Education, education, education

Jun 17 2008 By The Journal

NRG's offering to the further and higher education sectors has evolved dramatically over the last five years.

For many years NRG has been successfully delivering contracts for the provision of temporary staffing for a number of colleges and universities including Newcastle and Darlington colleges and the universities of Northumbria, Huddersfield, Teesside and Durham.

NRG established a reputation for delivering 100% against these typically Master Vendor contracts and for doing so in a friendly, professional manner.

This explains their longevity and why many are third generation contracts, retained in open competition.

Janet Waine of University of Teesside notes: "NRG consistently supports the University by delivering the right person, frequently in tight timescales. I have no hesitation in recommending NRG."

Providing a high level of service excellence has resulted in extension into other areas where economies and added value can be introduced.

This year, for example, Durham University appointed NRGRPO to outsource its recruitment and selection processes for administration and clerical permanent staffing and Newcastle College were delighted with consultancy support from NRG in developing their reach and profile in attracting lecturing staff to a highly successful open event for staff opportunities this coming September.

NRG has also developed a service to meet the more strategic requirements of universities – executive search and selection.

Having recruited Finance, HR and IT directors for several new and traditional universities, NRG's track record now includes the registrar and secretary of Durham, the Quaestor and Factor of St Andrews and a deputy vice-chancellor for Sunderland.

Professor Peter Fidler, vice-chancellor of Sunderland University, commented: "NRG had lobbied us for some time regarding senior executive appointments.

Having chosen to commission them for the first time at this level, for what is a business critical role, we were delighted with the outcome and would have no hesitation in using their services at this level again."

NRG recently undertook a full search and selection exercise to source a new HR director for Northumbria University.

Professor Peter Slee, deputy vice-chancellor, said: "Given that this role is the most senior HR post in the university, we were relying on NRG's ability to manage the whole project for us with minimal input from HR at our end.

They more than rose to the challenge. This was a mission critical appointment for us. We were delighted with the outcome. I would have no difficulty in recommending NRG to you.

The service was informed, professional and above all, effective with the right appointment first time."

Finding a human resources director for the University of Teesside took eight weeks from initial briefing to appointment, during which time NRG demonstrated a thorough understanding of the market and the HE sector.

Professor Graham Henderson, vice-chancellor of the University of Teesside, commented: "This was the second time we had used NRG for a senior appointment.

The experience was so positive that we have used them again since for a keynote appointment within the university. I was impressed by the time and effort put into the exercise and the aftercare which followed it.

"I have recommended NRG to colleagues within the HE sector and would have no hesitation recommending their services to any organisation."

NRG has also developed a reputation across England, Scotland and Wales for senior Estates and Facilities appointments and is currently delivering a project for UCL in London.

Mike Dixon, head of executive search at NRG, said: "The key to our success in this area has been the development of a real understanding of the issues faced by the sector and an ability to attract talent to more remote locations."