It has been revealed Powys County Council has paid nearly £40 million to recruitment agencies in the last five years.

A freedom of information request submitted by the County Times reveals that the council has regularly spent more than £6 million a year on fees to recruitment agencies over the last five years.

The spending reaching its peak in the financial year 2021-2022 where £10,872,784 was shelled out to recruitment firms.

“Like many other public sector organisations, Powys County Council has faced a significant recruitment challenge in recent years,” said Councillor Jake Berriman, cabinet member for a connected Powys.

“In addressing this, it should be noted that temporary agency staff can provide a helpful, valuable resource to help with short-term, unforeseen demand where the recruitment of permanent staff would not be appropriate. For example, short term staff to aid the council’s response to the pandemic.”

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Which departments are spending the most?

 

The fees being paid to recruitment agencies annually represents a large portion of the council’s £16.45 million funding gap for 2023/2024.

The data shows that the departments where this has been the biggest issue have been in education and children services – which has been responsible for over half of the overall spend.

More than £14 million has been spent by children’s services over the last five years to find staff while over £7 million of the county’s school budget has been spent on agency fees.

However, the data reveals almost all departments have spent large amounts of money. All but two of the departments spent more than £70,000 over the last five years with most spending at least six figures in that time.

 

Council claims it is trying to 'manage the costs involved'  

 

Councillor Berriman said the council struggles to recruit staff as Powys has higher rates of employment and lower unemployment levels than Wales, leading to a limited available local workforce.

He also said the council was aiming to recruit staff directly and to best manage the costs involved.

County Times: Councillor Jake Berriman said the council is trying to reduce the costs Councillor Jake Berriman said the council is trying to reduce the costs (Image: Powys County Council)

“We have recently awarded a new contract to Matrix SCM for the supply of all temporary agency staff,” said Councillor Berriman.

“This new contract, which went live in October 2022, provides the mechanism to reduce our level of spend on temporary agency staff and ensure improved controls on the rates of pay.”

He also cited the development of a new recruitment brand and campaign for the Council and improvements to their recruitment system.

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Councillor Berriman also said they would be recruiting more apprentices, whilst offering them the real living wage and supporting the recruitment of veterans through recruitment campaigns and the offer of guaranteed interviews.

He also said they would be tackling social care recruitment by “working with our current staff to grow our own social workers of the future, with 67 expected to qualify by 2026, including 15 this year” and have been highly visible at recruitment events leading to offers being made for social care staff.