Reflections on 2024: Membership Recruitment Challenges and the Role of Temporary Support in 2025

2024 has been a challenging year for everyone, and the not-for-profit sector has felt the strain in unique ways. Restructures have been a recurring theme, with many organisations needing to make difficult decisions, including redundancies. The knock-on effects of these restructures are already becoming clear, and we anticipate an increase in temporary support roles in 2025.

When organisations restructure, the workloads left behind often fall to remaining staff, who can quickly become overburdened and overwhelmed. This pressure frequently leads to higher levels of absenteeism, creating further gaps that need to be filled. At the same time, as organisations recruit for permanent positions, there’s often no capacity to manage the interim period without bringing in temporary support. Temps provide a much-needed lifeline during these transitions, ensuring teams continue to function smoothly while longer-term solutions are put in place.
 

Why Agencies Are More Relevant Than Ever

We’ve also seen many clients take a “direct-first” approach, often advertising for roles twice before turning to agencies. While this can work for some positions, the feedback we’re hearing is that certain roles attract an overwhelming number of irrelevant CVs, making the shortlisting process time-consuming and inefficient. Agencies like ours can make this process far smoother, providing carefully vetted candidates who meet the brief and saving organisations both time and resources.
 

Looking Ahead

As we enter 2025, it’s clear that temporary recruitment will play a critical role in helping not-for-profits navigate what is likely to remain a fast-changing environment. Whether it’s supporting teams during recruitment campaigns, providing relief during busy periods, or stepping in to cover absences, temporary staff offer flexibility and stability when it’s needed most.

If you’d like to discuss how we can support your organisation in the new year, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me or one of our team members. We’re here to help, and we look forward to partnering with you to meet whatever challenges or opportunities 2025 may bring.

Claire Stevens