Proving the power and value of good employer branding
Opus partnered with Wyeth to deliver a cost-efficient recruitment programme for 40 technical roles while strengthening employer branding and ensuring global compliance. Through an innovative onsite/offsite delivery model, advanced technology for real-time visibility, and streamlined onboarding, the project achieved £250,000 in cost savings, improved compliance, and enhanced hiring quality. Due to its success, the engagement was extended for 12 months and expanded to include executive search for key leadership positions.
- £250,000 in cost savings across total headcount.
- 12 fixed-term contract roles (First Line, Second Line, and Premier Support Technicians) hires delivered
- Contract extended for an additional 12 months due to successful delivery
Once considered the world’s leading biopharmaceutical organisation, Wyeth’s changing and evolving business encompasses research, development and marketing of prescription drugs. Within the pharmaceuticals division, areas include prescription products, biotech, vaccines, and nutritionals.
What was the challenge?
Our brief was to devise an effective, efficient project recruitment programme for the supply of 28 permanent and 12 Fixed Term Contract First line, Second Line and Premier Support Technicians.
While the company has an exceptional reputation in the marketplace, this did not necessarily translate into the recruitment market. Opus set out to maximise visibility of the Wyeth employer brand in a way that also kept account of spend, headcount and cost throughout.
We also had the additional challenges of ensuring fiscal and legislative compliance in all of the territories in which Wyeth operates, building comprehensive Management Information and creating a reliably consistent hiring process for both managers and candidates.
Characteristics of our solution
We were successful in the competitive tendering process, quickly rising to the challenges of our initial remit to implement an end-to-end sourcing programme over a 12 month period.
Our success led to the contract being extended for an additional 12 months, with the addition of an Executive Search project which consisted of key hires such as the UK Managing Director and Head of DC Pensions.
Key to meeting our client’s challenges was our development of a solution that enabled an onsite and offsite delivery model. The solution incorporated:
- Further cost efficiencies and enhanced hire quality, achieved by an offsite, country bases delivery model to drive direct hiring
- On-boarding and management team for all pre-employment screening
- Consolidated billing
- Technology solution deployment to drive compliance, visibility and security through real time information
- New pre-assignment screening model deployment to cover all global mobility and compliance checks
- Enhanced reporting of all market trends
- Enhanced MI reporting on spend, cost savings, sourcing strategy
Outcomes and benefits
Reduced supplier margins as part of the rationalisation programme. Comprehensive Management Information, driving continuous improvement, with enhanced process efficiency and visibility through self-service, end-to-end talent acquisition technology. Improved compliance, monitored by independent auditors, with changes to the on-boarding and pre-employment screening process
Projected cost savings
Cost savings of around £250,000 across total headcount