Optimising High-Volume Recruitment: Arnold Clark’s Automated Referencing Success Story

Arnold Clark, one of the largest car dealer groups in Europe and a multi-branch organisation, manages a high-volume recruitment process, hiring 300-400 people monthly during peak seasons.

Faced with the challenges of a manual, time-consuming employment referencing process, Arnold Clark implemented  Amiqus’ automated Employment Referencing check, in addition to the Right to Work (RTW) and Disclosure checks they were already using, to further streamline their hiring procedures and improve efficiency.

We spoke to CaroleAnne McCann, Group Recruitment Manager, to learn more about their processes.

Before implementing Amiqus’ automated Employment referencing solution, Arnold Clark’s employment reference checks were handled manually. The process was labour-intensive and involved:

• Manual reference collection: References were gathered via phone, relying on tools like Outlook, Word, and occasionally their Applicant Tracking System. This process was inefficient and prone to delays.
• Extended timelines: Reference requests were sent out within 3-5 days of receiving the information from the candidate while obtaining responses could take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks, often requiring follow-ups.
• Impact on hiring timelines: The extended reference check process often delayed decision-making, slowing down the overall hiring and onboarding timeline.
• High administrative burden: The recruitment team spent excessive time chasing non-respondent referees, further complicating the hiring process.

Recognising the need for greater efficiency, Arnold Clark sought an automated solution to speed up their hiring process. Having already used Amiqus for RTW and disclosure checks, the decision to implement Amiqus’ automated reference checks was straightforward. The system promised easy integration and a unified platform for all pre-employment checks. The implementation process involved:

• Quick and easy setup: The Arnold Clark recruitment team found the setup process seamless. Amiqus provided comprehensive training, ensuring the team was quickly up to speed.
• Integrated platform: The team appreciated the ability to conduct RTW, disclosure and reference checks within the same system, simplifying the candidate journey and recruiter tasks.

The switch to Amiqus’ automated reference checks delivered substantial improvements:

• Reduced time to send reference requests: As a result of automation, reference requests are now sent out immediately after receiving candidate information, a significant improvement over the previous 3-5 day timeframe.
• Faster reference processing: The automated system processed over 320 references in just one week. Arnold Clark saved 15-30 minutes per reference, amounting to hundreds of hours saved across the recruitment team.
• Improved hiring timelines: By speeding up the reference check process, Arnold Clark reduced the overall time needed to finalise candidate files by two days, enabling quicker onboarding and decision-making.
• Enhanced candidate and recruiter experience:  The automated system has alleviated the administrative burden on recruiters, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks. Candidates also benefit from a smoother, faster recruitment process.

Arnold Clark continues to receive high-quality support from Amiqus, with regular check-ins and updates. The recruitment team is happy with Amiqus’ hands-on approach and appreciates the ongoing improvements and functionalities Amiqus has introduced/plans to introduce.

Implementing Amiqus’ automated reference check solution has transformed Arnold Clark’s recruitment process. The organisation now enjoys faster, more efficient hiring, significantly reduced administrative work, and an improved candidate experience. With Amiqus, Arnold Clark is well-equipped to handle its high-volume recruitment needs.

Experience Amiqus’ pre-employment screening, including automated Employment reference checks in action. Watch a quick, personalised demo or schedule a consultation for an informal chat with our team at your convenience.