Demystifying Workforce Planning with Tina Pholi

Queensland’s manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of the state’s economy, driving innovation and growth across diverse industries.

The Industry Workforce Advisor program, funded by the Queensland Government and delivered by Manufacturing Skills Queensland, is at the forefront of this evolution, offering vital support to small and medium manufacturers as they navigate the complexities of workforce planning.

We sat down with Tina Pholi, Industry Workforce Advisor, to discuss the program’s impact and the transformative power of effective workforce planning.

Demystifying workforce planning

“Workforce planning often sounds like just words until you’ve got someone to walk you through the process,” says Tina.

The program aims to demystify this crucial business strategy, offering hands-on support to businesses of all sizes.

“Effective workforce planning acts as a strategic guide for your business,” Tina explains.

“It helps navigate the complexities of talent management, ensuring your organisation is well-positioned to meet current and future workforce needs.”

“Increasingly I’m seeing small and medium-sized businesses embrace workforce planning as a tool that provides a foundation for growth.

“Small businesses are using it to support attraction and retention, and medium sized businesses are using it to run alongside production growth strategies – ensuring that they have the right employees and the right skill to operate new equipment and meet production demands,” says Tina.

Key benefits of strategic workforce planning

The benefits of workforce planning extend far beyond basic staffing considerations. Here’s how:

1. Futureproofing: Develop a talent pipeline to meet future needs and stay ahead of industry trends.
2. Workforce insight: Gain a comprehensive view of your current workforce structure, allowing for improved resource allocation and skill gap identification.
3. Targeted training: Develop focused training plans to enhance employee capabilities and boost productivity.
4. Succession planning: Prepare for leadership transitions and preserve institutional knowledge.
5. Cost-effective recruitment: Reduce hiring costs and attract top talent with a well-structured workforce strategy.

“Effective workforce planning can be a game-changer for businesses in today’s competitive market,” Tina explains.

“Workforce planning gives you a birds-eye view of your business, so that if you need to make changes, and be agile, you can do so in a strategic way”

The power of action plans and getting started

A cornerstone of the program is the development of tailored action plans.

“Building an action plan allows you to systematically work through to grow your workforce,” Tina explains.

“These plans provide a roadmap for businesses, ensuring that workforce development aligns with overall business objectives. Part of my role is to work with manufacturers to develop an action plan.

“Following an initial consultation meeting, I prepare a draft action plan for the business owner or manager. The plan is aligned to our discussions around strategic positioning, challenges and growth plans. I build in opportunities for government funding, tools and resources to support business achieve their goals.

For small businesses looking to take advantage of this opportunity, Tina’s advice is straightforward: “Just get started and reach out for support because it’s there.” The program offers a step-by-step approach:

1. An initial meeting to understand business challenges and goals
2. Guided use of planning tools and resources
3. Development of a tailored action plan

To learn more about how the Industry Workforce Advisor program can benefit your business, please contact Manufacturing Skills Queensland. Take the first step towards building a workforce that’s ready for the future.

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The Industry Workforce Advisor program is an initiative of the Queensland Government, designed to support small and medium sized businesses enabling them to address workforce challenges, diversify their workforces, and support workforce growth.

The Industry Workforce Advisor program is funded by the Queensland Government as part of the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032.