Context
In 2018 we were approached by a leading energy data company to audit their recruitment process with the aim of streamlining their approach to support their growth plans.
Challenge
Prior to our partnership, the energy data company relied heavily on external recruitment agencies to hire, which was proving to be a costly and time-consuming method of attracting talent. There was a small, dedicated hiring team, and commercially, the company was growing at a very fast pace as well as going through a full rebrand, making it even more difficult to hire. It was clear that they needed to reduce the amount of time that was being spent on recruitment by their hiring managers, so they could focus on their own roles and ensure they were driving the business forward. To ensure the company was reaching their recruitment goals, we identified there was a need for an onsite team and an RPO solution for the business.
Our Solution
Flexhuis appointed two full-time onsite Resource Partners who were embedded fully into the People Operations team in the business. Together with the Resourcing Manager, new recruitment processes were implemented as well as a brand new ATS (Applicant Tracking System), Taleo, where all recruitment processes were easily accessed and managed. The onsite RPO team was fully embedded, with company branding, laptops, and e-mail addresses meaning all of the recruitment, internal, direct, and agency, was managed by the team.
Before embedding the team, Flexhuis worked closely with the Head of People Operations as well as the Resourcing Manager to understand the pain points of the current processes. They began to design improvements, ensuring a consistent recruitment process and onboarding experience for both permanent employees and contractors.
After setting initial goals, the next stage of our solution involved implementing the RPO services and ensuring all parties involved, internally – including hiring managers and externally – including 3rd party recruitment agencies – were aware of the long-term cost saving and advantages of using an RPO solution. We achieved this by increasing our presence onsite to ensure we got to know the business, the hiring managers, and their needs. This was fundamental to fully embedding the RPO team within the business. We then got to know all parts of the organization and split the recruitment responsibility between our two Resource Partners onsite. This meant that Hiring Managers knew exactly who to turn to when a new role was coming up.
To support some large programs of work, we successfully hired and onboarded hundreds of contractors to help the business deliver on critical projects. Flexhuis needed to ensure the company was fully compliant with new IR35 laws, therefore new processes were implemented which the onsite RPO team managed. All onboarding of contractors was therefore processed and owned by Flexhuis, including background and reference checks. Direct sourcing also increased to 66%, meaning the business reduced the overall amount spent on external agencies, whilst still having access to some of their preferred and best performing suppliers. Longer term, we also helped increase awareness of the organisation’s brand and employer value proposition by co-hosting events in the area which Flexhuis sponsored and inviting the CEO to be the keynote speaker at national events with thousands of attendees. During this period, the company received a 4+ rating on Glassdoor.
Results
Our RPO solution was successful in improving the company’s recruitment strategy ensuring they successfully hit their talent acquisition objectives. The Flexhuis RPO team facilitated higher quality and faster hires, delivering contractor hires at pace, allowing for efficient delivery of critical projects while reducing the overall 3rd party agency spend.
We cemented a strong and enduring partnership grounded in trust by implementing a rigorous IR35 process to guarantee the compliance of all contractors, coupled with the successful completion of annual IR35 audits.
Our solution also had a positive impact on their overall candidate experience, with direct communication between candidates and internal talent teams leading to more transparent and efficient communication throughout the hiring process, as well as improving the onboarding process ensuring new starters received the best possible onboarding experience. This created a faster and more streamlined hiring process leading to an improved reputation amongst candidates in the market.
As part of our RPO solution, we developed a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) roadmap, assisting our client with DE&I initiatives, providing DE&I statistics, and providing the business with exclusive access to our extensive Flexhuis training webinars to improve their diversity and inclusion outcomes. Additionally, the client was able to increase brand awareness for their organization through co-arranged events via their partnership with Flexhuis.
To find out more about Flexhuis RPO solution click here or contact us at hello.usa@flexhuisglobal.com
