When we receive a call to say, ‘can you help’ and ‘what will it cost’ we always think using an agency is so much more than those two predictable questions.
We have many questions to ask a new client too – it’s a two-way street of course. Some use an agency for flexible labour where they have seasonal trends and others use one for their own ease if they just don’t have the capacity to carry out their own recruitment internally.
Using a the most recent enquiry as a live example seems appropriate in this topic-
I contacted a local company who is regulated by the GLAA. The Gangmaster Licensing and Abuse Authority was born in 2007 following the tragedy at Morecombe Bay when the Chinese cockle pickers sadly died. Agencies providing temporary labour into this sector must have a licence. When contacting companies within the sector, this is one of the first things I speak about. We must have a licence to supply, but more importantly it gives the end user the confidence that we supply legally and meet the licence standards. If they haven’t heard about the GLAA, this would be a real concern. Great news, they had and great news they were glad that I had offered a copy of my licence before they asked for it!
The company has been struggling over the past few months to find enough seasonal staff to join them. Not only is the environment a challenging one, but it’s also long hours and real hard graft. Fairly easy to get to each day, with free parking and a staff canteen. People start with all good intentions but after a few days within the role, they drop off and do not want to return. The revolving wheel goes around again. So… how do agencies stop this and how do agencies help?
How can agencies help the client?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand what the client needs help with. Often it starts as one thing but by the end of the fact-finding exercise it becomes so much more.
By asking the right key questions, you can help in a way that the client hadn’t thought of. Agencies can take away the pressures of recruitment and leave the client to do what they do best.
What myths have you heard?
There will always be objectives. The myth is still there that using an agency is expensive – we must dispel the myth, it’s good value for money if the service is right, just like any other useful key service. If agencies provide exceptional staff, at a reasonable cost with exceptional service why wouldn’t you engage for help?
Make sure you chose the right agency.
Find the right agency – do they want to view your site; do they want to engage with your workforce to gain a better understanding of the culture within your business? Ask the agency if they do this or if they just see it as any other warehouse role and think ‘one size fits all?’ Ask how they vett the candidates – do they meet them face to face or is the registration process all on an online function?
Don’t recruit without an agency.
You want peace of mind, a fall-back position! By engaging with the right agency, it is a helpful tool for your team. If the agency takes the time to understand and learn about your business, it is the most useful resource for you. The agency can guide you with gaining better decision and in the long term you gain a satisfied and long term committed workforce from their expertise. The right agency will place themselves as an extension of your ‘in-house’ team, being able to recruit for them as they have all the knowledge to do so.
Compliance and Legislation confidence
Not all companies are aware of the latest legislation, so it’s vital that your agency informs you, ahead of any placements. All agencies will have a compliance department and you should ask for this information. They will be able to provide information to you to give you confidence that they are compliant. Look to see who they are affiliated with, such as governing bodies, memberships etc as this will give you a good indication of their compliance standards.
What’s in it for the candidates?
Agencies will carry out all the right to work checks which gives you confidence that your workers are permitted to work within the UK. Certainly, with many candidates arriving from outside of the UK, work permitted status is essential. Your agency will handle this as the consequence to failing on this are serious fines reaching into the thousands.
Provide accommodation? Provide transport? Should it be up to the agency to do this, or do they search for those who live locally and can make their own way to work. What about those who can’t? Some agencies are regulated in this regard with the GLAA – this must be considered when placing temps in those sectors. Not all agencies provide this service, please check at the point of initial contact.
Next hire – use an agency!
Quicker
Safer
Cost effective
Peace of mind