Public sector resourcing is very simply public sector recruitment. It’s the process government entities use to find, vet, and select new employees. The exact recruitment process varies according to the department, job type, and skills level, but there are similarities across the board, from the NHS, education, and housing to blue-light organisations.
Public sector recruitment can be a fairly long process for two reasons:
1) Tender notices can get hundreds of responses, all of which need to be read.
2) Criteria for public sector jobs are often stricter than in the private sector. This requires in-depth background checks and can even include temperament testing (depending on the role).
Both challenges can be managed on eTendering or procurement platforms designed specifically for the public sector. Delta eSourcing is a good example of a government procurement platform that provides a range of tools and services to support public sector buyers and recruiters during the sourcing process.
In fact, Delta is better than most because it’s been a pioneering force to be reckoned with since public procurement went digital. It’s always evolving to match the market, for instance, its upgraded analytics tool and new Delta Open API.
At its core, Delta remains a procurement platform that ensures regulatory compliance, speed, and auditable supplier engagement for all buyers’ needs, including staffing, consultancy, and wider service delivery.
If you’re after more efficient resourcing processes, book a free demo and one of our specialist staff members will guide you through all the benefits Delta provides. After all, 500 active public sector organisations can’t be wrong.
What Is Public Sector Resourcing?
We’ve told you what public sector resourcing is, but what does it entail?
Public sector organisations use it to hire employees in diverse roles, including:
- Permanent/full-time
- Part-time
- Contractor
The recruitment process
Resourcing or recruiting in the public sector starts with identifying the government body’s needs. This is important because it forms the job description. Then the tender is drafted. The tender includes (but isn’t limited to) contract criteria (job description), conditions (timelines, due dates, certifications, experience), and social value requirements.
Publishing the tender notice on procurement platforms kick-starts the hiring process. It can be open (anyone can submit a bid) or closed (RFQs, RFPs, ITTs).
In the old days (five or so years ago), this stage of the process could last for months as contracting authorities had to wade through hundreds of applications, sifting through them all to create a shortlist of suitable candidates.
Now, thanks to online procurement platforms like Delta eSourcing, the recruitment is more efficient and, thanks to automation, much quicker. Typical turnaround time is a few weeks, maybe even a few days if employers need to fill the new job urgently.
Platforms provide services that do more than match suppliers to buyers and vice versa. They facilitate contract and relationship management, help buyers monitor performance and ensure (all kinds of) compliance, set KPIs, and analyse metrics related to performance level, including the progress of social value projects.
They’re pretty much indispensable in modern public sector resourcing and procurement.
Meeting the Modern Resourcing Challenge
Despite all the benefits of public sector procurement platforms, contracting authorities still have many challenges to overcome.
One of the prevailing problems is the lure of the private sector, which offers higher salaries and more opportunities for advancement, turning a job into a stellar career.
There is a skills gap across the UK, which is likely to get worse because much of the workforce is nearing retirement age, while recruitment numbers are down. This places a lot of pressure on current employees who have to pick up the slack. The increased workload leads to:
1) Burnout
2) Poor retention
Which increases the workload and creates a self-perpetuating cycle.
Additional challenges include:
Fragmented supplier ecosystems
Fragmented supplier ecosystems occur when supply chains are split all over the show. There is a complete lack of coordination, stemming largely from poor communication and cooperation between suppliers and manufacturers. This has two major consequences:
1) Limited visibility: It’s almost impossible to track, let alone manage, a supply chain when businesses are scattered. Risk management becomes a serious challenge and the potential for disruption is high.
2) Increased complexity: Fragmented supplier ecosystems increase the complexity of supply chain management to the nth degree. This increases the risk of exposure to unethical business practices, which can come back and bite you.
Compliance complexity (e.g. IR35, transparency requirements)
Compliance can be tricky to negotiate at the best of times, but fragmented systems turn the problem into a nightmare. When you can’t see all the links in your supply chain, you have no idea if they maintain compliance with national regulations (Procurement Act 2023), industry regulations, contract regulations, and, sometimes, international procurement regulations.
