Why Your Next Hire Should Be Temporary (And Why It Might Outperform Permanent)

Aug 8

Across the UK, the average permanent recruitment process now takes 10–12 weeks.
By the time the new hire starts, months have passed, and here’s the real situation. According to a McKinsey study, only 1 in 5 new hires are still delivering value after six months — meaning four out of five either leave or fail to meet expectations (McKinsey source).

Combine that with record-low employee engagement, and it’s no wonder many managers feel like they’re rolling the dice every time they hire.

But there’s a better way, one that gets skilled people in fast, keeps your team productive, and builds the kind of habits and behaviours that stick.

The Permanent Hiring Problem

Permanent recruitment isn’t broken — but it’s under pressure:

Slow timelines mean roles stay vacant while work piles up
High failure rates waste time, money, and morale
Poor early engagement sets the wrong tone from day one
Inexperienced hiring decisions in many businesses, recruitment isn’t led by trained talent specialists, so the wrong person can be hired for the wrong reasons

The result? Targets slip, teams burn out, and leaders spend more time firefighting than focusing on growth.

The Temporary Advantage

Temporary staffing flips the script:

Start in days, not months often within 24–48 hours
Proven, pre-vetted talent who can slot into your systems fast
Aligned expectations everyone knows success has to happen now, not in 6 months
Professional experts with a clear brief temps arrive ready to deliver against defined objectives, not “find their way” over months
Location-flexible whether you need them on-site, hybrid, or fully remote, temps can match your working setup
Specialist skills, only when you need them bring in high-level expertise for as long as required, keeping a tight rein on costs
Fair, transparent pricing day rates are calculated by pro-rating an equivalent annual salary, not inflated contractor fees, so you get quality without paying a premium

When the whole team, including the temp is clear that this placement is about impact, great behaviours emerge from day one.

Why It Works Better Than You Think

Focus from the start
Temps know they need to prove their value quickly. Managers give them clear goals and feedback from day one, creating a high-performance rhythm immediately.
No settling for “good enough”
Permanent hires can take months to fully onboard, temps need to deliver in week one. This urgency keeps momentum high and productivity strong.
The option to make it permanent
When everything clicks, the skills, the culture fit, the results, there’s nothing stopping you from offering a permanent role. You’ve essentially had a risk-free trial period.
Great people are ready now
Many skilled professionals are available to start immediately through no fault of their own, contract endings, business restructures, relocations. Bringing them in as temps gives you instant capability, while giving them the opportunity to keep doing great work. Helping them helps you.