Thorn Baker Group: Behind the Scenes: A Day in

No two days on a construction site are ever alike, and the same can be said for recruiting in the construction industry. Being a consultant in such a specialised role is far more complex than it might appear. It’s a dynamic, fast-paced profession that demands adaptability, sharp problem-solving skills, and an in-depth understanding of both client requirements and candidate capabilities. To better understand what a typical day looks like for a Thorn Baker Construction recruiter, we sat down with Ted Grizzell, our Midlands Regional Manager, and accompanied Andy Marr, our Leeds based Key Account Manager, on client visits to find out more.

Our Construction Team’s mornings can kick off as early as 6am with calls to check in on our workers to make sure everything’s running smoothly. We’ll ensure they’re fully prepared and confident, from guiding them on the best bus routes to double-checking they’ve got the right gear. Need spare PPE? We’ll deliver it straight to them, so nothing stands in their way! By 8am, we’ll be on the phones and tackling urgent requests from clients who need last-minute help to cover issues like sickness, no-shows, or unexpected project demands. Once our clients are happy and last-minute workers are on their way, by late-morning some of our team will head out for on-site visits. Much of a recruiter’s day can be spent on the phone, but at Thorn Baker, we highly value in-person connections to build our partnerships, going beyond the standard ‘client – recruiter’ relationship.

At Christmas, we accompanied Andy on client visits across Leeds, including fit-out projects, residential housing projects and heritage sites! We delivered Christmas goodies, making sure to spread the festive cheer and bumped into one of our most loyal temps, who’s been working with us for over five years. Visiting our clients' sites allows us to experience their environment first-hand, giving us a deeper understanding of their challenges. We can review progress, assess staff holidays, and identify how we can help fill any gaps to keep the project running smoothly and on schedule. Being on-site also enables us to identify the physical and mental demands of the job which helps to match candidates by providing a clear picture of the job, company, and expectations. Of course, we always follow site safety regulations and make sure to look the part too - hard hats, boots, and high-vis are a must!

With visits complete, by the afternoon we’ll return to the office to catch-up with our other clients to review their workforce needs. A large part of recruiting in the construction sector is solving problems and delivering the most efficient and cost-effective strategies to our clients. Our 6-stage Proven Process plays a key role in this, particularly step 4, Select, which focuses on selecting the right person for the right opportunity.

The team will thoroughly vet qualifications, checking for valid CSCS and CPCS cards, establishing technical abilities and ensuring candidates are a good cultural fit. Tradespeople with strong references and a proven history of reliability on-site consistently gain our confidence and are frequently recommended to our clients. To uphold this standard, we check in with our workers every Sunday to ensure they are prepared and ready to be on-site first thing Monday morning. Additionally, we follow up with them during the week to verify they are on-site and punctual. This approach has helped us achieve an impressive 98% attendance rate! We end each day by planning for the next, ensuring any unfinished tasks are carried forward, ready to be completed.

So, there you have it – we know you thought our day was just chatting on the phone, skimming a few CVs, and scrolling LinkedIn with a cuppa in hand, but it’s so much more than that (although we do enjoy a good brew)! At Thorn Baker, keeping everyone happy and keeping projects moving is our top priority. We’ve done it for a long time – we’ve got over 35 years experience working with contractors, developers, and subcontractors across various sectors, so we’ve built a solid understanding of the type of people needed on-site to keep projects running smoothly.

Regional Manager, Ted, captured what he enjoys perfectly: “knowing that we genuinely offer a positive solution to everyone - candidates and clients alike... we are the solution, not the problem.”

Don’t be a stranger! Whether you're looking for work, or a client in search of high quality workers, get in contact with one of our construction consultants today for hands-on support - https://www.thornbaker.co.uk/disciplines/construction