For instance, how can you be sure that a contractor is IR35 compliant? You know that your processes meet transparency requirements, and so do your direct suppliers, but what’s going on down the supply chain? If you don’t know, then you can be pretty sure that transparency is an issue.
Time-consuming onboarding and sourcing processes
Onboarding and sourcing were lengthy processes in the days of yore. However, automation and AI technology have sliced off a chunk of time by managing a lot of the recruitment process, including candidate assessments and shortlist creation. They can also manage a fair bit of the onboarding process, for example, they can create a welcome pack to help new hires settle into their roles.
Framework and DPS management difficulties
Frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) can be intimidating for those not trained on their proper use and optimisation. Civil servants are so busy juggling their intense workload that they don’t have time to learn all the intricacies of the procurement options.
Delta eSourcing has features designed specifically to help you manage framework tenders and navigate DPS.
Smarter Resourcing Starts with the Right Tools
Delta eSourcing has a number of digital tools to aid public sector recruiting.
Creation and management of supplier lists
Our Supply Chain Management module enables public sector organisation to create as many categories and supplier lists as necessary. Lists, including framework lists are stored and managed on a central branded hub for easy management and tracking. You can set your lists according to category (social care, education, environmental management) and set timelines so lists open and close according to deadlines.
Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) and frameworks source services
Dynamic Purchasing Systems are a great way to source capable job applicants because, while they remain open for the duration of the contract, only pre-approved candidates make the list. This does wonders for transparency. Delta provides Automated Evaluation services, so you don’t have to spare employees to go through the pre-approval process.
We also enable you to manage competitive exercises within DPS and frameworks, like Requests for Quotes (RFQs) and mini-competitions to select the best person for the job.
4 Quickfire Benefits
There are simply too many benefits to go into detail for all of them, so here’s a glance at four other benefits you’ll enjoy from Delta eSourcing.
1) Integrated supplier database for easy onboarding and assessment
2) Performance monitoring for enhanced supplier visibility and risk mitigation
3) Audit trails to track every interaction, as required in the Procurement Act 2023
4) DPS enables buyers to invite new suppliers to competitions and procurement exercises, which goes a long way to establishing good supplier relationships.
In essence, you’ve got one platform to rule them all. One secure central location where you can manage all your suppliers, active tenders, and ensure the efficiency of your procurement processes.
Designed for UK Procurement Teams
Delta’s extensive experience in the UK’s public sector procurement market has enabled us to hone our eTendering services to meet all suppliers’ and buyers’ needs in complete compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023 (and the upcoming amendments).
We work with contracts from all sectors in the UK, for example, education institutions hiring new art teachers, police services managing internal resource pools, or local authorities sourcing social care or housing support.
Our platform is also designed to support pre-market engagement (actively encouraged by the government) and competitions. All while being audit-ready.
Outcomes that Matter
Methodology matters, of course, resourcing exercises must always comply with best practices. But, what about outcomes? Outcomes matter a lot, and that’s really where Delta’s eTendering platform shines. Here are six benefits for public sector resourcing, courtesy of Delta.
1) Faster time-to-source: The process of creating a qualified talent pool is quicker than other platforms.
2) More diverse and competitive supplier pools: Your branded portal makes it easier to identify potential for supplier diversity and run mini-competitions to identify the best candidate for each tender.
3) Greater compliance and reduced risk (e.g. IR35 audit trails): Our system is fully compliant with all regulations, including IR35 audit trails to determine the tax status of contractors.
4) Stronger supplier relationships: Transparency and open communication channels foster collaboration, innovation, and productive partnerships.
5) Clear performance insights: Powerful analytics provides essential data on frameworks, framework suppliers, Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS), DPS suppliers, and other contracting authorities in the public sector.
6) Scalable for small teams or enterprise organisations: Our solutions are scalable, so they are just as effective for small businesses as larger organisations.
Request a Free Demo of Delta eSourcing
It’s not always easy to see how a system can be of benefit without a practical example. Delta eSourcing provides a free demo tailored to your unique situation so you can see precisely how our platform can help you overcome your resourcing challenges.
From greater diversity and insightful analytics to faster time-to-source, we can guide you through the recruitment process quickly while maintaining absolute regulatory compliance. Book a free demo and speak to one of our experts today.
