Two Decades of Workforce Partnership with a Global Life Sciences Leader
4 Minute ReadJuly 2026
Overview
For more than 20 years, Cpl has partnered with a leading global life sciences organisation to deliver contingent workforce solutions across its pharmaceutical, biopharma and MedTech operations in Ireland. What began as recruitment support has evolved into a strategic Vendor on Premises Managed Service Programme (MSP), providing scalable talent solutions across five manufacturing sites and helping the organisation respond to changing business and operational demands.
The partnership has grown into a strategic managed workforce solution, delivering end-to-end contingent workforce management across five manufacturing sites in Ireland. At peak demand, the programme has supported more than 1,200 contingent workers, providing the scale, governance and operational resilience required to maintain business continuity in a highly regulated environment.
Background
As manufacturing operations expanded, so did the demand for skilled people. Production requirements changed regularly, new product lines were introduced and competition for experienced talent increased. The client needed a partner that understood both the local labour market and the realities of running large manufacturing sites. Recruitment was only one part of the picture. Managing a growing contingent workforce, maintaining compliance and supporting hiring managers became equally important.
Challenge
The workforce needed to remain flexible without creating unnecessary complexity for the business.
Recruit contingent workers quickly as production requirements changed
Source specialist technical talent in a competitive market
Manage changing contingent workforce legislation and reduce co-employment risk
Maintain consistent workforce governance across multiple manufacturing sites
Retain experienced workers in an environment where replacing skilled talent takes time, affects productivity, and proves costly.
Solution
Over the years, the partnership has evolved far beyond traditional recruitment. Today, Cpl delivers an embedded managed service that supports the entire contingent workforce across five manufacturing sites, with dedicated teams deployed on-site to provide a scalable, integrated, and responsive workforce solution.
Embedded Workforce Management
Dedicated onsite teams manage the contingent worker lifecycle from attraction and assessment through to onboarding, payroll, HR support, performance management and day-to-day workforce queries.
During peak periods, Cpl supports more than 1,200 contingent workers. Having teams based onsite means issues can be resolved quickly while giving hiring managers direct access to experienced workforce specialists.
Recruitment Delivery
Recruitment is designed around the requirements of pharmaceutical, biopharma and MedTech manufacturing.
Candidates complete a structured assessment process that looks at technical ability, manual dexterity and their ability to work within standard operating procedures (SOPs) before progressing through medical screening and referencing. This helps maintain quality standards while reducing hiring risk.
As hiring requirements changed, support expanded beyond manufacturing into engineering, scientific, finance and business support roles. Cpl also manages more than 120 student placements each year across three manufacturing sites through the client's Co-Op Programme.
To strengthen retention, Cpl introduced its Employed Worker Model for experienced contingent workers. Over the last three years, 287 temporary workers have moved into permanent positions, allowing the client to retain valuable skills while reducing the cost of replacing experienced people.
Specialist Hiring
When specialist engineering roles became difficult to recruit within Ireland, Cpl delivered an International RPO programme to widen the talent pool.
The campaign generated a pipeline of more than 500 qualified candidates, and every position was filled within the agreed timeframe.
Workforce Governance
Alongside recruitment delivery, Cpl provides workforce reporting, compliance management, labour market insight and guidance for hiring managers. This gives the client better visibility across its contingent workforce while supporting informed workforce planning.
The strength of the partnership was reflected when the organisation appointed a global MSP provider across EMEA but chose to retain Cpl in Ireland because of its local market expertise, established onsite model and long-standing knowledge of the business.
Services Delivered
Managed Service Programme (MSP)
End-to-end contingent workforce management
Vendor Management
International Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)
Marketing and campaign management
Contact centre staffing
Blended workforce solutions and Future of Work advisory
Commercial excellence and cost optimisation
Key Outcomes
The partnership continues to deliver measurable results, including:
Over 20 years supporting the client's workforce in Ireland
Workforce management across five manufacturing sites
More than 1,200 contingent workers supported during peak production periods
More than 120 students placed annually through the Co-Op Programme
287 temporary-to-permanent conversions over the past three years
A pipeline of more than 500 qualified international candidates for specialist engineering roles
Improved workforce visibility and governance
Greater flexibility to respond to changing production requirements
Reduced operational and legislative risk through an embedded onsite workforce model
Continued appointment as the client's workforce partner in Ireland following the introduction of a global MSP provider across EMEA
Twenty years on, Cpl continues to support the client's changing workforce requirements through an embedded managed service that combines recruitment expertise, onsite workforce management and strategic workforce support. The partnership has evolved as the business has grown and continues to provide the flexibility, oversight and specialist talent needed across its manufacturing operations.
If you would like to learn more about Cpl's Managed Service Programme, contact one of our experts today.
