
Recruitment in life sciences isn’t just about filling vacancies. At HRS, we know that a large part of our role is to solve problems that have a real-world impact. Over the past year we’ve done a lot to deliver meaningful outcomes for our clients and candidates, which in turn, has led to significant impacts on healthcare and patient safety. Here’s how we’re truly living up to our status as ‘life changers’.
Delivering Under Pressure: Staffing a Critical Shutdown Team
As the Managed Service Provider (MSP) for a major client in the biopharmaceutical sector, HRS was faced with a high-stakes challenge:
This client manufactures biologics products - life-saving treatments that supply primary healthcare systems across the UK and EU. They planned a complete production shutdown for essential maintenance, but here’s the catch:
· The shutdown team of 7 specialists needed to be in place within just two weeks.
· There was zero margin for error. Maintenance mistakes could compromise patient safety.
· Any delays in restarting production would disrupt hospital supplies and jeopardise care for patients across Europe.
The client had previously relied on external consultancies for shutdown hiring, a convenient, but high-cost approach. As their MSP, we had the opportunity (and the pressure) to prove we could deliver both quality and value.
How We Made It Happen
We’re proud to say we delivered - and we did it exceptionally well.
Here’s how we overcame the challenge:
- Rapid Sourcing: We sent up to 20 targeted CVs at a time for various roles, ensuring the client always had strong options to review.
- Proactive Engagement: We conducted site visits to influence and maintain momentum on CV review and decision-making.
- Tight Coordination: We scheduled debrief calls after every interview, speeding up the selection process.
- Personal Sacrifice: Yes, we worked weekends – but in our eyes delivering for the client was too important.
The result? We staffed the entire shutdown team on time, with full compliance and minimal disruption.
Impact: £180,000 Saved and Future Secured
Beyond flawless execution, we also delivered serious cost savings. By managing the shutdown in-house as the MSP, we saved the client £180,000 compared to their previous external consultancy model - all within a two-month shutdown period.
The client’s procurement team was thrilled. Not only did we protect their operations, but we also strengthened our position as a trusted long-term partner.
Setting Higher Standards Internally
One reason we consistently exceed expectations is that we hold ourselves to higher standards than even our client’s demand.
In contract recruitment, we know we must be fast. At HRS - our internal service level agreements are stricter than client-set targets. When clients expect requisitions to be filled within 72 hours, we aim to deliver within 24 hours.
This discipline, paired with our commitment to our clients, keeps our teams sharp, agile, and ready to overdeliver every time.
Want to experience these fast, successful results for your company? Contact us today.


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