Kier group

The challenge

The importance of giving candidates a great experience really can’t be underestimated. Kier’s previous application process was too complicated, taking over 10 minutes to complete, which led to more than 30% of candidates giving up part way through their applications. Onboarding took too long and recruiters were losing significant time each year due to various issues.

The careers site also had its challenges. It was buried within their corporate website which was aimed at a different audience and was not integrated with Google for Jobs or other job boards, making it hard for potential candidates to find and apply for open roles which included a significant amount of clicks.

To attract a wider range of candidates, both in thinking and background, Kier needed a recruitment process that wasn’t just fit for the industry, but a leader in the market.

Recognising these challenges, Kier decided it was time to revamp their recruitment software and processes to improve both the candidate experience and operational efficiency.

The solution

As part of their talent acquisition strategy, Kier identified four key areas that needed improvement:

Accessibility: Ensuring the careers site was easy to find and accessible for all candidates.
Simplification: Streamlining the process for candidates, recruiters, and hiring managers to make it more user-friendly.
Engagement: Giving recruiters more time to engage directly with candidates and convert website visitors into applicants.
Futureproofing: Implementing a system that could adapt easily to changing market conditions and allow for updates to content and processes.

Kier introduced a new recruitment system, PageUp Europe, internally branded as ‘Kier Recruit.’ This provided the opportunity to redesign the recruitment and onboarding process from the job search to the candidate’s first day at work.

The new system enabled Kier to create a standalone careers site focused on the candidate’s experience. Collaborating with PageUp Europe, colleagues, and candidates, Kier redesigned the site’s content to be people centric. This change led to a significant decrease in bounce rates, and candidates now spend more time browsing the site, gaining valuable insights to make informed decisions about their careers.

To further support inclusivity, Kier implemented a globally leading accessibility toolbar. This tool allows candidates to customisecustomize their experience by adjusting font sizes, colours, and animations. By prioritising accessibility, Kier ensured that all candidates, regardless of their needs, had equal opportunities to engage with the site.

The application forms were streamlined, reducing the number of questions to only the essentials and displayed in a format that was more inclusive. This has made the process quicker and resulted in a noticeable decrease in incomplete applications.

Throughout the recruitment process, candidates are kept informed via email and SMS. When invited to an interview, candidates can select a convenient time slot and calendar invites are automatically generated.

Candidates can request interview adjustments, ensuring a comfortable experience and feedback is offered to all interviewees, ensuring a good candidate experience.

Kier has also streamlined the offer and onboarding process. The onboarding process was simplified with features like auto-populated forms and gamification, making it more engaging. Candidates are now introduced to Kier’s culture through animations and a personalisedpersonalized pre-boarding stage, including a welcome video from the CEO.

The results

The transformation of Kier’s recruitment process has yielded impressive results:

Unique visitors to the careers site have increased by 110% with a 30% conversion to applications.
Visitors are spending 4+ minutes on the careers site, with a significantly improved bounce rate There is a much greater level of engagement and intent demonstrated by visitors.
The content in Kier’s application forms have been reduced by 68% which now takes around 1-2 minutes to complete. This led to an increase in complete applications, with incomplete applications reduced by 83%.
Recruiters have become more efficient due to a more stream lined process and have with more time to now engage directly with their candidates.
Candidates typically now receive written job offers within 48 hours, speeding up the process for both candidates and hiring managers.
During just six months, the accessibility toolbar was used over 19,000 times demonstrating a high demand for accessibility among their site visitors.

Kier’s candidate experience received a multitude of accolades in 2024, showcasing excellence in various aspects of recruitment and onboarding. This only strengthens their employer brand, making them a more attractive choice for new talent.

They were rewarded with the following awards:

* Candidate Experience at the Personnel Today Awards 2024

* Best Use of Mobile at the Onrec Awards 2024

* Bronze for Candidate Experience at the IHR Awards 2024

* Bronze for Onboarding Strategy at the IHR Awards 2024

*Gold for Recruitment Team – Large (More than 5,000 employees) at the IHR Awards 2024

Kier’s recruitment processes have been successfully transformed with the implementation of PageUp Europe. By simplifying the application process, improving accessibility, and enhancing the candidate experience, Kier has created a more inclusive hiring environment and is now better positioned to attract top talent in a competitive market.