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August 2023 - Business Support

43% of HR leaders believe that HR business partners are not prepared for future requirements of role: A survey of senior figures in HR has revealed that more than two-fifths of them believe that HR business partners (HRBPs) are not prepared for the future requirements of their role. 

The survey was conducted by Corporate Research Forum and consisted of interviews with HR leaders as well as a digital survey of people in HR roles. It found that 95% of respondents are currently using HRBPs. The research found a disparity between the perceptions by HRBPs in terms of their competency and where HR leaders believe they need to be for the future. 

Nine out of 10 respondents said that adopting a strategic mindset would become even more critical over the coming years, with 42% of HRBPs saying they were 'highly competent' in this area. However, just 12% of HR leaders said they believe their HRBPs are highly competent in adopting a critical mindset. 

While 22% of HRBPs said they believe themselves to be prepared for being 'digitally enabled' and highly competent in using and applying technology effectively, just 9% of HR leaders said they believe this to be true. Furthermore, while 38% of HRBPs said they believe they are highly competent in understanding the importance of commercial awareness, just one in 5 HR leaders said they believed this to be the case (20%). 

Gemma Dale, senior lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University said: “It is interesting that HR leaders, who are essentially responsible for the development and activity of HR business partners, are however seeing them as wanting. In terms of addressing the gap, those HR leaders need to clearly articulate what the role of the HR business partner needs to be within their own organisations and provide the development activity needed to fill the gap.”

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