Transforming Recruitment Performance for Metlen Through Strategic Partnership
Transforming Recruitment Performance for Metlen Through Strategic Partnership
Metlen is a global industrial and energy company with a leading position in the metals and energy sectors, focused on sustainable development and the circular economy.
Find out how a strategic partnership with Eleven improved compliance visibility, reduced delays and increased workforce stability for Metlen during rapid project growth on a major UK Energy from Waste project.
The Challenge
In September 2024, Eleven represented just 6% of the contractor workforce on site.
At the time, the project was entering a phase of rapid operational growth. Workforce demand was increasing, and recruitment needed to become faster, more coordinated and strategically aligned with delivery milestones.
However, the existing process presented several barriers:
- Fragmented communication between stakeholders
- Inefficient document management
- Administrative bottlenecks
- Limited visibility of compliance status
- Lack of a streamlined audit trail
For a complex infrastructure environment such as Energy from Waste — where compliance, safety and mobilisation timelines are critical — these inefficiencies carried both cost and programme implications.
The project required more than reactive recruitment. It needed a partner capable of driving efficiency, strengthening collaboration and delivering consistent, high-quality candidates at pace.
“The growth of Eleven on the project site is a direct result of the outstanding work of Paul Murphy and his team.
Paul listens, understands our requirements, and takes immediate action — going above and beyond to find the right people for our project.
His approach to improving efficiency, particularly through the shared drive system, has transformed how we manage recruitment and compliance.
We now use this process across all UK sites and with every agency we work with. Paul is an absolute asset to our project and a prime example of how strong partnerships deliver lasting results.” Lauren Rymer, Senior HR Officer, Metlen
The Solution
Eleven repositioned their involvement from minority supplier to strategic recruitment partner.
Central to this transformation was Paul Murphy, Eleven’s Head of Contracts, whose leadership strengthened alignment between Eleven and the project’s HR team .
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Relationship-Led Partnership
- Open, transparent communication channels
- Clear accountability on both sides
- Rapid response to changing workforce requirements
- Proactive problem-solving rather than reactive fulfilment
A hands-on approach ensured compliance issues were resolved quickly and candidate sourcing targeted and efficient.
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Process Innovation: Shared Drive System
A centralised shared drive platform created a single source of truth for recruitment documentation and compliance management.
The system enabled:
- Real-time upload and access to compliance documentation
- Immediate visibility of workforce status
- Reduced email dependency
- Faster resolution of queries
- A clear and auditable recruitment trail
This was not just an administrative improvement — it fundamentally changed how recruitment was managed on site.
The Results
The impact over 12 months was significant.
- Administrative delays substantially reduced
- Recruitment cycle times improved
- Compliance visibility increased
- Collaboration strengthened across stakeholders
- Eleven became the majority supplier on the project - representation increased to 42% of the contractor workforce
The success of the shared drive system for Metlen extended beyond the project. It has since been:
- Rolled out across all UK sites
- Adopted across the wider supply chain
- Implemented with all agencies supporting the organisation
What began as a site-level process improvement became a nationwide operational standard.
Ready to Strengthen Workforce Delivery on Your Project?
By embedding structured communication, transparent documentation systems and proactive workforce planning, Metlen not only improved project success but also established a scalable model now adopted across multiple UK sites.
For organisations delivering complex infrastructure in the energy transition, recruitment is not simply a supply function — it is a strategic lever for operational control and risk reduction.
Talk to us about how a strategic partnership model could support your project’s success.
