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Temporary Workforce Management - Q&A

Our director Simon Woodhouse has been devising and implementing Managed Solutions for over 21 years working with a variety of clients.

We have asked him about his approach to Temporary Workforce Managed Solutions and the success he has had. Read his answers below.

Which sectors have you personally implemented Temporary Workforce Solutions into?

The biggest project I have worked on was way back in 1995 within the Automotive sector when a Managed Service was first introduced to Europe, and since then I have successfully devised and delivered solutions for the Oil & Gas, Utilities and Nuclear market sectors.

How long does a project take to implement?

It really depends on the scale of the project. I worked with one client who required greater cost control and compliance; their initial structure took 4 months, whilst a follow on launch, that also required setting up a new office and solution in the Caribbean, took an amazingly short period of only 4 weeks. Another client I worked with needed a solution to manage their permanent staff and their contractors. The first part took 14 weeks to implement, with the Permanent element adding just 3 weeks. So you can see it does vary greatly.

How often would you recommend a Managed Solutions Provider be involved in the operation of the solution once implemented?

I would always recommend a long term solution over a quick fix. A robust Managed Solution takes time and a lot of planning to implement, one that will create significant efficiencies and on-going savings the longer it continues. By embedding an on-site presence from the start also ensures consistently high standards and compliance for the client. I have worked with clients on solutions for a few months to set up a project and then let them run the service, but more often than not I have gone on to work with clients for 5 to 10 years thereafter.

Can you give us any examples of Temporary Workforce Managed Solutions you have been involved with?

Example 1:

Scope and solution - One Oil & Gas client I worked with had an overseas asset which deployed 55 contractors from 20 suppliers, billing in 5 different currencies. They were struggling to effectively manage visas, tax compliance, meet and greet and the general duty of care to their contractors. They particularly needed help to set up the service under strict Caribbean in-country laws, maintaining a close working relationship whilst exploring future opportunities in Central/South/North America.

I organised a team to visit the island to map the process, scope the supply chain and establish the key deliverables for the client. The consultation and analysis stage is vital to getting the right solution. We selected a local service team, setting up a new company (registration, tax and VAT) and finally implementing the service. This in-country presence was vital in understanding what the client wanted and what compliance was needed in the Caribbean.

Delivery - The service went live and billed on time with a tax and VAT compliant invoice. All of the suppliers signed the new terms, were trained and then billed via the new service. In addition all of the contractors were registered, trained and billed via the newly introduced technology part of the solution.

Example 2:

Scope and solution – Another Oil & Gas client I worked with had 120 contractors supplied via 70 UK and International agencies. There were inconsistent terms & conditions with both the agencies and the contractors. There was also a lack of control over spend, with the added complexity of having to manage billing in 4 currencies. They needed to ensure greater compliance and cost control whilst improving recruitment within their sector.

I organised a team and we spent a couple of weeks fully mapping out the process, meeting with all the parties involved within the Requisition, Offer, Purchase Order issuing, On-boarding and Payment processes. Time was taken to ensure the process covered all individual needs and possible circumstances. The Supplier Relations team scoped out the supply chain, established the key deliverables for the client and the supply chain. Finally the team recommended and implemented underpinning technology (a Vendor Management Platform) that could manage the scale and variants of the project.

Delivery – I managed the team to ensure that all services promised were delivered on time, implementing technology to better manage their compliance. In fact there were no invoicing errors in the 4 years that followed the implementation of the service, with a 100% success in the annual audits.

What evidence have you seen of a Temporary Managed Solution delivering results?

When I’ve worked with clients and have implemented solutions I have seen…

A client make savings in excess of 300% of the management fee charged
Clients able to easily manage tax and VAT compliant invoicing
Clients generally making significant savings and gaining greater visibility of the whole solution
An Oil & Gas client drive down costs and increase the quantity and quality of candidates by better management of suppliers

Contact us

If you would like to find out more about a workforce solution could benefit your business, contact us today on 01925 907008 or email enquiry@operamms.com

Testimonials

I have worked with Simon as a supplier for nearly 20 years. During this time, I have always found that the solutions are very effective for suppliers. He instils the right balance for both the client and supplier, where the services are fair, open and responsive. There is no doubt that the client and the supply relationships are their focus. These are services we are happy to support wherever we can.

MD Recruitment Company

November 2016

I have worked with Simon Woodhouse for over 10 years and during this time I have received first class service as a recruiter. The flow of information has always kept us in touch with requirements.

The solution (both the technology & the team assembled) were intuitive and responsive to our needs. The job descriptions have been detailed and meaningful. It is apparent that Simon has an excellent knowledge of market trends and client/candidate expectations. So as a recruiter I have found that this information has been invaluable in sourcing the right people for the end client. It has been evident that Simon forms first class relationships with both the supplying recruitment agencies and the end client.

I would recommend Simon to any potential client or recruitment company.

Recruitment Manager

November 2016

When presented with a challenge to support our Permanent Recruitment challenge, Simon responded with a very cost effective, and comprehensive solution, that we relied heavily upon during a major restructuring exercise. So much so, that once the initial phase came to an end we retained the service. The support provided to the HR teams and the hiring managers was second to none, and it became an integral part of our operations.

HR Manager

September 2016

We had an opportunity to restructure our approach in regards to how we utilised contract labour and recruitment. The burden to the company had become significant, and major change was required. The experience Simon bought to the Change Management project was a key component behind its success. The level of buy-in to the program from within our organisation, and down into the supply chain was a credit to Simon and his team.

SCM Manager

October 2016

I have known Simon for 20 years and in that time Simon has been my colleague, my manager and my mentor. Simon is a very kind and thoughtful person, but will ensure the job is done to the best of his and his team’s ability. His management style is one of a consultative approach and leadership, allowing the team to be part of the bigger picture and ownership of the project in hand, but being there for support and guidance when required. He has a very comprehensive understanding of Procurement and the Managed Service Process, which has allowed him to manage some very successful implementations and on-going business. A great asset to any organisation.