Transforming Barnet Council’s Workforce Management

How Matrix helped Barnet Council modernise recruitment and deliver measurable cost savings through a single integrated platform 

Overview

Facing the evolving challenges of public sector staffing, Barnet Council partnered with Matrix to overhaul its recruitment and compliance processes. Leveraging Matrix’s integrated workforce management solutions and ESPO’s MSTAR framework (653F), the council achieved streamlined operations, enhanced candidate quality and measurable cost savings, all while ensuring full compliance with procurement regulations.

The challenge

Barnet Council, like many UK local authorities, grappled with a competitive talent market, budget constraints and the need for stringent compliance. The traditional fragmented recruitment approach, involving multiple agencies, led to inefficiencies, inconsistent candidate quality and escalating costs. A strategic, centralised solution capable of delivering measurable cost savings was imperative to address these multifaceted challenges.

Our solution

Through ESPO’s MSTAR4 framework, Barnet Council engaged Matrix to implement a unified staffing solution tailored to the complex needs of a local authority.

This partnership ensured a compliant, efficient and value-driven approach from the outset – enabled through Matrix’s technology platform, an innovative workforce management platform that unifies every stage of the recruitment journey. Its technology platform serves as a central hub, providing Barnet Council with complete visibility, real-time analytics and control across all workforce activity – from onboarding and compliance to supply chain management and cost tracking.

Through a single provider, Barnet was able to activate a range of tailored solutions, each designed to solve critical workforce challenges in the public sector:

• Security Watchdog – End-to-end pre-employment and background screening, including digital ID verification and safeguarding checks, ensuring full compliance with public sector hiring standards.
  
• Matrix Talent Pool – A customised pool of pre-vetted temporary workers, giving hiring managers instant access to quality candidates and reducing time to hire, cost and admin.
  
• Matrix Milestone – A flexible solution for managing interim professionals and project-based consultants, fully IR35 compliant and structured for budget efficiency.

By bringing these services together through one platform, Matrix helped Barnet Council modernise and streamline their workforce operations, improving recruitment speed, compliance, and cost-effectiveness across every department.

The impact

The collaboration resulted in a leaner, more transparent recruitment process, with measurable cost savings realised through consolidated procurement and supply chain efficiencies. Barnet Council now benefits from:

• Access to a broader and more diverse talent pool
• Enhanced candidate quality meeting public sector standards
• Consolidated procurement leading to reduced spend
• A single point of accountability across all hiring needs
• Improved agility to respond to dynamic workforce demands
• Centralised reporting and oversight have further enabled better governance and proactive workforce planning

The Results

• £200,000 saved in agency charges through Matrix Talent Pool
• Increased accessibility to a diverse and skilled workforce across 16 job categories and 64 job titles via the Matrix platform
• £800,000 saved through supply chain efficiencies by utilising Matrix as a managed service provider
• Achieved a 98.84% fulfilment rate for orders in FY24/25

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