c.net loginContact Us
Solutions
Solutions

From vendor neutral and hybrid contingent and permanent staffing supply chains to services procurement, we work seamlessly together to solve your complex, people-based procurement challenges.

Discover our Solutions

Advanced Direct Sourcing
Our end-to-end advanced direct sourcing solution activates your employer brand and EVP to attract, curate and engage talent communities for repeatable hiring needs.
Vendor Neutral Managed Services
Our vendor neutral contingent workforce management solutions remove workforce challenges​ ​and simplifying working at scale.
Statement of Work
Our Statement of work management solution leverages our powerful VMS c.net to give greater visibility, control, compliance and governance from your services procurement spend.
Shift Control
Our Shift Control app streamlines shift management with easy applications, fast approvals, and real-time comms for workers and employers.
Talent bank
Our Talent bank solution provides real-time access to a pool of high quality, pre-screened contingent workers for last-minute positions you need to fill fast.
Payroll
Our easy-to-use payroll solution removes the administrative burden associated with non-employee payroll, ensuring fast payments and outstanding candidate experience.
Vetting and Screening
We deliver effective and consistent application vetting and screening regardless of assignment type. This covers a variety of pre-employment and governance checks.
NEPO
Comensura is a key strategic partner in the NEPO framework, operating as a vendor neutral MSP, contracting with local authorities through the framework.
About Us
About Us

We provide access to essential talent - through bespoke CWM solutions, statement of work management, superior supply chain management, direct sourcing and the fullest capability of our parent group, Impellam.

Learn more about Comensura

Awards
Awards, accreditations and outstanding analyst rankings - we’ve been recognised by many of the leading institutions and analysts in our industry.
Our People
Our brilliant people set us apart from the rest, in our determination to do even more and to always be ambitious and brave for our customers.
Join us
See what it’s like to be part of the Comensura team and view our vacancies.
Suppliers
Comensura enables suppliers to provide staffing solutions to over 133 organisations, managing £1 billion in workforce spend globally.
What makes us different
Our passion, knowledge, and hard-earned reputation will give you the confidence that Comensura is the smart choice for your organisation. But what makes us stand out from the crowd?

View all insights

News & Insights
Discover the latest news and insights, delving into industry trends, expert opinions, and innovative strategies shaping the future of workforce management.
Guides & Reports
Insightful reports, guides and research, designed to assist you in navigating the complexities of modern workforce management.
Case Studies
Explore our case studies to gain valuable insights into the practical application, impact and results of Comensura's solutions.
  • Home
Customer success story

Strengthening workforce governance and delivery for a large local authority within the NEPO framework

A large North-East local authority operating under the NEPO framework needed to achieve greater control, transparency and compliance across its temporary workforce.

Talk to our team View results
Impact at a glance
A structured, data-driven approach to workforce governance. Supporting a complex, high-volume temporary workforce across multiple directorates.
96,000+
Hours worked by temporary staff in a single quarter
244/week
Average temporary workers supported
474
New orders created in a five-month period
339 days
Average booking tenure achieved
~5%
Auto-approval rate stabilised
Programme impact: Comensura helped the Council strengthen workforce governance, compliance and reporting across a large, complex temporary workforce.
Public sectorIndustry
244/weekTemporary workers supported
North-East, UKRegion supported
The Situation

A large North-East local authority needed greater control over a complex temporary workforce.

A large North-East local authority operating under the NEPO framework needed to achieve greater control, transparency and compliance across its temporary workforce.

With demand spanning social care, environmental services and operational roles, the organisation worked closely with Comensura to improve governance, maintain service continuity and respond to ongoing audit and compliance pressures while managing significant volumes of temporary labour.

Being part of the NEPO framework means this local authority were able to benefit from collaborative procurement processes that drive savings, enhance efficiency and support the delivery of high-quality services across the North-East.

As a delivery partner to NEPO and its member authorities, Comensura works closely with local authority services procurement teams to manage complex workforce challenges in a way that balances flexibility, control and public value.

