Solving the recruitment challenge that others couldn’t at New Energy Training

3 mins read

Finding skilled people in a tight labour market can be challenging at the best of times. For specialist training organisations operating in fast-moving industries, those challenges are often amplified. For New Energy Training, persistent skills shortages and operational pressure meant filling key roles had become increasingly urgent.

The problem

Previous recruitment attempts had fallen short when it came to administrative support. While candidates were interviewed through other channels, the right fit for the role and the organisation had remained elusive.

The solution

New Energy Training engaged NW Professional Services, drawing on an existing trusted relationship with consultant Kirsty, who had a strong understanding of both the recruitment market and Sales Manager Sam Magriplis’ working style.

Rather than taking a transactional approach, NW Professional Services invested time upfront to understand the business, its culture and the practical realities of the roles being recruited.

“Kirsty asked a lot of questions and really took the time to understand what we were trying to achieve,” Sam said.

Initially, the focus was on the hard-to-fill trainer role. As discussions progressed, New Energy Training also identified the need for a student administration officer to relieve internal pressure and improve day-to-day operations.

NW Professional Services managed the process end to end, from role scoping and candidate sourcing through to screening and shortlisting. Throughout, communication remained consistent and proactive.

“She’s easy to communicate with. She calls when she says she’s going to call, she’s responsive, and she kept us updated throughout the process,” Sam said. “She even rang me on weekends with updates.”

The results

The student administration officer role was filled quickly, with only external scheduling factors delaying the start date. From day one, the impact was tangible.

The successful candidate demonstrated strong alignment with the role and picked up systems and processes rapidly, including the organisation’s student management system.

“The candidate we’ve got is spot-on,” Sam said. “She’s picking it up really fast and doing really well.”

By transferring administrative responsibilities away from senior staff, the placement has already delivered meaningful operational benefits. Sam is now able to focus more fully on sales and national responsibilities, rather than being tied to day-to-day administration.

“It’s freed up a lot of my time already,” he said. “I’m spending less time doing admin and more time doing what I was hired to do.”

Beyond immediate efficiency gains, the placement has set New Energy Training up for longer-term improvements, with the administration officer continuing to build expertise and ownership of systems and processes.

Reflecting on the experience, Sam describes NW Professional Services as professional, responsive and deeply knowledgeable.

“They know their stuff,” he said. “I’ve worked in recruitment myself and I know how rare that level of trust and consistency can be.”