Invensys Case Study
Invensys is a global leader in the design, manufacture and construction of railway signalling engineering systems, employing more than 12,000 people worldwide. In the UK, Invensys is the market leader and manufactures signalling systems for the national rail network and underground systems.
The company is divided into two business units:
Mass Transit delivers signalling projects to underground systems worldwide, including London, Singapore and Taipei, and also the world’s largest signalling project; the upgrade of London’s underground network with a contract value of more than £1 billion.
Mainline delivers signalling systems to rail network systems in the UK, Europe, South Africa and Australia. They have been awarded four of the six prestigious Network Rail Type A contracts in the UK.
Invensys has an extensive list of technical suppliers providing contract and permanent recruitment services. More than 20 suppliers attempt to support the demand of a client in a niche industry.
The Challenge
The signalling industry has a shortage of licensed design, installation, testing and commissioning engineers. With several prestigious projects running at the same time, recruitment resources are at a premium.
Objectives
Exxell set clear objectives to provide a complete recruitment solution to Invensys:
- To provide suitably skilled and qualified candidates to fulfil Invensys needs.
- To provide a recruitment service that could be favourably compared to those of the existing suppliers.
- To become an integral part of the recruiting process by testing and validating applicants.
- To reduce staff turnover.
- To provide a “Temp-to-Perm” service that encourages temporary workers to take a permanent role with Invensys.
- To consider and present solutions to dealing with a shortage of engineers.
- To recruit for routine and future needs as well as reacting to unexpected requirements.
Contract delivery
Exxell is the preferred recruitment supplier to Invensys specifically to resource the Mass Transit business unit and recruits the following disciplines for the company:
All candidates put forward to Invensys are put through a rigorous quality assured training and assessment programme and must be licensed by the Institute of Railway Signalling Engineers. This is the minimum qualification required by Engineers if they are to work on the underground project.
Exxell also sources and records training and competency levels for each individual, for audit and safety purposes for Invensys.
Results
Exxell is now a valued business partner of Invensys as is testified by the enclosed reference given by Invensys – Mass Transit Construction Manager, Rob Hughes – “Exxell currently supply us with the majority of our non employee site resources. With our requirements increasing at Invensys, we have absolute confidence in their ability to support our needs. As they have been innovative and responsive in what is a very challenging market”.