention to the value of diversity and assist in the development of gender-bias-free selection processes. Global mobility and HR professionals in organisations could consider promoting female networks and role models to support gender-diversity initiatives, as these have been found to help raise the profile of expatriate careers for women, especially in ‘masculine’ STEM sectors.There is much to be done to link global mobility, innovation and STEM. And the time to promote this is now.Read more about current issues facing global mobility professionals in the Summer issue of our magazineAccess hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory  Get access to our free Global Mobility Toolkit ^{© 2017. This article first appeared in the Summer 2017 edition of Relocate magazine, published by Profile Locations, Spray Hill, Hastings Road, Lamberhurst, Kent TN3 8JB. All rights reserved. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Profile Locations. Profile Locations accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed herein.}