BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – A new effort aims to help Birmingham companies grow their workforces by showing the benefits of living and working in the city, as well as the successes of the companies that call it home.
The Birmingham Business Alliance has launched OnBoard Birmingham, an online hub of information to recruit new and talented professionals from outside the city and encourage them to build a life and career here.
On the website, users will be able to browse thousands of jobs, calculate their cost of living expenses and tour neighborhoods across the region.
They’ll also learn about the hometown firms that have made a significant mark on their industries, such as Shipt and Regions Bank, along with the entrepreneurial ecosystem that fuels future up-and-comers through business incubators, collaborative workspaces and seed-fund competitions.
Beyond that, users can read about unique benefits of living in Birmingham, such as:
- The James Beard Award-winning Highlands Bar & Grill and other standout local restaurants
- Nearby state parks, outdoor recreation areas and active running and cycling communities
- Music and theater scenes that feature the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Sidewalk Film Festival and more
- A rich and preserved history as a hub of the Civil Rights Movement
As it looked to launch OnBoard Birmingham, the BBA knew it could help local human resources professionals meet their hiring goals, said BBA President and CEO Kenny Coleman.
“Also, we found that many perceptions of Birmingham appear to be driven by a general lack of knowledge,” Coleman said.
“Through OnBoard Birmingham, we hope to show those who don’t live here why it is a great place to live, and those who do live here why it is a great place to stay.”
‘CONSISTENT MESSAGE’
OnBoard Birmingham evolved from Building (it) Together, a regional initiative that focused on aligning education, economic development and workforce development to fuel job growth in seven counties in and around Birmingham.
To develop the site, the BBA sought input from local job recruiters and also used the results of an external survey that showed participants knew little to nothing about Birmingham.
OnBoard Birmingham’s target audience is talent, talent managers, recruiters, human resources leaders and colleges and universities across Alabama.
Features include a job board that offers a keyword search of more than 28,000 positions, detailed information on the city’s neighborhoods, amenities and culture. There’s also a cost-of-living calculator that compares Birmingham with other cities, showing a 20 percent advantage when compared to the national average.
Karla Khodanian, manager of Talent and Higher Education Partnership at the BBA, said companies need a tool to show off the benefits of living in Birmingham.
“OnBoard Birmingham is that tool. This will provide a consistent message about Birmingham and the opportunities here, while highlighting our greatest asset – our people.”
The BBA plans to use OnBoard Birmingham as its main workforce development platform, partnering with colleges and universities to host virtual events highlighting the city. The site will soon include a recruiting toolkit and profiles of city business leaders.
Shipt and Regions Bank are the first featured employers on the site, but BBA is looking for others that want to participate too. The featured spots include company profiles and enhanced job listings.
