There is no doubt that last year was a tough one for everyone involved in supply chain and logistics adjusting to radically new trading conditions, becoming more agile to deal with rapid changes in the market, managing risk more effectively, and all the time continuing to reduce costs.
If logistic companies are not utilising the benefits of expert procurers of temporary agency labour they must keep abreast of cost, compliance and climate change challenges. We work closely with our clients to continue to rationalise their supply base and standardise rates as a means of improving service delivery and reducing costs, whilst monitoring agency performance against Key Performance Indicators help to maintain a high-quality of temporary agency workers, operating with a vendor neutral recruitment service provider ensures agencies are measured on performance.
The introduction of new principal contracts aimed at further minimising our clients' legal exposure, have also assisted logistic clients. Additional services include fuel efficiency driving schemes and software to aid and improve the driver assessment process for security, driver training and safety.
The effects of recession throughout 2009 were no less difficult for the logistics sector than they were for other industries. Logistics managers suffered a reduction in output as organisations slashed the volume of transport they required to cope with tough trading conditions. An alarming number of companies were reported as ignoring health and safety in an attempt to save costs, their managers risking jail in light of the Health and Safety Offences Act as of 16th January 2009 which made logistics employers personally accountable for the safety of their employees. Managers were also warned about putting too much pressure on their staff and causing work-related stress when the recession took hold.
Demand for temporary and contract drivers declined in 2008 and 2009. Logistics is a sector that is affected by the health of other sectors; therefore, the reduction in activity by other areas of the economy has had an impact upon logistics. There were fewer temporary agency jobs for drivers coming through to recruitment agencies in 2009 than in 2008, and profit margins for logistic companies have had an adverse effect on recruitment.
de Poel is the UK's number one purchaser of temporary agency labour in the UK, specialising in the procurement and management of temporary agency labour. We help companies to optimise their relationships with recruitment agencies, adding value, saving money, and improving standards across the use of temporary agency labour. Our web-based system e-tips® reduces administration and produces a wealth of real-time management information.
If logistic companies are not utilising the benefits of expert procurers of temporary agency labour they must keep abreast of cost, compliance and climate change challenges. We work closely with our clients to continue to rationalise their supply base and standardise rates as a means of improving service delivery and reducing costs, whilst monitoring agency performance against Key Performance Indicators help to maintain a high-quality of temporary agency workers.
The introduction of new principal contracts aimed at further minimising our clients' legal exposure, have also assisted logistic clients. Additional services include fuel efficiency driving schemes and software to aid and improve the driver assessment process for security, driver training and safety.
There are approximately 10,000 agencies operating in the UK, with no recruitment agency owning more than 4% of market share. As well as being fragmented, the recruitment industry is largely unregulated, which means many of the 10,000 recruitment agencies in the UK do not comply with legislation, leaving their clients legally exposed.
Logistic companies use multiple agencies across all locations for their temporary agency workers, with numerous recruitment agencies on board, logistic companies are often unaware of the wide range of pay rates, fees and terms and conditions, making it an expensive and often challenging area of the business to manage and administer.
The logistic industry utilises the benefits of a flexible workforce in order to meet the fluctuating demands of the economy. Although the demand for temporary agency workers has declined, the pressure to use a temporary workforce effectively has increased, including scrutinising agency margins and grasping control of what is being spent and where. If managed strategically a temporary agency workforce will play a pivotal role in the recovery of the logistics sector with operational flexibility which allows companies to maximise efficiency and profitability.
As a vendor neutral service provider, de Poel is a truly independent consultant. We are not a recruitment agency, nor do we have links with any one recruitment agency.
We work with organisations with large and complex staffing needs, who specifically wish to increase efficiency and process control, through technology as well as management. By putting together an agreed panel of recruitment agencies in order to meet our clients' specific requirements we are able to effectively streamline and control supply chains on their behalf.
By maintaining existing client and agency relationships, we allow managers to continue to communicate their soft skill requirements to agencies, whilst at the same time ensuring that they do not have to negotiate terms or fees. By not mandating the use of one supplier, compliance to the panel and the approach is greatly improved.
de Poel ensures that agencies are motivated to work efficiently for their clients, through enhanced communication and pre-agreed terms and conditions, helping both parties to develop a more strategic, long-term partnership.
Additionally through data capture, we are able to provide a high level of management information on spend, candidates, equal opportunities and a multitude of other reports for our clients, which our competitors are unable to do.
Our solutions require no capital expenditure. Our fees are based on a percentage of direct savings achieved through agency transactions.
"Our partnership with de Poel has not only delivered significant cost savings on temporary agency staff in the transport and warehouse sectors of our business but has enabled us to successfully harness and manage temporary spend across the company."
