Tailored Talent Solutions to Deliver Lancaster University Digital Transformation Strategy

Lancaster University required support filling key vacancies across multiple IT disciplines at a critical phase of their strategic transformation. The University selected Harvey Nash as their exclusive recruitment partner to support the campaign, providing recruitment, consultancy, and market insight.

 

Objectives

Lancaster University needed technical resources and expert consultancy to help enable them to successfully implement their largest and most ambitious digital transformations. Their strategy aimed to revolutionise the institution's digital infrastructure, streamline administrative processes through the adoption of AI and automation, enhance learning experiences, and elevate the overall efficiency and innovation within the university environment. 

 

Challenges

The University faced challenges in staying competitive in an ever-evolving and highly competitive sector, enhancing recruitment processes to attract top talent, and addressing location-related constraints and hybrid working. 

 

Solutions

Harvey Nash provided a bespoke campaign talent solution for Lancaster University, building strong relationships with hiring managers and carefully profiling roles to ensure market suitability. We streamlined processes to significantly reduce time-to-hire and supported salary grading and benchmarking. Beyond recruitment, we offered expert guidance on operating models, enhanced their employer value propositions (EVP), provided targeted marketing support including a dedicated landing page, and helped navigate Higher Education legislation and frameworks. 

 

“Phil and the team at Harvey Nash delivered outstanding support for our University’s IT recruitment campaign, successfully addressing critical challenges of location and market. Recruiting for a higher education institution requires a nuanced understanding of the academic environment and its unique demands, and Harvey Nash exceeded our expectations. 

In addition to achieving impressive results, Phil and the team worked closely with us to enhance and refine our recruitment processes in line with University recruitment guidelines. By leveraging data-driven insights and modern recruitment technologies, they significantly improved our ability to attract and assess top-tier talent across IT leadership, architecture, and support roles. I would recommend Phil and the team at Harvey Nash to any organisation seeking IT recruitment support, particularly within the higher education sector." 

Naomi Stewart, IT Resources Manager, Lancaster University

 

The Results

  • Local Recruitment Experts – With our experience of the local area and the sector, we identified candidates from Lancaster and its surrounding areas to deliver highly skilled talent that were both qualified and conveniently located to meet its specific needs. 

  • Strategic Partnership – Our exclusive collaboration with Lancaster University enabled Harvey Nash to deeply understand its needs. This insight led to bespoke recruitment strategies and strengthened candidate-manager relationships, playing a pivotal role in driving the successful progression of the Digital Transformation Programme. 

  • EVP and Marketing Support – Harvey Nash provided tailored Employer Value Proposition (EVP) advisory and marketing support to the University, including a dedicated landing page. This helped to attract top-tier talent by effectively showcasing its unique strengths and opportunities and providing an exceptional candidate experience. This strategic assistance enhanced the University's brand visibility and appeal, positioning it as an employer of choice within a competitive market. 

  • Speed to Hire – We significantly enhanced the University's speed to hire by streamlining recruitment processes and implementing efficient strategies. This ensured roles were filled quickly with the right talent, reducing downtime and enabling the University to maintain momentum in achieving its objectives.