Delivering a People-First MSP Workforce Solution for Energy at E.ON

CASE STUDYBy Rullion on 05 August 2025

As one of the UK’s leading energy suppliers, E.ON plays a vital role in delivering cleaner, smarter energy to millions of homes and businesses. When surging demand and national skills shortages put pressure on its hiring capabilities, E.ON turned to Rullion to deliver a high-impact MSP workforce solution for the energy sector.

The Challenge

E.ON required a scalable workforce solution tailored to the challenges of the UK energy sector. A partner capable of scaling delivery rapidly while upholding the high standards expected in a regulated, business-critical environment. E.ON partnered with Rullion to deliver change at pace through a model that was scalable, values-led, and built for the future.

  • Find and deploy qualified talent quickly
  • Maintain full compliance across all hiring activity
  • Improve speed-to-hire without compromising quality
  • Reduce second-tier supplier reliance and improve fulfilment ownership
  • Strengthen long-term workforce resilience in hard-to-fill roles

 

A People-First MSP, Built for Scale

To meet the complexity and urgency of E.ON’s hiring needs, we delivered a people-first MSP workforce solution for the energy sector, tailored specifically to E.ON’s goals, values, and operational environment. Designed for scalability, compliance, and cultural alignment, this solution focused on four core areas:

 

1. Behaviour-first hiring strategy

Instead of hiring based purely on experience or technical skills, Rullion implemented a behavioural-first approach. Every candidate was assessed for alignment with E.ON’s culture and values, ensuring a stronger long-term fit.

This shift helped E.ON:

  • Improve retention and engagement
  • Reduce rework and rehiring costs
  • Build teams aligned with its mission and ways of working

 

2. Direct fulfilment model

To remove bottlenecks and increase delivery accountability, Rullion deployed a 100% direct fulfilment model to reduce the cost and dependency on second-tier suppliers and improve the consistency of hires.

A direct fulfilment model means Rullion sources, screens, and delivers candidates directly, rather than relying on multiple external agencies. This creates a single point of accountability, streamlining communication and ensuring higher quality and cultural alignment at every stage.

For specialist or niche roles, we partnered with a small, carefully selected group of values-aligned suppliers. All were held to high standards via quarterly performance scorecards and our Supplier Code of Conduct.

 

3. Compliance and operational rigour

Across the highly regulated energy industry, compliance couldn’t be compromised. Our MSP model embedded clear governance and process discipline across every stage.

We achieved:

  • 100% timesheet accuracy
  • A simplified and more efficient onboarding process, reducing time-to-productivity
  • All new starter met rigorous regulatory and process standards

 

4. Continuous improvement through data and dialogue

Every element of the programme was tracked and evaluated against our Client Value Framework, which measures five key pillars: cost, compliance, operational performance, innovation, and social value.

These metrics don’t just sit in reports; we use this data to drive continuous improvement. Trends were reviewed monthly at the leadership level and shaped into action through quarterly business reviews with E.ON stakeholders — driving improvements across onboarding, IT access, and escalation processes.

 

What We Achieved Together

The success of this MSP workforce solution in the energy sector was due to the strong partnership formed between E.ON and Rullion. Together, we delivered measurable improvements across every stage of the contingent workforce lifecycle:

  • 99% fill rate across the MSP – critical roles were consistently filled, keeping operations running without interruption.
  • 100% direct hires – enabling faster, higher-quality delivery and reduced reliance on external suppliers.
  • +60 ‘Excellent’ NPS (Net Promoter Score) from hiring managers - reflecting strong satisfaction with responsiveness, quality, and collaboration.
  • 25% improvement in interview-to-offer ratio – helping E.ON move more efficiently from shortlist to signed contract.
  • 100% satisfaction in post-hire surveys – contingent workers reporting feeling supported, welcomed, and prepared from day one.
  • 100% timesheet accuracy - ensuring contingent workers were paid on time and in full, reinforcing trust and reliability.
  • Over 85% retention across placements – demonstrating a strong cultural match and long-term workforce stability.
  • 11% of contingent workers converted to permanent roles – supporting capability growth and long-term workforce planning within E.ON’s teams.

 

A Recognised MSP Model of Best Practice

This programme has since become a benchmark within our wider MSP portfolio, recognised externally as a leading example of contingent workforce delivery and shortlisted for APSCo OutSource MSP of the Year for its outstanding results, innovation, and partnership-led success.

Share
Looking for an MSP workforce solution for energy or critical infrastructure?

Whether you’re navigating rapid growth, regulatory complexity, or sector-specific hiring challenges, our MSP model can flex around your goals.


Visit our MSP solution page or book a discovery call to see how we can help you build a high-performing, future-ready workforce.

