University Staffing Whitepaper FINAL 27729 TA 191224 - Flipbook - Page 3
UK universities are facing a cost
management crisis, with long-term
structural issues and sustained funding
pressures making 昀椀nding a cost-effective
workforce strategy a top priority for each
institution. Staff expenditure consumes
51%2 of university income, therefore
effective use of recruitment agency
services for permanent, contract and
temporary positions is essential to reduce
unnecessary spend and manage costs.
Many institutions are struggling to 昀椀nd sustainable
and viable long-term staf昀椀ng solutions. Often, universities
use an inef昀椀cient, department-led approach where various
teams contract different agencies for their staf昀椀ng
needs. While this ad-hoc approach allows departments
to ensure vacancies are 昀椀lled on a base level, it leaves
universities vulnerable to inef昀椀ciencies that are draining
their 昀椀nancial resources.
The resulting mix of agencies, pricing models, and sourcing
methods promotes a lack of accurate visibility on spend
and encourages inconsistencies when attracting talent
across departments.
2
www.ucu.org.uk. (2023). New analysis reveals record university income as employers refuse
to negotiate. [online] Available at: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/12941/New-analysis-revealsrecord-university-income-as-employers-refuse-to-negotiate.
As more pressure is placed on universities to rank highly
in league tables, establishing an ef昀椀cient, and cost-effective,
workforce dedicated to student satisfaction is more
crucial than ever. By adopting a uni昀椀ed strategy, your
institution can achieve greater ef昀椀ciency, consistency,
and cost savings, while presenting a cohesive brand
to prospective talent.
This paper will explore how you can streamline your
staf昀椀ng processes and build a sustainable, cost-effective
future for your university.
We will cover:
The current staf昀椀ng challenges faced by
universities.
The role of leading-edge technologies like
automation and AI.
The different staf昀椀ng solutions available:
Retainer-based supply arrangements
Master vendor arrangements
Managed Service arrangements
Business process outsourcing
The role of specialist procurement frameworks.
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