In 2022, Magdalene faced an exciting yet challenging opportunity when they secured a major contract to support SPEN (Scottish Power Energy Networks) in upgrading critical infrastructure across the UK. This significant win brought with it an urgent need to scale their workforce rapidly while maintaining the high standards required for such a prestigious project. That’s when Managing Director Sam Saunders turned to EH20 Group to provide a comprehensive managed recruitment service that would prove transformational for their business.
The Challenge
Magdalene’s contract with SPEN represented a substantial growth opportunity, but it also presented immediate challenges. They needed to recruit across multiple disciplines – from field engineers and project managers to senior leadership roles and strategic advisors – all while their internal team remained focused on project delivery. The scale and urgency of the requirement meant that traditional recruitment approaches simply wouldn’t suffice.
The company needed a recruitment partner who could not only understand the technical complexities of infrastructure projects but also work seamlessly alongside their existing internal recruitment capabilities to deliver results at pace.
Our Approach
EH20 Group implemented a tailored managed service solution that integrated perfectly with Magdalene’s internal operations. Our comprehensive approach included:
- Strategic Workforce Planning: Working directly with senior leadership to map out recruitment needs across the entire SPEN contract lifecycle
- Multi-Level Recruitment: Covering everything from field engineers and project managers to director-level appointments and strategic advisory roles
- Collaborative Partnership: Operating in tandem with Magdalene’s internal recruitment team to maximise efficiency and avoid duplication
- Quality Assurance: Ensuring all candidates met the standards required for critical infrastructure projects
- Flexible Service Delivery: Adapting our approach as project requirements evolved over the contract period
- Continuous Stakeholder Engagement: Maintaining regular communication with key personnel across the organisation
Outstanding Results
Over our three-year partnership from 2022 to 2024, EH20 Group delivered exceptional outcomes that exceeded expectations:
- Successfully recruited over 40 professionals across diverse roles and seniority levels
- Achieved six-figure savings on recruitment fees compared to traditional agency models
- Significantly reduced time-to-hire for critical positions, keeping project timelines on track
- Freed up substantial internal resources, allowing Magdalene’s team to focus on core business activities
- Maintained excellent retention rates among placed candidates throughout the contract period
The Leadership Perspective
The success of our partnership is reflected in the positive feedback from Magdalene’s senior leadership team. Procurement Director Ian Currey and internal talent lead Alex Kramarczyk both recognised the value delivered through our managed service approach, praising our ability to understand their unique requirements and deliver consistently high-quality candidates.
Managing Director Sam Saunders’ decision to appoint EH20 Group proved instrumental in enabling Magdalene to fulfil their SPEN contract obligations while building a sustainable foundation for future growth.
Why It Worked
Our success with Magdalene was built on four fundamental pillars:
- Industry Expertise: Our deep understanding of the infrastructure and energy sectors meant we could identify candidates with the specific skills and experience required for SPEN projects.
- Integrated Service Model: By working alongside Magdalene’s internal recruitment team rather than replacing it, we created a powerful hybrid approach that maximised both efficiency and effectiveness.
- Long-term Partnership Mindset: Our three-year commitment allowed us to build deep relationships within the organisation and truly understand their evolving needs.
- Scalable Solutions: Our managed service model provided the flexibility to scale recruitment activity up or down as project requirements changed, ensuring optimal resource utilisation throughout.
The Bigger Picture
This partnership demonstrates how strategic recruitment support can be a genuine business enabler. By removing the burden of large-scale recruitment from Magdalene’s internal team, we enabled them to focus on what they do best – delivering exceptional infrastructure projects for their clients.
The success of the SPEN contract, supported by our recruitment expertise, has positioned Magdalene for continued growth in the competitive infrastructure sector.
Looking Forward
The Magdalene partnership showcases EH20 Group’s ability to deliver comprehensive managed recruitment services that drive real business value. Our approach goes beyond simple candidate placement to become a strategic business function that enables growth, reduces costs, and delivers measurable results.
Whether you’re facing a major contract win, planning significant expansion, or simply looking to optimise your recruitment processes, our managed service model can be tailored to meet your specific needs.
Ready to explore how a managed recruitment service could transform your business?
Get in touch to find out if a Managed Service is right for your business – info@eh20group.com / 0131 448 1033
