3 MIN READ
Senior HR Generalist joins forth ports after extensive headhunt
After Forth Ports tried to recruit this directly and through other recruiters on the south coast, Denholm Associates identified an Senior HR Generalist that embodies the spirit of “future-fit.” Not only were they a local talent (living within a 20-minute commute), but they also brought a powerful combination of HR expertise and the ability to build strong relationships.
We needed to find someone who could truly elevate the HR experience at Forth Ports. Someone who could connect with colleagues across departments, work seamlessly with the broader HR team, and champion best practices. And they did, just that.
They hit the ground running, not just making changes, but fundamentally shifting how the business viewed HR. They built strong connections with stakeholders, both locally and nationally, and their positive impact is undeniable.
THE BACKGROUND
This was a local search around the Tilbury area (Port of London) by Denholm Associates. Our client had advertised this role directly for several months and had engaged other local recruiters to try and source this role. At the point of our first conversation all these attempts had failed and they were back to square one. Whilst they had seen a volume of applications they hadn’t found the right person fit who would be able to join the team to drive cultural change in the HR and the site locally.
With a lot of growth scheduled at Tilbury, it was key to get the right individual with a growth mindset. The client however felt that they had exhausted the local market.
Finding the right person to fit into their evolving HR team was crucial for Forth Ports. With the recent appointment of an HR Manager, they needed someone who could pick up the pace of change and help them build a truly forward-thinking HR function.
THE CHALLENGE
Due to the client trying to find people directly this appointment faced a tight turnaround in a tight candidate market. The process had a few things stacked against it, the proximity to the centre of London with salaries and options available meant candidates had a lot of options. The role itself needed someone who was willing to work on site for a large percentage of the week. With remote working being the desired option for most this cut down a large percentage of potential applicants so therefore we needed to find the person locally with the right HR expertise and background. They needed someone who had exceptional soft skills to operate in very traditional and complex stakeholder environment where they can coach managers and bring the site forward.
THE SEARCH
To secure the appointment of the Senior HR Generalist, we undertook an extensive headhunt. We started with research, market mapping and connecting with key contacts in the HR space in the local area. We had a definitive brief, and we introduced the right candidate. Initial feedback is that this HR appointment has been a breath of fresh air and we have managed to get the right balance of HR experience, team fit and drive for change.
“Having recently worked with Andy Brady on a critical role in the HR team I was extremely pleased with the level of service and quality of short list candidates provided particularly given that Essex can be very challenging to recruit with the competition from London being so close. During the process Andy consistently demonstrated a remarkable level of professionalism, expertise, and understanding of our business and moved at pace.
During our initial briefing Andy quickly grasped the complexity of our business, along with the critical skills and experience we required to fill the role. Their comprehensive understanding of our industry allowed for a more streamlined and efficient recruitment process, saving valuable time and resources. Given this is a business based across the UK operating from several locations in Scotland and England having a clear understanding of markets and culture is extremely important while partnering on recruiting new colleagues into our business. This understanding resulted in an extremely strong short list of candidates resulting in a positive hire in a very timely basis.
Throughout the entire recruitment process, Andy maintained open and clear communication, his responsiveness, professionalism, and ability to adapt was recognised and not only acted as a facilitator between our company and the candidates but also provided valuable insights and guidance to ensure a smooth and successful selection, interview and hiring process.
Andy has proven to be an invaluable asset, and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership in the future.”
Michelle Primrose, Chief People Officer
Talk to Denholm
Are you looking for passionate and experienced leadership to drive your own company’s growth? Look no further. We find the talent you simply can’t find yourself. If you’re searching for top talent anywhere in the world, we can help.
Contact Denholm Associates today on 03303 359 818 or connect@denholmassociates.com.
