McCarthy & Stone is the UK’s leading retirement housebuilder. The only housebuilder of any size or type to achieve a 5-star rating for customer satisfaction, awarded by the Home Builders Federation every year since the awards began. Their developments are located across eight regions, typically in well-connected central locations, close to or in town centres, averaging around 40 apartments.
They offer three unique age-exclusive retirement accommodation options; Retirement Living for those who enjoy their privacy and independence with some shared social facilities. Retirement Living PLUS, for those requiring a little more help and support, and Lifestyle Living for active over 55s.
The extensive use of agency workers is a fundamental feature of McCarthy & Stone’s recruitment strategy for site based contingent labour. Requiring a very wide range of skilled workers at short notice for varying lengths of assignments.
The Background
McCarthy & Stone traditionally have contracted directly, via the hiring community, with a number of agencies to provide the contractors and agency workers they need, the potential issues:
- Complex recruitment profile, over 160 sites nationwide
- Multiple independent hiring managers across over
- Inconsistent processes
- Variable performance and quality
- Potential issues with contractor eligibility and compliance
- Lack of coordination across companies and contracts
- Lack of visibility and transparency
- Limited centralised control of costs
- Group leverage not being maximised
This means that McCarthy & Stone were working with an entirely unrationalised recruitment solution with potential risks, and various opportunities not being explored.
The Solution
Datum RPO proposed a completely different approach, demonstrating that a Vendor Neutral solution would deliver the structure, impartiality, transparency and scalability needed to provide the flexibility and meet the demands that McCarthy & Stone required.
Datum worked with McCarthy & Stone to fully understand and integrate their current and future supply requirements and then worked with existing providers, whilst appointing any required new providers. All panel providers are rigorously screened and audited, and are all signed up to a standardised set of contractual terms, service levels and key performance indicators. In addition, Datum also implemented a bespoke On-Line Management Portal to provide vital management information, enforced compliance management, single invoicing and to also automate many of the time consuming and repetitive administrative tasks.
Since contract award Datum have become fully integrated into the McCarthy & Stone operations, and are now providing the full end-to-end management of all site based contract labour requirements.
Datum have delivered a fully managed solution which provides a robust supplier network capable of providing 100% of McCarthy & Stone’s site based labour requirements throughout the UK, that can grow as McCarthy & Stone’s requirements develop, whilst at the same time providing the assured compliance, management information and auditability to ensure that McCarthy & Stone can focus on the activities that really matter to their business.
Key Elements of the Solution
- Significant Cost Reductions
- Improved Performance
- Total Transparency
- Extensive compliance checks and audit process
- 68 Panel Suppliers Managed
- A range in excess of 90 roles provided to date
The Result
There was a phased implementation regionally across the group which demonstrated to the company the functionality and success of incorporating a Datum solution within the organisation. The implementation was seamless and quoted as one of the best McCarthy & Stone had ever experienced. A complete implementation of the solution had been achieved as proposed by engaging with all suppliers and standardising their contractual and commercial terms, implementing a technology system to ensure robust total visibility and control was delivered back into the hands of the business users whilst providing full systems and process support to the hiring community through a programme of webinars, telephone support and one-to-one on-site meetings.
Datum were also quick to address client concerns over quality and compliance within their existing supply chain and conducted comprehensive on-site and remote audits of all incumbent workers. These audits uncovered numerous compliance and process deficiencies within McCarthy & Stone’s existing supply chain which were all addressed by the introduction of robust action plans and follow-up meetings to ensure standards were raised and compliance was achieved, thereby eliminating all risk to McCarthy & Stone.
Client Testimonial
“As temporary labour makes up a significant amount of our company spend we were keen to explore opportunities to make its procurement more compliant and cost effective. Datum RPO’s solution to manage our existing supply allowed the business to continue relationships they have had for a number of years. By adding in cost savings and a robust compliance & audit programme we have more comfort that the business is hiring compliant and relevant resource. It’s also been great to have access to a complete overview of where we spend our money, with who and on what. Datum RPO’s support has allowed us to focus on other areas of our business that need our attention. I’ve really enjoyed working with the Datum team over the last 12 months and look forward to our continued partnership.”
Ed Dring – Procurement Category Manager
McCarthy & Stone
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