Procurement Recruitment Market Update....
At half way through the year, we have seen the Procurement Recruitment market remain strong on the Permanent side but has fared less well in the Interim sector. This is what Beaumont Select have seen in the first 6 months of 2019. (see our latest market update here)
PERMANENT MARKET
Somewhat surprisingly, we have seen the UK Permanent Procurement Recruitment market remain buoyant through the first 6 months of 2019. Despite Brexit fears, most of our corporate Clients would appear to be progressing with their permanent recruitment plans in a cautious, ‘business as usual’ manner, with the proviso that Senior Management Teams need to be sure their hires ‘tick all the boxes’, i.e. they must possess the right category knowledge, soft skills, commitment and organisational fit. In the last month or so, we have seen a suggestion of a slowdown on permanent hirers.
“Doers” not “Strategists”
We have seen the highest demand for lower to mid-range procurement specialists. Our clients are looking for ‘true hands on’ procurement skills, from Senior Buyer (circa £45K) to Category Lead levels (circa £90k), Somewhat surprisingly we have seen a decrease in demand for higher level procurement ‘strategist’ candidates (circa £95k and above). As ever, the most sought-after Category is IT, particularly in the application development area. We have also seen reasonable demand in: HR Services and Professional Services. Procurement Professionals with specific and comprehensive IT category expertise are most likely to secure the highest salaries.
INTERIM MARKET
We have seen several talented long-term Interim Procurement Specialists, leave the interim market because of IR35 legislation. Market rates have remained static and we have seen a fall in demand for senior level; roles at £800+ per day are few and far between. Good Interims are staying put and accepting extensions in what has become a static market and market rates are not dissimilar to what they were 5 years ago; we don’t see this changing an time soon. As ever, for very specific, hard to find category expertise, clients will be more flexible on the maximum day rate, so true ‘hit the ground running’ specialists will always find an Interim role...... read more