engage | ats
Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley
The Challenge:
Going from manual to automated
Prior to implementing engage|ats, the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley (MBB) operated a traditional ‘manual’ recruitment model for both search and selection, utilising telephone and email as the primary communication methods between prospective candidates and Hiring Managers.
Whilst this method delivered an acceptable service, MBB post c.1500 vacancies annually on behalf of the local authority and their customers, this process required manual administration intervention and offered a lack of flexibility.
MBB were seeking to introduce technology to the HR function to improve business productivity, an essential investment due to the volume of recruitment activity within the organisation. The MBB recruitment team, worked closely with engage|ats, internal stakeholders and candidates to ensure the project enhanced the recruitment process, delivering benefits to all.
The Solution:
Tools that empower candidates & HR teams
A branded and mobile, responsive site advertising current vacancies, with the ability for internal and external candidates to sign up and apply for jobs online with ease. As well as the chance to sign up to an active Talent Pool, giving candidates the opportunity to receive relevant jobs alerts straight to their chosen inbox.
engage|ats’ secure Recruiting Manager and Panel modules, can be accessed remotely, 24/7. The system allows the shortlisting panel with the tools to shortlist candidates, the moment they are submitted, either collaboratively around the table, or independently, for those that work from home. Recruiting Managers can log vacancies for approval, review applications, shortlist and give feedback through the system.
The administration burden associated with c.1,500 vacancies and thousands of candidates is vast. The automated trigger points within the engage|ats process routes give candidates regular updates, whilst alleviating admin pressure from the team.
The in-built, on-demand report generating tools of engage|ats offer the MBB HR Team real-time reporting capabilities, downloaded straight into excel. MBB have invested in several reports specific to their needs that they can run at any time.
The Results:
Streamlined and efficient for all
Overall, the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley has cited benefits including:
- Reduced costs
- Anonymised applications to support commitment to equality agenda
- Improved efficiency and streamlined processes
- Quicker recruitment turnaround in ‘time to hire’
- Access to a more diverse talent pool
- Improved quality of applicants
- Efficient & automated communication with candidates
- Instant access to recruitment metrics
- MBBs image has been enhanced as an attractive and cutting-edge organisation.
The automated vacancy management process has been extremely well received by the MBB Senior Management Team, who feel it brings a robust approach to resource management while considering the efficiency agenda.
Pre-screen questions have also been very well received internally – this functionality increases the quality of applications and reduces time spent by managers looking at applications who are unable to meet the essential requirements.
“As a small HR and learning team with a busy and varied workload, we now have capacity to add real value to the organisation, by spending less time entering duplicated data into a variety of systems and lengthy admin processes, we now have a truly efficient and effective modern e-recruitment solution, fit for purpose, with streamlined processes that are faster and more efficient. HR users are totally enamoured and motivated when using the system, recruitment activities have become a joy and a pleasure.”
