Mastering key performance indicators can make or break the success of your business, one of those metrics that can make all the difference is time-to-fill. All temporary recruitment agencies know this, yet even still, the UK’s average time-to-fill stands at 42.8 days (according to Simon Bliss from The TEAM Network). When time truly is everything it is clear there’s still plenty of room to improve, speed and efficiency remain a critical challenge in the industry.

Why Time-to-Fill Metrics Matter

At its core, time-to-fill measures how long it takes to find, recruit, and onboard the right candidate for an available position. For your clients, delays in hiring mean headaches – operational slowdowns, missed revenue, and lost opportunities. That’s why for many agencies, time-to-fill has become a key selling point.

Smart Strategies to Highlight Your Time-to-Fill Success

1. Know Your Numbers

Start by measuring your own time-to-fill performance. Track how long it takes your team to source, vet, and place candidates. By identifying bottlenecks, you can streamline operations and show potential clients exactly how you outperform the competition.

2. Showcase Happy Clients

Nothing builds credibility like real-life success stories. Share testimonials and case studies that highlight your speed and efficiency, where your agency exceeded expectations. These examples are powerful tools to build credibility and reassure prospective clients that you can deliver.

3. Understand Market Expectations

When engaging new clients, ask how long it takes them to fill roles using their current methods. If your metrics outperform their benchmarks, this becomes a powerful selling point.

4. Focus on Time-Critical Industries

In industries where quick hiring is essential, highlight how your time-to-fill metrics directly address client pain points. Position yourself as the go-to agency that can keep their operations running smoothly – and secure those high volume contracts.

Stay Ahead with Market Insights

Knowing your numbers is vital, but staying updated on wider industry trends is just as important. Tap into resources like the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Workable, and the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) to understand what’s happening across the UK recruitment landscape. Use these insights to build a deeper relationship with your existing clients and help you re-position your agency from service-provider to consultative partner.

Platforms like the Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) also provide regular updates on hiring trends globally, from the UK to APAC and beyond. Registering with services like SIA gives you daily insights to help tailor your services and identify new opportunities in your market.

Why Data-Driven Recruitment is the Future

Recruitment today isn’t just about gut instinct – it’s about making decisions based on solid data. Agencies that can back themselves and provide measurable proof of faster placements, high compliance rates, or stellar client satisfaction have a distinct edge to win and retain business.
Sharing market data with your clients, builds trust and showcases your commitment to staying at the forefront of the latest industry developments. This transparency and professionalism can set you apart in a crowded marketplace.

The ideas in this post are taken from our latest webinar – Navigating Labour’s 2024 Budget and Growing Your Recruitment Agency. Watch the full webinar by clicking here >