Purpose

The decision is being taken to introduce an interim 12-month
senior recruitment framework, with the option to extend for a
further 12 months, to ensure continuity of critical leadership
resourcing while the organisation develops its new long-term
resourcing model. Demand for senior and specialist appointments
has increased due to organisational growth and transformation
activity, placing pressure on internal capacity and highlighting the
need for a compliant, reliable route to market. The existing Master
Vendor Framework has not consistently delivered the required
quality or responsiveness, and moving immediately to a new
long-term framework is not feasible given the development work
still underway. A pause on senior recruitment would significantly
impact organisational delivery. Internal consultation with HR,
Commercial, Legal and senior People and Transformation
stakeholders confirmed the need for a structured interim solution
that maintains service continuity and mitigates operational and
compliance risks.

Decision

The decision authorises the establishment and use of an
interim senior recruitment framework for 12 months, with an
optional 12-month extension, to provide a compliant, efficient
and stable mechanism for securing executive and specialist
talent. The framework enables access to pre-assessed
suppliers with transparent pricing, reduces ad-hoc procurement
activity, and supports consistent quality in senior-level
recruitment. The framework ensures compliance with
procurement regulations and internal governance
requirements, reducing risks of challenge, non-compliant
spend and inconsistent recruitment practice. Without this
arrangement, the organisation would face delays to critical
appointments, reduced capacity to deliver strategic priorities,
and reputational risks associated with fragmented recruitment
processes.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 -
Option 2 -
Option 3 -