Sourcing Talent for Mobile Coverage Solutions

Overview: Fuel Recruitment were engaged by a specialist provider of mobile and two-way radio coverage solutions, to provide resource for the successful delivery of a reliable in-store mobile coverage solution for one of the UK’s fastest-growing supermarket chains.

The Challenge: Retail parks often suffer from poor mobile coverage due to their out-of-town locations and the construction materials used in retail buildings, such as steel and low-emissivity glass, which block signals. The supermarket client, which operates over 800 stores in the UK, was launching an in-store app to enhance customer loyalty and enable till-free payments. To ensure the app’s success, they needed seamless mobile coverage inside their stores. Our client was tasked with delivering a cost-effective, OFCOM-compliant coverage solution to support all four UK mobile operators (Vodafone, O2, EE, and Three UK). They needed to quickly source highly skilled RF engineers and telecoms specialists to design, install, and implement the system effectively.

The Solution: Fuel Recruitment worked closely with our client to understand the technical requirements and adhere to aggressive timelines of the project. Leveraging our extensive telecoms talent network, we identified and placed experienced RF engineers and project specialists who could deliver the required solution efficiently. Our candidates worked alongside our client’s in-house team to conduct detailed site surveys, assess coverage needs, and install OFCOM-compliant off-air repeaters. The work was carried out with minimal disruption to the supermarket’s operations, often out of hours, ensuring a seamless transition to the new coverage system.

The Outcome: Thanks to the combined efforts of our client’s in-house team and the highly skilled professionals sourced by Fuel Recruitment, the supermarket chain now enjoys seamless mobile coverage in its stores enabling Customers to use the retailer’s app without connectivity issues, improving both user experience and app adoption rates. The client was highly satisfied with the specialist talent we provided, enabling them to meet the end user’s needs on time and within budget.

American Towers are a global provider of wireless communications infrastructure they offer solutions and services to deploy and support wireless networks in 25 countries located on six continents, being named as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies in 2022 by FORTUNE magazine.

Finding telecoms talent at leadership level in an international marketplace that is under-pressure and where skills are scarce, is a constant challenge. Since 2008, Fuel Recruitment has built a strong partnership with American Towers and has achieved a great understanding of their needs and the skills required across the business in Europe and Africa to recruit fresh talent for their organisation where they need it most urgently.

To date, Fuel Recruitment have made over 24 placements at a senior level on an exclusive or retained basis. Our success stems from the relationships we have built since first making contact, understanding the international telecoms marketplace built on Fuels reputation and developing productive relationships in country within the business.

Overview

In 2021 the government made the decision to build a new, very high volume ‘megalab’ in Leamington Spa as part of its response to COVID-19 and the large demand for testing. This lab would form a key part of the UK’s national infrastructure to respond to future epidemics as well as adding diagnostic capacity for other critical illnesses, including cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

The Challenge

This new megalab will generate employment opportunities in the local area and, once fully staffed and operating at full capacity, will have a skilled workforce of up to 2,000 people. It was recognised that to fulfil their recruitment targets, they would need a local recruitment business to assist with their goal. Our combination of local geographical knowledge and in-depth Life Sciences recruitment skills ensured that Fuel Recruitment were the only local recruitment business who were engaged to assist in recruiting the workforce for the laboratory.

The Solution

In January 2021 we started a recruitment drive for Lab Technicians, Biomedical Scientists, Data Scientists, Quality Professionals and Lab Managers. As well as supporting the megalab we were soon asked to recruit for Bracknell and Plymouth NHS Lighthouse Laboratories.

The Outcome

The megalab opened in Royal Leamington Spa in June 2021 and is the biggest of its kind in the UK, playing a vital role in efforts to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The lab was named the Rosalind Franklin laboratory.

In 2021 we supplied over 250 lab workers to the UK network of Lighthouse laboratories and were ranked the number one supplier in our area of expertise.

With the introduction of over 250 lab workers in 2021 and the continuing support of those contractors in 2022, we feel honoured to have played a part in helping to staff the laboratories in which over 5 million PCR tests have been carried out. Every test is important in reducing the transmission of the virus in our communities and helps to understand our progress in controlling the pandemic. The significant boost in diagnostic capabilities within the laboratories will also be used for other critical illnesses including cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases which will help save the lives of generations to come.