More like this

NEWS
Nova Workforce Solutions launches to simplify how external workforces are managed across nuclear, utilities and transport

Nova Workforce Solutions launches to simplify how external workforces are managed across nuclear, utilities and transport

Rullion and Allegis Global Solutions announce the launch of Nova Workforce Solutions, the result of an alliance between both organisations that introduces a new unified model designed to simplify how critical infrastructure organisations buy, manage and deliver external workforces and outsourced services. Created to address a long-standing gap in the market, Nova Workforce Solutions gives medium-to-large nuclear, utilities and transport organisations a single, consistent way to manage contractors, temporary labour, specialist suppliers and outsourced services. The model is particularly suited to critical infrastructure organisations where complex supply chains, large workforces, specialist skills demand and delivery risk require a more joined-up approach. Many organisations have historically had to choose between providers with strong workforce delivery expertise or those with established outsourced services capability. Nova Workforce Solutions has been designed to remove that compromise through one model, one route and one accountable approach. Its single front-door model routes each requirement to the right solution, helping reduce fragmentation and improve visibility, governance and decision-making across workforce and services spend. The launch comes at a time of significant long-term investment in energy, transport and national infrastructure, with governments and private enterprise committing substantial capital to modernisation, resilience and net zero programmes over the coming decade. With spend, value and efficiency high on the agenda for procurement and business leaders, Nova Workforce Solutions is designed to help organisations unlock up to 20% cost optimisation opportunities across the external workforce. Nova Workforce Solutions is already supporting delivery within a multinational energy business, demonstrating the model in a complex and controlled environment. Commenting on the launch, James Saoulli, CEO of Rullion and Founder of Nova Workforce Solutions, said: “The requirements from an MSP have evolved for critical infrastructure organisations. They realise value through managing the entire extended workforce, including highly specialised contingent workers and services providers under Statement of Work arrangements.   Organisations operating in these environments have historically had to compromise by choosing either deep sector experts, or organisations with the scale, breadth, governance, and data capabilities to deliver a world‑class MSP and services procurement. The reason Nova Workforce Solutions is such a bright idea is because it eliminates the need for compromise and offers organisations within critical infrastructure the best of both worlds.” Simon Bradberry, Vice President for International Markets (EMEA and APAC) at Allegis Global Solutions, added: “The requirements from an MSP have evolved for Critical Infrastructure organisations. They realise value through managing the entire extended workforce, including highly specialised contingent workers and services providers under Statement of Work arrangements. Organisations operating in these environments have historically had to compromise by choosing either deep sector experts, or organisations with the scale, breadth, governance, and data capabilities to deliver a world‑class MSP and services procurement. The reason Nova is such a bright idea is because it eliminates the need for compromise and offers organisations within Critical Infrastructure the best of both worlds.” Nova Workforce Solutions will be showcased at the CWS Summit Europe in London in May 2026, where the alliance will meet buyers and industry leaders responsible for workforce, procurement and business transformation. For more information, visit novaworkforcesolutions.com.

By Rullion on 29 April 2026

NEWS
Rullion Expands Rolling Stock Recruitment Partnership with Hitachi Rail

Rullion Expands Rolling Stock Recruitment Partnership with Hitachi Rail

Rullion, one of the UK's leading rail recruitment agencies, has been appointed the managed service programme (MSP) across Hitachi Rail's Services & Maintenance contracts, extending a partnership built on proven delivery in some of the country's most demanding rolling stock environments. The appointment brings Rullion's rail recruitment solutions across Hitachi Rail's intercity and commuter portfolios, covering the IEP fleets on GWR and LNER, EMR's Aurora services, ScotRail's Class 385s, and Southeastern and TPE operations. Recruitment spans the full range of skilled disciplines required to keep those fleets operational: Commissioning Technicians Maintenance Technicians Modification Technicians Paint Sprayers Team Leaders Warranty Technicians Welders The expanded remit builds on a relationship that already runs deep. Rullion's rail team has worked directly alongside Hitachi Rail at depot level, including at Etches Park and sites across London and Scotland, developing an insight into day-to-day delivery that underpins how rolling stock recruitment is approached and delivered. James Couchman, Rail Director at Rullion, said: "Expanding our partnership with Hitachi Rail is a significant step for our rail workforce solution and reflects the trust built through our existing relationship. Being chosen to support this broader programme shows the value of combining sector expertise with a genuine understanding of how Hitachi Rail depots operate across complex delivery environments." Rullion is the UK number one rolling stock recruiter, with more than 1,100 placements made over the last two years. Find out more about our rail recruitment solutions for rolling stock. Rullion and Hitachi Rail share a longer-term ambition to future-proof workforces with sustainable talent pipelines. The partnership also includes workforce development, such as working together on upskilling initiatives and looking into how AI-assisted training can help improve workforce readiness across Hitachi Rail's depot network. With HS2 rolling stock and next-generation battery and tri-mode decarbonisation fleets on the horizon, building depot teams with the technical depth to meet those demands is a priority that both organisations are actively working towards.

By Rullion on 28 April 2026