Is Recruit, Train, Deploy a Way to Overcome the Skills Gap?

The Recruit, Train, Deploy (RTD) model is gaining traction as an innovative approach to addressing skills shortages across industries. By hiring individuals without specific expertise, equipping them with tailored training, and placing them into suitable roles, this model seeks to provide businesses with a fresh pool of skilled workers.

What Does the RTD Model Involve?

The RTD model operates in three stages:

  1. Recruit: Hiring individuals with the right potential, regardless of their technical skills or industry experience.
  2. Train: Delivering specialised training to bridge the gap between existing knowledge and the role’s requirements.
  3. Deploy: Placing these newly trained individuals into jobs where their new skills can be immediately applied.
Application in Telecoms and M&E Engineering

Sectors such as telecoms and M&E face persistent skills gaps due to rapidly evolving technologies and project demands. RTD provides an opportunity to:

  • Address shortages in specialised roles like network engineers, fibre splicers, and maintenance technicians.
  • Upskill workers to meet emerging needs in areas like 5G deployment, data centre operations, and renewable energy projects.
Success using the RTD Model

Facing a shortage of digital skills, HMRC collaborated with Public Sector Resourcing (PSR) to implement the RTD model. They recruited individuals from diverse backgrounds, provided 4-6 weeks of accredited training, and deployed them into roles such as Digital Business Analysts and Cloud Engineers. As of January 2024, HMRC had 16 RTD workers in IT and digital roles, effectively addressing their skill shortages. This highlights the model’s ability to fill critical roles while offering candidates valuable career progression.

Challenges of RTD

While effective, RTD comes with challenges:

  • Upfront Costs: Developing and delivering training programmes can require significant investment
  • Time Commitment: Training workers to a deployable level can delay their integration into projects
  • Retention Risks: Newly skilled workers may seek opportunities elsewhere, limiting the return on investment
How CITILINE Supports Workforce Strategies

CITILINE partners with businesses to optimise workforce planning and execution. Our services help meet project needs by:

  • Providing access to skilled candidates for immediate and future roles
  • Crafting custom talent solutions that align with company objectives
  • Offering market insights to shape effective recruitment and retention strategies

With our expertise in telecoms and M&E recruitment, we bridge gaps and build high-performing teams.

Our Services:
  • Managed Service
    We work closely with clients to deliver bespoke recruitment solutions. Our RPO services embed our consultants within your hiring teams to secure top talent, backed by market intelligence and industry expertise.
  • Executive Search
    Our consultants specialise in sourcing high-level executives and directors, with a strong network of industry leaders who bring technological expertise and vision to drive success in telecoms and M&E.
  • Permanent Recruitment
    We take the time to understand your company culture, ensuring we deliver candidates who not only have the technical skills but also share your values. Our service covers everything from screening to offer negotiations, focusing on maximising ROI.
  • Contract Recruitment
    We provide contingent resources quickly and precisely, managing contractual obligations through our approved supply chain. As a Sentinel sponsor, we ensure compliance with AWR and IR35 regulations.
Why work with CITILINE?

CITILINE’s tailored recruitment solutions enable businesses to meet both short-term and long-term workforce goals. By combining strategic recruitment support with our in-depth industry knowledge, we help you stay ahead in a competitive market

Contact us, here to explore how we can support your workforce strategy.

Technical Skills Shortages – CP7: What is Going On?

The technical skills shortage is a growing concern, with initiatives such as Network Rail’s Control Period 7 (CP7) highlighting critical gaps in the workforce. With £44 billion allocated to maintaining and improving the UK’s rail network from 2024 to 2029, CP7 is crucial for delivering safer, more reliable infrastructure. However, the success of these projects depends heavily on access to skilled professionals, and the workforce is struggling to keep up with demand.

Recruitment Challenges

CP7 is facing significant hurdles due to skills shortages across engineering, telecoms, and M&E sectors:

  • Many roles remain unfilled, especially in civil engineering, signalling, and electrical systems, where highly specialised expertise is essential.
  • Retirements from an ageing workforce are resulting in a loss of valuable experience, creating a substantial void in critical areas.
  • There is a lack of early career talent, as limited graduate schemes and apprenticeships have left fewer people entering the industry.
  • Demand for skilled professionals continues to outstrip supply, driving intense competition for talent.
  • Following an overspend in CP6, we’ve observed many projects being scaled back or cancelled due to funding constraints. This has resulted in fewer work opportunities for specialists, prompting many engineers to either move or consider moving abroad, deepening the talent shortage in an industry already struggling to retain skilled professionals.
What’s Causing the Shortage?

The skills gap stems from years of underinvestment in training and development, combined with inadequate promotion of rail careers to younger generations. Projects have become increasingly complex, requiring advanced expertise that is difficult to find, making the problem even harder to address.

Can It Be Fixed?

Solving these challenges will require:

  • Upskilling the current workforce to fill immediate gaps and adapt to evolving project requirements.
  • Strengthening apprenticeship and graduate pipelines to create sustainable talent pools for the future.
  • Better workforce planning to anticipate and address future recruitment needs.
  • Partnering with specialist recruiters to identify and secure talent efficiently.
How CITILINE Can Help

CITILINE offers specialist recruitment solutions tailored to the telecoms and M&E sectors, helping businesses secure the skilled professionals needed for CP7. From sourcing technical experts for immediate projects to supporting long-term workforce planning, we are committed to bridging the skills gap and driving success across the rail industry. Find out how we can support your workforce strategy during CP7, here.