UK Procurement, Vendor Management and Supply Chain Recruitment Market Bulletin, July 2023
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PROCUREMENT, SUPPLY CHAIN & VENDOR MANAGEMENT
~ INTERIM RECRUITMENT MARKET UPDATE ~
INTERIM MARKET BACKGROUND
Interim staffing demand has not shown the increase in activity that we hoped for from early year indicators. At the end of 2022/early 2023 we saw a spike in Interim activity, but this has not been maintained and the Interim Market appears quite flat at this time, with lower economic activity and increased candidate supply putting some downward pressure on interim demand with rates staying stable. On a more positive note, at Beaumont Select we continue to see some demand across both Permanent and Interim markets, and while Private Sector activity has been slightly muted, we have seen increased activity in the Utilities, Infrastructure and Public Sectors. “Lingering uncertainty over the economic outlook continued to weigh on hiring decisions at the end of the second quarter” according to the latest KPMG/ REC, UK Report on Jobs for July, mirroring our own findings, with KPMG/REC figures showing “permanent placements falling and temp billings growth remaining mild.” According to KPMG/REC UK figures “underlying data indicated that a slower uptick in permanent vacancies offset a quicker rise in demand for short term staff. (Source: KPMG/ REC, UK Report on Jobs, 10th July 2023) Talented procurement, vendor management and supply chain contractors, with the right category, technical and soft skills continue to be needed, across almost all industry sectors in a rapidly changing industrial and commercial landscape, and the success of procurement and supply chain functions is ever more reliant on the development of innovative ideas and talent. Interim specialists with up-to-date skills and a demonstratable portfolio of achievement will always be in demand from dynamic procurement and supply chain functions, particularly in these unprecedented times. INTERIM MARKET SUMMARY: - Interim market appears to of levelled off, for now. - Rates are staying flat (also see table below). - Good Technology Experience and Strong Leadership and solid Stakeholder Engagement skills in combination with relevant category experience will always be in demand and will secure good rates. - Risk Management remains a hot topic and demand remains high. - Supplier Governance remains a hot topic and demand remains high. - Interim roles remain predominantly inside IR35 Off-Payroll legislation, with circa 80% inside and 20% outside and usually with only very senior roles sitting outside IR35. Fixed Term Contracts (FTCs) are still out there and still not popular however with the number of interims looking they are not impossible to fill. - Utilities and Infrastructure Sectors we are seeing a lot of activity in both these sectors. - Public Sector is looking more active, and we are seeing increased demand in this sector. TYPE OF INTERIM STAFF SUPPLIED BY BEAUMONT SELECT In the last twenty plus years we have placed many hundreds of Interim Contractors / Consultants. The main categories and specialisms we see: IT
Hardware
Software
Telco
SAS
Data Centres
Cloud
Applications Development
HR and professional Services
Recruitment
Training and Development
HR Consultancy
General Consultancy Services
Audit and Legal Services (Big 4 and Magic Circle)
Marketing
Digital
Print
Above the line and below the line specialists
Agencies
FM Construction and Real estate
Soft FM specialists
Hard FM Specialists NEC 3
Government and Utilities knowledge
FTS (OJEU)/ Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015
Specialist one off roles
Telco Infrastructure, Masts etc
Ground Handling
Satellite Components
Senior Interim CPO / Director Level
For Function Formation or Change Management and Rightsizing
P to P and S to P implementation
MARKET RATES
We have seen little movement in Interim pay rates since the beginning of the year. The following tables gives an indication of rates for various disciplines:  2023 (Focusing on Indirect Specialists (FTSE100/250 & Fortune 500 organisations)
SUMMARY Economic uncertainty has continued to make hiring decisions for many firms challenging, and many businesses are not making long term staffing investment at this time. Despite this, we have not yet seen significant increase in Interim Staffing activity, as overall supply of procurement and supply chain labour has increased in a ‘weak’ UK economy. The potential for a suppressed Interim market activity and Interim pay rates will remain in a non-growth/recessional economic environment. However, while Private Sector activity has been muted, we have seen increased activity in the Utilities, Infrastructure and Public Sectors. In such uncertain times intelligent Interim Staffing solutions can be a great option for organisations wishing to bring in exceptional talent to bolster and innovate their procurement and supply chain functions, with well supported Interim recruitment resourcing that provide both staffing cost and talent flexibility to weather geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Exceptional, experienced ‘hit the ground running’ Interim procurement and supply chain specialists will always secure great interim positions where they will make far reaching contributions as a critical resource to successful procurement and supply chain functions.
Changes brought about by the Pandemic, Brexit, Supply Chain Security, Environment, Sustainability, Corporate Social Governance, and war in Europe do nothing but fortify the importance of effective supply chain and procurement teams, including the critical contribution of contract staff and we see both the Interim and Permanent procurement, vendor management and supply chain job sectors remaining more resilient to UK and world economic challenges than most other sectors.
If you would like more information about Interim or Permanent Recruitment Solutions for Procurement, Supply Chain and Vendor Management disciplines, please call:
T: +44 (0)1403 248 448
E: info@beselect.co.uk
(Source: The Beaumont Select Recruitment Team)
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