SHAWCOR – Case Study

About this client

Operating within the oil and gas, petrochemical and industrial industries for nearly 90 years, Shawcor ensures the efficient conclusion of major construction projects around the world.

Overview

During our initial conversations with Shawcor at their Leith pipe-coating site in Edinburgh in 2014, we discovered that the company had identified that their hiring and engagement methods for temporary workers were unsuitable for the project-based nature of their business.

In a fast-paced and fluctuating global market, they needed a flexible and agile labour supplier who could provide a ‘just-in-time’ process, eliminating wasted man hours and unnecessary spend during contract breaks.

More importantly, they needed a recruitment partner that could manage and support this 250+ strong blue-collar contract workforce at all times, during both peak project work and downturns in activity.

Understanding their needs

Shawcor’s aim was to secure a single supplier to provide temporary workers and other services at their Leith facility near Edinburgh. This included the sourcing, management, administration and payrolling of temporary workers.

By running a competitive tender process, Shawcor aimed to identify an experienced manpower provider that could provide an on-site solution, to include:

• On-site Contractor Management Team
• Screening and inductions
• Training coordination
• Medical questionnaire and assessments
• Drug and alcohol testing

Meeting Shawcor’s Challenges

To ensure we had the most effective solution, we proposed two of our highly experienced consultants as an on-site Contractor Management Team for Shawcor. Having previously worked at the Leith site on a contingent basis, they had a full understanding of their culture, management teams, processes and reporting lines.

Our bespoke staffing solution

Shawcor determined that our Managed Service offering provided them with the full-service solution that they needed, whilst at the same time providing them with hard-cost savings. STR successfully redefined and implemented recruitment procedures for the Leith site’s large-scale projects, and our Legal & Compliance team ensured that the workforce had appropriate contracts in place.

We supplied, maintained and managed an on-site workforce of over 250 contractors, including mechanical, electrical. maintenance, H&S, IT, administration and management, and were responsible for delivering on-site inductions and onboarding.

We carried out regular drug and alcohol testing procedures, and delivered medical assessments through our third-party provider. Our on-site Contractor Management Team coordinated contractor training, PPE and provided weekly clinics for the workforce for any queries. They were on-site 12 hours a day, 6am – 6pm, to cover shift patterns and also provided 24 hour coverage for both the client and their workers. We also managed the running of the site’s payroll for all types of contractors – PAYE, CIS and Limited Company.

Testimonial

Due to the project nature of our business, we identified the need to appoint a trusted recruitment partner to manage our temporary skilled workforce. STR Group was appointed as our Managed Service Provider, and over the last 7 years has met all the challenges associated with the scaling up and down of our projects.

Their on-site account management team has handled everything for us – sourcing and screening, onboarding and inducting, and daily workforce management. In addition, STR Group has co-ordinated drug and alcohol testing, monitored compliance and training, and run a fully compliant weekly payroll system for up to 250 workers. They have even assisted with international payroll when workers have been seconded to other Shawcor sites, and designed a worker training database that we rely on within the business.

STR Group has truly become a partner to us. Their team has flexed their days/hours up and down to meet the demands of our projects, and really rolled up their sleeves to ensure we have the resource we require, when and where we need it. I have no hesitation in recommending STR Group for their commitment to, and delivery of, Managed Service Programmes.

Stuart Lockey, Regional Operations Manager Shawcor

Solution Advantages

Our tailored solution ensured that Shawcor had the required workforce in place at the right time
to deliver their projects and meet their clients’ requirements and expectations.

Over time, our remit with Shawcor grew and our service offering expanded to include full overseas assignment support. During downturn periods, we provided further HR and training support, freeing up managers’ time.

Adding value

In addition to the sourcing, hiring and management of the workforce, we assisted in the development and implementation of a new training database for Shawcor, which recorded all training received, sent alerts when training programmes were due to expire, and provided quick access to view which individuals had been trained in specific areas.

During the pandemic, we recruited 200 contractors, following strict guidelines and protocols, and carrying out lateral flow testing to help keep the workforce safe and the site operational.

Outcome

The Leith site successfully delivered its promises to Shawcor’s clients during our tenure, as we remained flexible and responsive to meet the changing needs and requirements of the business during peak times, downturn and throughout the pandemic.

Our MI provision assisted Shawcor in measuring project performance using various systems, tools and techniques to identify areas for improvement.
Along with the new training database, we supported the roll-out of a new online induction e-learning platform with Shawcor, which ensured their workers remained up to date with all critical training and that they had the most suitably qualified workers for their projects at all times.

We are proud of the results of our recruitment partnership with Shawcor, becoming their brand ambassadors in the recruitment marketplace. Over the last 7 years, our solutions helped to ensure that Shawcor’s projects were consistently resourced and delivered on time.

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