Landmark Recruitment Deal to Deliver Major Cost Savings For Social Housing Sector

A ground-breaking deal for public sector agency recruitment has been sealed between Blue Arrow, as lead supplier, and the social housing purchasing consortium, Procurement for Housing (PfH).

The agreement, valued at upwards of 300 million, between one of the UKís largest recruitment agencies and PfH is expected to achieve a range of costs savings including 40% savings on commission rates. It means all participating housing organisations now have ready and cost managed access to skilled workers for every service they may require, from administration and catering to social care and construction.

The comprehensive staffing arrangement between Blue Arrow and PfH is a benchmark in public private sector partnership. Hammered out over seven months of detailed negotiations, the arrangement provides housing bodies across the country with ready access to a high standard of labour, significant reductions in administration and strong cost savings.

Trish Stratford, Blue Arrow Chief Operating Officer said: ìIn terms of scale and enlightened approach to resourcing for a vital public service, this deal underlines the core values and capability of Blue Arrow.

ìWe have a large pool of talented and committed flexible workers and highly capable consultants. Our partnership with PfH will ensure housing organisations can concentrate on their targets in the knowledge that they will have the workforce they need for every service they are committed to providing.î

Julie Craig, PfH Director said: ìProcurement for Housing is geared to providing housing organisations with a cost effective means of purchasing. The sector needs to meet its efficiency targets and maintain necessary services to a high standard. Deals like this one with Blue Arrow offer the opportunity to successfully achieve both these aims.

ìWith excellent scores on customer care and quality in our evaluations, Blue Arrow was the ideal choice for PfH. Working well as partners we have an arrangement that successfully marries public sector requirements with private sector resources to achieve high cost savings and ensure successful delivery of services. This offers an excellent example of best practice in public sector procurement.î

Trish Stratford, Blue Arrow continued: ìBlue Arrow is a national business, but we work with a localised approach. We look forward to providing our workers with some excellent opportunities that will also bring tangible benefits to communities across the UK.

ìWe are committed to providing housing organisations with professionals up to the range of tasks required, in particular providing high quality workers capable of meeting the acute challenges that exist within the social housing sectorî

The Blue Arrow team consists of commercial, construction, catering, social care and domiciliary care divisions. It is the sole provider for office, catering and construction and one of 8 preferred suppliers for care and specialist housing workers.

The agreement will provide participating housing organisations with the ability to make up to 40% savings on commission rates and up to 100% on finder's fees and temp-perm costs. In addition, 80% will be saved on any VAT costs where VAT mitigation is applied.