In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving landscape, businesses must continually look for innovative ways to stay agile, competitive and responsive to market demands. When it comes to recruitment, integrating a flexible staffing solution can offer a myriad of benefits to both employers and professionals navigating the complexities of today’s dynamic market. In this blog, we’ll explore the advantages of embracing temporary or interim recruitment and how it can be a game-changer for businesses in tackling the challenges of tomorrow.
Flexibility and Agility
Temporary or interim recruitment provides companies with the flexibility to scale their workforce according to fluctuating demands. Whether it's an unexpected project, a short- term gap in staffing or a seasonal upswing, temporary or interim professionals can seamlessly integrate into existing teams, ensuring that businesses can adapt quickly to changing circumstances, without the long-term commitment of permanent hires. “In the financial sector, year-end is a very tricky and high-pressured period, due to deadlines and reports that need finalising,” comments Sam Mercer, Temporaries Controller at Howett Thorpe. “Temporary or interim help can be crucial for many companies to help support the existing workforce during this time.”
Cost-Savings
The hiring, onboarding (and, on the occasions the hire isn’t quite right, firing) of employees comes with significant costs, both in terms of time and resources. Temporary or Interim recruitment eliminates the need for a lengthy recruitment process and also minimises training expenses as the temp should come fully trained in the skills gap they have been hired to fill.
Speed of hire
When faced with sudden departures or unexpected staff shortages, maintaining productivity becomes a significant concern. The ability to hire someone who can hit the ground running ensures projects can stay on track and deadlines are met, preventing disruptions to workflow.
Reduced Risk
The business landscape is filled with uncertainties and committing to permanent hires in an unpredictable environment can be risky. Interim recruitment mitigates this risk by providing a trial period where companies can evaluate a professional’s fit within the organisation before considering a more permanent arrangement. This reduces the potential for costly hiring mistakes.
Expertise on Demand
Businesses often require specialised skills for short-term projects or to navigate specific challenges. Using a recruiter to hire temporary or interim staff allows organisations to access a pool of highly-skilled specialised talent without the need for a prolonged hiring process so these sorts of projects can be completed efficiently and to the highest standard. “Temps often have experience of working in multiple different companies and environments and so can be highly beneficial to SMEs and PLCs,” says Sam.
A Fresh Perspective
Temporary or interim professionals often bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table. Their exposure to diverse industries and experiences allows them to approach challenges with creativity, injecting new life into projects. This can be particularly valuable for companies seeking to break away from traditional norms and embrace a culture of continuous improvement. “Not only can they bring their expertise to the table but also showcase unique skills that junior staff in the team could benefit from,” adds Sam.
About Sam Mercer
“When I finished university, just like most other students, I had no idea what I wanted to become but when I found recruitment, it just felt like the perfect fit – helping people on their journey to become the best individual they could be, sounded great! I started my recruitment journey in a busy office in London, recruiting Finance professionals from all over the UK into the public sector and non-profit organisations. This enabled me to find the best individuals to help an extremely busy local authority with extreme pressures to thrive during tricky periods. I then made the move to the private sector and joined the well-established Howett Thorpe, where I am continuing to help interim and temporary contractors find suitable roles across Surrey and Hampshire.”
Howett Thorpe is a recruitment specialist offering services in business support and finance. To learn how we can help you master recruitment and retention at your organisation, call 01252 718777 or email farnham@howett-thorpe.co.uk.
How we’ve helped some of our clients with temporary and interim recruitment
“Sam stepped in when we were struggling to fill an urgent vacancy directly. He listened and fully understood our requirement – his first recommendation was our perfect candidate. Will be going back to Sam again, a joy to work with.”
Finance Manager in Godalming
“Sam has worked hard at developing our relationship, knows how I like to be contacted and how not to put me under additional pressure with constant calls. He knows how I work and what key skills and looking for in candidates as well as what candidates not to send me! Sam makes the relationship easy in addition to always finding a solution to my recruitment needs. He is at the top of the list when a recruitment need arises,”
Assistant Finance Director in Guildford