5 Staffing Options: Which Is Best for You?

In this blog post, we will explore the five main types of staffing arrangements – permanent, fixed term, interim, contract, and temp to perm – and provide a benefits summary for each to help you make an informed decision.

Just to clear up any confusion: contract workers are often called temporary workers – we consider contract more the skilled and white-collar levels, and temporary the trades, operatives, semi-skilled levels.

Permanent Staffing: Building Long-Term Value

Permanent staffing is an excellent choice for organisations seeking to fill long-term positions and foster employee growth. Here are some key benefits of permanent staffing:

1. Long-term appointments: Permanent staff can assist with immediate requirements while also learning and developing alongside the organisation, becoming home-grown candidates for more senior roles.
2. Cost-effectiveness: Compared with contract alternatives, permanent staffing is often more cost-effective in the long run.
3. Knowledge sharing and upskilling: Permanent employees can contribute to the organisation’s knowledge base, particularly when applying lessons learned from delivering projects and processes.
4. Culture fit: Permanent staffing allows you to ensure that the best-matching values and behaviours are brought to, and nurtured by, the business.

Fixed Term Staffing: Flexibility for Mid-Term Solutions

Fixed-term staffing offers a balance between long-term commitment and short-term flexibility. Here are some advantages of fixed-term staffing:

1. Mid-term solution: Fixed-term appointments are ideal for time-limited requirements, typically lasting 6-12 months.
2. Maternity cover and ad-hoc needs: Fixed-term staffing is well-suited for covering maternity leave or hiring top talent to address specific short-term requirements.
3. Access to PAYE candidates: Fixed-term positions can attract candidates who prefer to be on a PAYE payroll but are not seeking long-term employment.
4. Employee benefits: Fixed-term staff are entitled to holiday pay and notice periods, providing them with additional security and benefits.

Interim Staffing: Strategic Leadership for Transformative Change

Interim staffing is a powerful tool for organisations undergoing significant transformations or requiring high-level strategic guidance. Here are some benefits of interim staffing:

1. Strategic, goal-oriented appointments: Interim staff provide senior-level expertise to drive strategic initiatives and achieve specific goals.
2. Organisational change management: Interim staffing is ideal for managing organisational restructures, establishing new divisions or facilities, or breaking into new markets.
3. Agile remuneration models: Interim appointments offer flexible remuneration options for C-level candidates without the long-term commitment of six-figure PAYE salaries.
4. Time-sensitive deployment: The interim market can provide readily available candidates when time pressure dictates a more immediate appointment.

Contract Staffing: Agility and Flexibility for Project-Based Needs

Contract staffing offers a high degree of flexibility and agility for organisations with project-specific requirements or temporary headcount needs. Here are some advantages of contract staffing:

1. Project-specific appointments: Contract staffing is ideal for delivering specific projects with defined timelines and objectives.
2. Temporary headcount support: Contract staffing allows organisations to temporarily increase headcount to meet fluctuating demands or seasonal peaks.
3. Agile engagements: Contract staff typically have shorter notice periods, enabling organisations to adjust their workforce quickly as needs change.
4. Time-sensitive solution: Contract staff can be sourced and deployed rapidly, making this an excellent option for time-sensitive requirements.
5. Reduced PAYE commitments: Contract staff do not require the same PAYE commitments as permanent staff, such as holiday allocations and employer’s National Insurance contributions.
6. Flexible payment models: Contract staff can be engaged through various payment models, including CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) and limited company (LTD) options, providing additional flexibility for both the organisation and the contractor.

Temp to Perm Staffing: Try Before You Buy

Temp to perm staffing allows you to convert interim, fixed term, or contract staff to permanent hires. Here are the key advantages of temp to perm staffing:

1. A working interview: By observing how your contractor handles the job, you can avoid the cost of hiring someone who’s a great interviewee but a bad worker – or missing out on someone who’s a bad interviewee but a great worker.
2. Retention: If you realise someone filling a contract role is worth hiring permanently, temp to perm will enable you to keep them.
3. Speed and simplicity: Assuming your temp to perm hire works out, it’s by far the quickest and easiest way to fill a permanent role. You can skip the permanent interview process and have a pre-vetted candidate start asap.
4. Home-grown talent: 36% of managers start as temp staff. By hiring on a temp to perm basis, you can bring on people who are full of potential and develop them, creating grateful, engaged, and loyal employees – invaluable in the current market.

Choosing the Right Staffing Solution with ARV Solutions

At ARV Solutions, we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive range of staffing solutions to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Our experienced team can provide all five staffing options discussed above – permanent, fixed term, interim, and temp to perm – and we are committed to delivering exceptional results.

While other agencies charge temp margins and a full fee for temp to perm staffing, you can convert our interim, fixed term, or contract staff to permanent hires for a pro-rata fee based on their first year’s salary. We also have an option to hire someone for a period then take them on permanently with no fee.

We understand that every organisation is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to staffing. That’s why we offer strategic consultancy services to help our clients identify the best-matched options for their specific requirements. Our goal is to provide tailored solutions that align with your business objectives, culture, and budget.

Whether you need to fill a permanent position, cover a maternity leave, drive a strategic initiative, or support a time-sensitive project, ARV Solutions has the expertise and resources to help you succeed. Contact us today to discuss your staffing needs, and let us help you navigate the diverse landscape of staffing options to find the perfect solution for your organisation.