Workforce scale
244/week
Average temporary workers supported during peak periods, spanning children's services, adult social care, neighbourhood services and environmental operations.
Framework
NEPO
Comensura acts as a delivery partner to NEPO and its member authorities, balancing flexibility, control and public value.
The Challenge

Rigorous compliance and consistent governance were essential across a high-volume, complex workforce.

The authority manages a complex and high-volume temporary workforce across multiple directorates, including children’s services, adult social care, neighbourhood services and environmental operations.

During peak periods, the organisation averaged around 244 temporary workers per week, with over 96,000 hours worked in a single quarter and over 474 new orders created within a five-month reporting period. This scale created pressure around visibility, assurance and consistency.

As a highly audit focused organisation, the authority required rigorous compliance across pay, working time regulations and umbrella company arrangements. Transitioning from a previous framework and integrating legacy data increased the risk of inconsistency, particularly within social care roles subject to agency worker regulations and complex pay structures. The council was proactive in seeking to quickly identify issues, raise findings and expected rapid, collaborative resolution.

In addition, fluctuating demand across departments and seasonal roles led to significant variation in spend and hours, with children’s services and neighbourhood services consistently accounting for a large proportion of activity. Ensuring service continuity while maintaining control over supplier performance, timesheet approvals and booking tenure remained an ongoing challenge.

The Solution

A structured, collaborative governance model built on data and rapid resolution.

Comensura worked in partnership with this local authority to implement a structured, highly collaborative governance approach, centred on regular quarterly business reviews, open data sharing and continuous operational dialogue. Detailed workforce management reporting enabled the authority to track spend, hours, booking tenure and supplier activity by division and category, supporting evidence-based decision making.

In response to audit requirements, targeted compliance reviews were undertaken focusing on worker pay, working time regulations and umbrella company arrangements. Any concerns identified were jointly investigated, with corrective actions implemented quickly to ensure alignment with local authority standards and NEPO framework requirements.

This hands-on approach reinforced confidence in governance processes and strengthened working relationships.

Supplier management was also prioritised. Performance data was used to understand delivery effectiveness across staffing categories, while efforts continued to encourage self-service hiring where appropriate, supported by ongoing training for hiring managers. Regular engagement ensured that the temporary workforce model remained responsive, compliant and aligned to operational need.

Results

Greater workforce visibility, stronger compliance and continuity of critical services.

339 days
Average booking tenure achieved
~5%
Auto-approval rate stabilised
474
New orders in a five-month period
96,000+
Hours worked in a single quarter

The authority achieved improved visibility and control across its temporary workforce, supported by consistent reporting and structured governance. Average booking tenure increased to 339 days in one quarter, indicating improved workforce stability despite a reduction in overall booking volumes.

Compliance oversight was strengthened through proactive auditing and rapid issue resolution, reducing risk in high priority areas such as social care and umbrella company engagement. Timesheet approval processes became more consistent, with auto-approval rates stabilising at around 5%, reinforcing financial control and accountability.

Most importantly, the partnership enabled the authority to maintain continuity across critical services while managing a large and diverse temporary workforce. The collaborative, data-driven approach established a robust foundation for ongoing improvement and positioned the organisation as a flagship example of effective public sector workforce management and governance within the NEPO framework.

Moving forward, Durham and Comensura remain committed to continuously reviewing and enhancing the approach in partnership, staying responsive to evolving needs in areas such as health surveillance and legislative change.

If your organisation is seeking greater control and transparency over its temporary workforce, contact Comensura today:
A trusted vendor neutral managed service provider (MSP) across the public sector, our tailored public sector workforce management solutions can help you achieve compliance and efficiency.
Talk to our team →

United Kingdom

First Floor, Mulberry House
Parkland Square
750 Capability Green
Luton, LU1 3LU

Australia

Suite 1403
Level 14, 309 Kent Street
Sydney
NSW 2000

Part Of

© 2026 Comensura.

Site by