"Rullion took a true partnership approach, supported us throughout, and went above and beyond to ensure a successful launch. As a result, a great outcome was achieved for the business."
Northumbrian Water Group: from mobilisation to long-term workforce partner
Client snapshot
Northumbrian Water Group
Managed Service Programme for Information Services and professional services talent
In late 2024, we mobilised an MSP for Northumbrian Water Group in four weeks. Nearly two years on, the contingent workforce is at its highest headcount, every KPI is being met, and contractors rate the service at +70.6 NPS.
An Embedded MSP Workforce Solution for Utilities
In late 2024, Rullion mobilised a compliant, high-performing MSP workforce solution for utilities leader Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) in just four weeks. [Read the mobilisation case study] Nearly two years on, the MSP has grown into a long-term workforce partnership supporting NWG's Information Services (IS) and professional services talent.
NWG delivers essential water and wastewater services across the North East, Essex and Suffolk. AMP8, which runs from 2025 to 2030, is NWG's largest investment programme to date, with major projects underway and more still to start. Delivering it relies on specialist talent across IS, data, cyber security and change.
From Mobilisation to Embedded Partner
The MSP went live in January 2025 with 51 contractors transitioned on time. Today, NWG's contingent workforce stands at 63, its highest headcount since the migration, and Rullion's role has grown with it. As a trusted extension of the NWG team, our dedicated account team now gives NWG:
Niche talent, found fast: 100% fulfilment of all live roles through our direct delivery model, with agile supplier support for specialist needs
- Workers ready to deliver: in-house onboarding, vetting and Contractor Care for every worker
- Full workforce visibility: SAP Fieldglass, live since July 2025, providing real-time reporting with automated approval and compliance routing
- Performance they can see: every KPI met, tracked through regular business reviews where we bring recommendations to improve the service
- Compliance and audit readiness: robust governance and audit-ready reporting across the contingent workforce
- Workforce insight: data-led insights that support long-term workforce planning and help NWG anticipate skills shortages
"We're much more embedded now than at go-live. We know our stakeholders really well, we've got our cadence of business reviews, and we're putting recommendations forward to enhance the service."
Sinead Scott
Account Lead, Northumbrian Water Group MSP, Rullion
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Sector Expertise and Specialist Technology Talent
Water Sector Specialists
Rullion has partnered with the UK water sector for over a decade, and that experience runs through the NWG account team, which brings more than 40 years' combined industry knowledge. Aligned solely to NWG, the team understands its stakeholders, the demands of a regulated industry and the peaks and troughs of hiring, allowing us to plan ahead and respond quickly as priorities change.
Sustained Contractor Engagement
Contractor satisfaction often dips during an implementation as workers adjust to change. At NWG, early delivery achieved an NPS of +63.6, rising to +73.3 in the first months of the MSP. To keep engagement strong as the workforce grows, we explain the quarterly NPS survey to every new starter and are relaunching it in 2026 as a refresher, so contractors know their feedback shapes the service.
Specialist IS and Technology Talent
AMP8 is driving digital transformation across NWG, and with it, demand for specialist technology skills that are in short supply across the UK. Our consultants use specialist networks, our own talent database and direct market engagement to reach niche candidates quickly, with detailed technical screening to make sure every shortlist is right first time. Our specialists support NWG across:
- Infrastructure, cloud and security: infrastructure and network engineers, cyber security consultants, SOC analysts, and cloud and DevOps professionals
- Enterprise platforms and applications: SAP and ERP specialists, Oracle Utilities, Oracle HCM and Fusion specialists, and M365 developers
- Data, analysis and transformation: data architects, engineers and scientists, BI and data analysts, business and process analysts, and programme, project and change professionals
- Specialist digital capability: enterprise architects, GIS specialists, and testing and quality assurance professionals
It's really knowing your industry. Because we're aligned to that client, we really get to know them, what the industry demands are, what to expect, and those peaks and troughs of hiring.
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What We Achieved Together
The MSP delivered value from the start, saving NWG more than £15,000 in its first month through improved fulfilment routes and transparent rate control. Nearly two years on, that value continues to build. The contingent workforce has grown from the 51 contractors transitioned at go-live to 63 today, its highest headcount since the migration, with 30 new starters placed so far in 2026. Contractor NPS stands at +70.6 in 2026, showing engagement has held strong as the workforce has grown.
A Recognised Model for Long-Term Partnership
The NWG programme has become a benchmark within Rullion's wider MSP portfolio and was shortlisted in two GEM Award categories for its partnership-led approach and ability to innovate. With AMP8 running to 2030, and major projects underway and more still to start, the MSP is built to scale with NWG's needs, underpinned by strong stakeholder relationships and a problem-solving approach.
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