Case Studies
Manufacturing Company
Background
The manufacturing sector has faced considerable pressures and challenges in recent years. The export of production capacity to Eastern Europe and the Far East has created competitive pressure resulting in cost, inventory and lead-time reduction programmes and consolidation in production capacity. This has meant that companies need to develop a flexible and agile response to meet customer needs. All these changes have resulted in the sector becoming less attractive as an employer of choice, which creates difficulties in recruiting both skilled and unskilled employees.
The Problem
Our client, although very successful in their market sector understood that the changes in the business environment meant that they would need an increased volume of both skilled and unskilled people who could meet the fluctuation in demands throughout the year. It was particularly important that production lines were fully staffed to avoid any negative impact on efficiency and output levels, downtime was minimised and administration was streamlined and efficient.
The Solution
Utilising our extensive supplier network we were able source significant numbers of EU citizens who are now eligible to work in the UK. The advantage of this approach meant that many had the relevant skills and capabilities although these needed to developed and refined to meet the clients specific needs. This was achieved by implementing a comprehensive training programme which as well as delivering workplace and job knowledge also included an assessment of individual skills and enabled the people to make an immediate contribution when they commenced in the production facility. Senate was the single point of contact and provided a 24/7 contact point in order to respond immediately to changes in production requirements. We were able to meet the fluctuating demand cycle by sourcing through our supplier network and achieving optimum fulfilment levels with positive effect on our clients business performance.
Public Sector
Background
All areas of the public sector are under increasing pressure to reduce costs and improve efficiency but at the same time deliver increased levels of service to their respective clients, customers or patients. Outsourcing services is now an established feature in the public sector but in some areas providers have been criticised for not delivering service levels and envisaged cost savings have not in every case materialised.
The Problem
Our client, a large provincial council had ongoing resourcing requirements for a variety of different skills and knowledge areas. Functional Heads managed their own recruitment utilising the services of different agencies and other people providers. This created a major problem in managing the recruitment budget particularly as different rates for permanent and temporary staff were being negotiated. It also created significant additional administration work dealing with invoices and time sheets from the different providers.
The Solution
We were able to involve all Functional Heads and HR to discuss the issue and agree the way forward to reduce costs and improve administration. Senate Recruitment were appointed the preferred supplier to resource the Council's requirements and all vacancies and temporary staff were channelled through ourselves. Because of the wide range of roles we developed a network of both High Street agencies for office and administration staff and specialist providers for technical, management and professional staff. Some recent appointments have included a senior Legal Specialist, Environmental Health and Finance. We also negotiated a single rate for permanent placements and agreed scales for temporary employees. Senate is the single contact point for all resource requirements and associated paperwork, invoices etc. This resulted in a significant reduction in administration time and costs.