Collinson were under pressure. Hiring volumes were high, internal teams were stretched, and they needed more than a recruitment agency dropping CVs into an inbox. They needed a partner who could embed, deliver, and think strategically about talent, from how they found people to how they made Collinson feel like somewhere worth joining.
The employer brand wasn't working as hard as it needed to. The hiring process had room to become sharper, faster, and more cost-effective. The business needed someone who could come in, get up to speed quickly, and actually make a dent.
Chapter 2 stepped in as a true embedded partner, taking on RPO services while simultaneously building the employer brand infrastructure Collinson needed to attract and retain the right people.
On the brand side, we created a suite of assets designed to tell a coherent and compelling story at every stage of the candidate journey. From hero films to social media content, and onboarding materials built around Collinson's culture and what makes them genuinely distinctive as an employer.
On the hiring side, we embedded directly into their teams, working as an extension of the business rather than an outside vendor. Our approach was data-led throughout, using insight to sharpen sourcing, reduce wasted time in process, and make sure every hire was the right one.
The numbers tell a clear story.
In the period Chapter 2 supported Collinson, 389 hires were made, up 18% on the previous year. Average time to hire came down to 29 days, a 3% improvement. And cost per hire dropped to £2,853, a 16% reduction.
More volume, done faster, and for less. But beyond the metrics, the partnership shifted something in how Collinson approaches supplier relationships. Working with a more agile partner, one with genuine skin in the game, turned out to deliver more than a legacy provider ever had.
