company overview
The University of Manchester is one of the UK’s largest and most respected educational institutions, operating a complex estate that includes academic buildings, residences and public spaces. Effective management of this estate requires skilled professionals across Estates, Facilities Management, Capital Projects and Health & Safety.
the challenge
The University struggled to recruit and retain talent for several specialist roles across its estates and infrastructure functions. Traditional agency support failed to deliver consistent quality, with issues in job benchmarking, advert targeting and interview coordination, all of which impacted key operations and project delivery.
the process
Boden Group partnered with multiple departments across the University to deliver a structured, insight-led recruitment approach. We began by benchmarking salaries and refining job descriptions to ensure they were competitive and accurately reflected the technical nature of each role.
Recruitment strategies were tailored to the urgency of the vacancy and market conditions — allowing us to prioritise business-critical roles while still ensuring quality across all placements.
To improve hiring outcomes, we provided strategic input into advert wording and placement, helping the University reach a wider and more relevant talent pool. We also closely managed the interview process from start to finish, minimising dropouts and maintaining consistent candidate engagement to ensure smooth progression from application to offer.
the outcome
Over six months, we successfully placed nine specialist roles, with job offers made within an average of 9 days from receiving the job specification. These included positions such as Principal Electrical Engineer, Chartered Surveyor, Help Desk Operative, Clerk of Works, and Mechanical Maintenance Technician. Most hires began on a temporary-to-permanent basis, providing flexibility and ensuring long-term fit.
the benefits
- Faster hiring turnaround: Offers made in just 9 days on average, significantly reducing vacancy impact.
- Stronger retention and team stability: The temp-to-perm model supported long-term hires and reduced turnover.
- Minimised disruption and risk: Quick placements kept capital projects on track and ensured compliance standards were upheld.
- Public sector-focused recruitment support: Benchmarking, market insights, and advert improvements helped attract the right candidates efficiently.
want to work with us?
In today’s competitive market, securing top talent is crucial. Boden Group offers strategic recruitment solutions, including Retained, Exclusive, Statement of Work, RPO, MSP and Project packages, tailored to meet your specific needs and ensure efficient and effective permanent and contract talent acquisition.
Got a role you’d like us to fill right away? Register your vacancy with us today and our specialist team will get to work.
