/ Success Stories

Strategic Talent Enablement in Manufacturing

Author

Deirdre Ahern
Deirdre Ahern
Strategic Talent Enablement in Manufacturing
Published

How Fastnet partnered with a growing manufacturing client to build a future-ready talent acquisition function - enhancing brand presence, streamlining hiring processes, and enabling confident delivery on strategic workforce plans.

Executive summary

A fast-growing small molecule manufacturing organisation faced significant challenges in establishing its presence in the local market, scaling its workforce, and integrating new talent acquisition (TA) and learning & development (L&D) functions under HR. As a new player in the region, the company required an agile and strategic approach to talent acquisition, balancing business priorities, cultural integration, and the need for specialised expertise in niche roles.

Fastnet’s Total Talent Partnership (TTP) provided a structured, end-to-end talent acquisition solution designed to enhance employer branding, streamline recruitment, and build long-term talent pipelines.

Existing Challenges 

1.

Brand Recognition:

Entering a competitive market with a need to establish employer brand and attract top talent.

2.

Talent Acquisition under HR

Expanding HR's scope to include new responsibilities, requiring new processes and efficiencies.

3.

Hiring Managers:

Managers lacked prior experience in structured talent acquisition.

4.

Cultural Integration:

A need to align company culture across different departments while maintaining a strong employer brand.

5.

Multiple Business Priorities:

Balancing workforce expansion with competing organisational needs and strategic objectives.

6.

Forecasted Hiring Ramps:

Agility required in rapidly scaling the workforce while ensuring high-quality recruitment and retention.

“The strategic approach and dedicated support provided by Fastnet have enabled us to attract high-caliber candidates who are not only skilled but also align perfectly with our company culture. This has led to a noticeable increase in employee satisfaction and retention rates, ensuring that our team remains strong and cohesive.”

Our TTP approach

1.

Co-developed Employer Brand through targeted EVP workshops with the Senior and Operations Leadership Teams, ensuring alignment with internal identity and talent market expectations

2.

Activated internal Brand Ambassadors to amplify the employer brand and drive consistency across candidate touchpoints

3.

Expanded reach and traction by leveraging Fastnet’s extensive network and talent community

4.

Built a robust end-to-end talent acquisition process, clearly outlining responsibilities and expectations via tailored service level agreements (SLAs)

5.

Implemented strategic talent pipelining to proactively address hiring ramps and critical role vacancies

6.

Introduced Net Promoter Score (NPS) tracking to benchmark and improve candidate experience across the hiring journey

7.

Established strong stakeholder engagement, developing trusted partnerships with hiring managers and site leadership

8.

Facilitated monthly talent reviews with key HR and site leaders to ensure continued strategic alignment and delivery agility

“A positive candidate experience is crucial for talent attraction, company culture, and employee retention. Fastnet excels in creating a seamless and engaging recruitment process that leaves candidates feeling valued and respected.”

 

Results & Impact

  • A fully embedded and responsive talent acquisition process, aligned with the organisation’s evolving needs
  • Elevated brand recognition in a competitive local talent market
  • Stronger confidence from senior leaders in the ability to deliver on ambitious workforce strategies
  • Exceptional candidate experience, underpinned by a consistently high NPS (9.2)
  • 100% fill rate across business-critical roles, ensuring operational continuity
  • Freed up HR and hiring manager capacity to focus on strategic business priorities

Through a trusted, hands-on partnership, the organisation built the internal confidence, processes, and brand presence needed to support sustainable growth and ongoing talent attraction.

"Since partnering with Fastnet under the Total Talent Partnership (TTP), we have experienced significant improvements in both talent attraction and retention.  The Fastnet team takes the time to understand our specific needs and challenges, offering tailored solutions that drive real results. 

They are simply the best at what they do."

Enhance your Talent Lifecycle

Interested in a holistic approach to talent management that complements your in-house capabilities?

Niamh O′Driscoll
Niamh O′Driscoll
Managing Partner
+353 86 638 6228
E-mail Contact
info@fastnettalent.com
+353 21 450 9200

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