Large Housing Association
The large housing association, formed from the merger of two major entities, faced an urgent need for specialised IT and change management personnel to support their integration and optimisation efforts. To address these needs, they initiated a tender process and selected four recruitment agencies for their Preferred Supplier List (PSL), including us.
The Requirement
The primary objectives of the recruitment drive were to fill critical IT and change management positions to support the merger, ensure a seamless recruitment process to minimise disruption, and develop a strong partnership with the housing association to understand their specific needs and cultural fit for new hires.
How We Helped
We engaged closely with the housing association's HR and management teams to gain a deep understanding of their organisational culture, specific role requirements, and long-term goals. Dedicated teams with expertise in IT and change management were assigned to handle the recruitment process, ensuring a focused and knowledgeable approach. We implemented a rigorous screening and interview process to identify candidates with the required technical skills and the ability to integrate well into the housing association's culture. Additionally, we built and maintained a robust pipeline of potential candidates through proactive sourcing, networking, and leveraging our extensive industry connections.
During the recruitment process, we encountered several challenges: high competition as one of four agencies on the PSL, evolving needs and role specifications due to the complexity of the merger, and ensuring candidates were a good cultural fit. To overcome these challenges, we designed bespoke recruitment campaigns for high-priority roles, highlighting the unique opportunities and benefits of working with the housing association. We established a feedback loop with hiring managers to quickly adjust candidate search parameters and improve alignment with evolving needs. We also focused on providing an exceptional candidate experience, from initial contact through to onboarding, to attract top talent and reduce drop-off rates. Furthermore, we implemented a targeted outreach program to ensure a diverse pool of candidates, emphasising our commitment to creating an inclusive workforce that reflects the community served by the housing association.
Results
Our strategic and proactive approach led to outstanding results:
- Top Supplier Status: We successfully placed over 50% of the housing association's vacancies, becoming their top recruitment supplier.
- Permanent and Contract Placements: Placed both permanent and contract resources, ensuring the housing association had the flexibility to meet immediate needs and long-term objectives.
- Time Efficiency: Reduced the time spent by hiring managers in the hiring process by requiring fewer interviews, thanks to our thorough screening process. This resulted in a 30% reduction in time-to-hire, allowing managers to focus more on their core responsibilities.
- Diverse Workforce: Ensured a diverse and inclusive candidate pool, resulting in a workforce that better reflects the community and enhances team dynamics.
- High Retention Rates: The candidates we placed demonstrated strong performance and high retention rates, contributing positively to the housing association’s stability and growth.
- Strategic Partnership: Our successful placements and collaborative approach solidified our partnership with the housing association, positioning us as a trusted advisor for their ongoing recruitment needs.
In conclusion, our tailored and strategic recruitment efforts not only met the immediate needs of the housing association but also established a foundation for their future success. Our ability to adapt to their evolving requirements, combined with our focus on quality and efficiency, ensured a seamless and effective recruitment process during a critical period of transformation.