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Network- Client Testimonials

HoundDog

HoundDog Technology is a rapidly growing business providing an easy, affordable system for IT Support and Managed Service companies. Working with over 1,000 support companies globally, HoundDog monitors the support companies’ clients around-the-clock and checks their systems to ensure that all are operating at peak effectiveness. When they’re not, HoundDog alerts the IT support company so they can take steps locally to keep their client up and running.

HoundDog are actively recruiting new employees and are finding that more and more candidates are coming from outside the EU. HoundDog wanted to ensure that they are implementing the correct measures to ensure that all candidates are eligible to work within the UK – they are aware of the financial risk to the business should they fall foul of requirements. HoundDog contacted HCS for some direction on how to implement a pragmatic process that would be simple for them to execute, whilst ensuring fairness and consistency of all new employees. A process was implemented as part of HoundDog’s pre-screening measures requiring all new employees regardless of their origin to provide evidence on their eligibility to work in the UK, for example a copy of their passport.

HoundDog were aware of the importance of the governance and control around this process to verify a candidates identity, residency and eligibility to work in the UK, knowing the risk of getting it wrong would be too costly to their business. Dee Ward, Director of Finance and Operations said “HCS have provided us with a simple and easy to execute process that gives us the peace of mind that our controls are in place to prevent us from employing Illegal Immigrants. From a practical perspective, we know that if we are employing someone on a work permit, we need to support them in their re-application process well in advance of the permit expiry date! We are aware of the business risk we could face, both financial and operational by not having a process in place. We are always assured that should we have any queries at all relating to the eligibility of employees HCS will be on hand – we know if we ask the question they CAN provide the answer”.

Architectural Glazing Systems

Architectural Glazing Systems (AGS) design, manufacture and install architectural glass façade systems such as curtain walling, automatic door screen, roof glazing and windows for commercial property. Kevin Grainger, Managing Director asked HCS to provide assistance with the implementation of his Action Plan derived from the Risk Audit process whilst also providing onsite support by means of a Managed Service, for a period of six months.

Kevin comments “As a growing business in our third year of operation, I recognised that we would require support within HR operations. Outsourcing the ‘department’ seemed like the best solution. We receive a level of expertise which is comparably more cost effective than employing someone directly. The added advantage is that HCS had already undertaken our Risk Audit, so were very clear about what was required to be implemented in order for us to not only meet the statutory requirements and also operate using a “best practice” approach. Although the support is in its early stages, it has had a most positive impact so far. We have a dedicated consultant onsite weekly, whom we have introduced to our employees as our own HR Officer.

Our consultant, Claire Connor, has fully integrated herself into our business. We have arranged an open door policy for all staff to raise any concerns with Claire, knowing that they will receive expert advice from an objective source. My management team are comfortable that she fields queries and informs us of any concerns that arise. We trust that a solution will already have been thought through for us to put into action. AGS have had four vacant positions since the onsite service commenced and we have been able to use HCS to support our campaigns. This has included developing high profile advertising and having support to interview. We have been introduced to the methods of Competency Based Interviewing which has proven to be very successful in drawing out supporting evidence from candidates. We are confident that throughout the duration of our agreement HCS will continue to perform beyond our expectations and are very keen to further experience the results of their work”.

Outreach

HCS wanted to put a spotlight on one of our clients Outreach Ltd and how we have helped them to keep abreast of changing legislation and support them in the communication of this. Outreach Ltd supplies and installs hydraulic lifting and handling equipment, satisfying customer demands from a wide range of industries that include transport, construction, marine and offshore oil and gas.

Outreach engaged with HCS in June 2008 and we identified a number of legal risks for the company as well as downfalls in best practice through our Risk Audit process as part of the network access. Elinor McLauchlan, PA to Directors enlisted the support of HCS when the company were facing a lot of HR related problems, including absence management and disciplinary issues.

Elinor comments, “Since our relationship began with HCS we have been alerted to where the risks exists for the business and supplied with an action plan to remedy those risks. It is important that as and when legislation changes that we are updated and receive practical advice on the implementation of legislation in terms of how best to manage it, especially when there are changes in procedural requirements that we need to invest time with management to ensure that they are accountable for their own departments.

The support that we have received from our Account Manager has ensured that we can work through any required remedial action and ensure legislative compliance. We know that the service we receive is focused on our business needs and the growth of the business, not fitting our business around employment legislation. The key benefit that we have found since commencing the service is that we have practical advice that we know works well. Recently we have had to look at creating more sustainable terms and conditions for the staff, for instance we had rather favourable sickness absence terms and we knew that this was something that had to change, but it was great to hear from the team at HCS what works for other businesses in reducing absence and related costs, whilst maintaining a motivated team at Outreach. We were offered a variety of procedures from HCS – we only had to decide which one suited the business best.

I am confident that we now comply with all relevant employment legislation and that HCS will keep us informed of all of the upcoming legislation, in fact they have been preparing us already with information related to the new ACAS Code of Practice in Disciplinary and Grievance – ensuring that in time for this change we can brief our management team on the necessary procedures to follow. Having HCS on board means that we can focus on business issues, trusting that they will inform us when they need to of new or changing legislation and that we don’t need to think about paying hefty legal fees as we have preventative care in place”.