The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) was created to bring a fresh approach to the system of paying MPs’ expenses.
We partnered with IPSA in the early stages of their development, working to support their interim HR function. We were engaged to recruit 15 permanent hires, from Director to Executive Officer grades, across key disciplines.
MPs' expenses is a significant issue of public interest, so we needed to produce a transparent process which could withstand the highest levels of scrutiny.
The recruitment campaign needed to deliver the best people for each role, but at the same time build successful teams with complementary skills who would be able to work effectively together from day one.
To attract high-quality diverse candidate pools, we recommended the use of both on and offline advertising.
Candidates provided CVs and completed application forms. The highest-rated candidates attended a preliminary interview.
We then proceeded with a shortlist of three candidates per role, presenting them to IPSA for the final interview stage. Shortlisted candidates were asked to complete a personality questionnaire and psychometric assessment.
To speed up the appointments process, we initiated the security clearance process for all shortlisted candidates.
Final panel interviews for 15 roles took place over five days. Detailed diversity monitoring was carried out at every stage of the process, with comprehensive management information provided for each role and across the entire recruitment project.
All the responses, which totalled nearly 500, were managed by the team. 104 preliminary interviews were conducted by Morgan Philips Group with 43 candidates going forward to the final panel interview. The roles were successfully filled and the project was a success.
"Throughout the campaign, they provided a thoroughly professional service, displaying a clear focus on the task at hand and managing a complex diverse project within a short timeframe. The feedback from internal colleagues, candidates and appointees was very positive”
– Adrian Rickard, HR Director, IPSA