It has arguably never been more difficult to find good temp workers thanks to a frustratingly inefficient recruitment process and the fact that the number of temporary trades people is at a five-year low. However, help is at hand, says TempRocket’s Andrew Johnston…
It’s no secret that finding the right plumbers to add to your team cannot only be a very tough task, but also annoyingly time consuming and expensive. And this is especially the case when it comes to tracking down good temporary trades people, because the process on this side of the recruitment sector is particularly inefficient.
The quality of the temporary plumbers you employ can make the difference between taking on a new job or losing the work. Meanwhile, their ability directly reflects on your business and whether a client comes back for more. This is why it’s vital to be able to recruit the temporary plumbers you need quickly, as well as having the confidence they have the ability and experience do the work in hand. Yet the current temp recruitment process is frustrating as there are few ways to connect directly with temporary plumbers. 
Currently, the best solution for both parties is a temp agency. However, there are so many out there that it’s almost impossible to decide which one to choose. Often plumbing firms looking for temp trades register with several to try to cover as many bases as they can, then try to keep tabs on them all. Beyond the time this takes, which delays the whole process, hirers are also charged a significant amount for the service.
Hirers ultimately pay the market rate for temporary trades people, which therefore increases if there’s a skills shortage. Currently, the number of workers in the temporary skilled trade people is close to a five year low, with the latest quarterly figure from the Office of National Statistics standing at 58,000. This makes finding the right temporary plumber not only more difficult, but also more expensive.
Essentially, as a plumbing business in need of temporary trades people, you need more choice both in terms of direct access to candidates and with respect to agencies. What’s more, this information needs to be delivered quickly, with the necessary details at your fingertips to ensure you can make the best possible appointment. If you feel that an agency is charging too much for someone, you should be able to challenge the cost, and another agency should be able to step in with a better offer. This would be proper market forces at work.
A solution delivering all these benefits would require digital technology, and the good news is that an online platform is now available that connects contractors, agencies and hirers 24/7 – and no doubt there will be others hitting the market soon. These disruptors aim to streamline the temporary recruitment process for plumbing firms and other businesses looking for temps to the benefit of all parties and transform the sector in a way that has yet to occur on the permanent side of the industry. They could prove the difference between winning and losing work, and impressing or disappointing an important customer.
Add new comment