Healthcare communications is facing a 2020s challenge
How do you fit a World of Difference into a state-of-the-art new office?
Obviously, you don’t! This morning’s April Fool’s Day announcement gave us a few much-needed laughs. Our Head of the Creative Difference Stuart Mayell had us all going for a few moments with his latest big idea about a futuristic London office that would be the physical manifestation of all our virtual dreams.
A big thank you to colleagues and clients who joined in the fun with their imaginative social media suggestions of facilities we could add to our newly architected workspace in the clouds (and not the digital kind!). Our favourites included pineapple owl artwork, an entire wing of facilities for our canine friends, bird and wildlife soundtracks, wine fridges, direct garden access and a large selection of blankets!
Of course, The Difference Collective could never be permanently contained in a single office. With nearly four years of successful virtual operation behind us and a track record of virtual clients and projects that we’re all proud of, there’s no question of a return to conventional ways of working for us. Our purpose-built virtual model has liberated talented healthcare communications people to unleash their passion and expertise to work wherever they want, when they want, without limits.
Angie Wiles, Founder of The Difference Collective said: ‘Our pool of Collective talent is just one way to retain exceptional skills that would otherwise be lost to our industry. But since 2020, the whole of our working world has changed for good. The pandemic has amplified demands and pressures which have long assailed healthcare communications: the need for flexibility, diversity and sustainability, and the twin evils of burnout and bore-out. All this comes at a time when the Health and Pharma industry has never been more vital to the health of the globe.
The world isn’t going back – so what’s the next step for all of us in healthcare communications? Together, we face issues that could fuel a talent exodus that The Difference Collective certainly can’t battle alone, proud as we are of our Different, agile model.
Commercial pressure and competition are creating a void in middle management learning and support for juniors and those starting their healthcare communications careers. Meanwhile, at the top of our profession, there’s a feeling among successful senior management that it’s a lonely and isolated place. Great people won’t stick around when the future doesn’t look flexible – they’ll turn their talents to more enlightened career paths.
Angie continued: “We’re all proud to be a part of a thriving Healthcare Communications industry and we want to keep it that way. So, what can we do to support current and future talent growth, development and retention and to facilitate a truly diverse population of colleagues to work in whatever way they wish?
“We don’t yet have all the answers. But we’d like to share what we’ve learned so far and also learn from others in our fantastic, creative and influential sector. We’ll be reaching out next week to ask colleagues, clients and industry groups how we can collaborate to tackle the 2020s talent challenge for all of us.”
If you want to join the conversation about talent retention, growth and development in the forever changed world of healthcare communications, please get in touch via social media or directly and let’s work together to help secure the future of this increasingly vital industry.
Angie Wiles, Founder of The Difference Collective, has worked in healthcare communications for over 30 years, ultimately building one of the most successful UK healthcare consultancies. Throughout her career, she has constantly looked to do things differently and make a difference to the healthcare communications industry.
