Seasonal temp requirements

Seasonal temp requirements

For a successful business model, it is vital that a sustainable recruitment strategy is in place and any such strategy should include considerations to facilitate temporary workers, a group that is in particularly high demand. So just how important is it to use seasonal temps to plug the skills gap?
Seasonal recruitment needs often arise and many businesses always look to recruit cyclically. Around year-end, a few organisations will need finance staff and retail organisations normally require extra staff around the busy Christmas period. In summer, many students enter the market looking for work. What we are seeing now is that more temporary workers are being recruited for specific projects and due to skill set shortages throughout the year. 
According to recent research carried out by Lindsay Judge, the senior policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, 29% of organisations said that temporary workers were used because they were unable to fill vacancies, while 25% said specialist skills were behind their need for agency staff. With this in mind, the need for temporary workers is vital for many organisations to be able to function in their everyday tasks, and ensure that they meet the basic requirements of their specific functions.
These workers with a particular skill set can often be seen moving from project to project very quickly to fill in any skill gaps, whilst organisations get core staff trained and up to speed. However, it has been widely reported that candidate availability for both permanent and temporary roles has fallen sharply. So how can employers navigate this downturn?
It is vital to have a good relationship with a recruitment consultant who knows your organisation and the market well, and that consultant can make organisations aware of market trends and potential pitfalls that may arise. The consultant will also be automatically aware of projects and look out for any upcoming recruitment needs within the organisation in advance to ensure that employers don’t get caught in the downturn. This would also allow the consultant to make the organisation aware of temporary workers who would be a ‘good fit’ as and when they become available. The relationship would allow the consultant to manage the temporary worker closely so that they would be more likely to stay for the duration of a long-term project, and with the market being competitive and candidate short, this can be vital in preventing candidates from being “poached”. With this in mind, communication on both sides is vital. 

Overall, the core need of the temporary recruitment market remains consistent around the UK, although there are always going to be slight regional differences around temporary workers concerning differences in skill sets needed according to industry/geographical sectors. Also, when we examine the make-up of temps, e.g. antipodeans, they tend to work in larger cities and stay in a role for a set time, then move on. Those looking to hire a temporary member of staff will need to move quickly to ensure that they do not miss out on that worker. A good temp will invariably receive multiple offers from different organisations in a very short space of time and will not wait around during a slow recruitment process.

Advantages that a skilled temporary hire can bring to a business

  • Access to specialist skills – there may be an area of your organisation which requires a specialist approach and skills which aren't currently in-house. A temp option allows you to access these skills with immediate effect. They can also, in turn, train internal staff to ensure that the specialist skills remain in the organisation long term.  

  • Flexibility – temp staff offer a great deal of flexibility because there are so many different approaches you can take to hiring temp workers. You can always find a solution to match your specific requirements. 

  • Immediate impact – regular employee absences impact the overall productivity and output of your business, so might the need for maternity cover, or the high demands of peak periods. Hiring temp cover alleviates the pressure you might feel during these periods and can ensure that your business runs smoothly, while key members of staff are away. 

  • The chance to hire permanently – you will often find that the person you have hired on a temporary basis has added a huge amount of value to your organisation. Hiring such a person permanently offers a favourable solution for everyone involved. You can bring someone in who you already know and trust, and they won’t need time to get up to speed. 

If you would like to talk to Page Personnel about your temporary hire needs, then please contact your local office and we will be happy to advise you on the next steps to take.
Bradley Glen
Operating Director, Page Personnel Public Sector
M: +447717148858