Kier group

Three standout metrics

110%

increase in unique careers site visitors

30%

conversion rate from visitors to applicants

83%

reduction in incomplete applications

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What wasn’t working

Kier Group is a major construction company in the UK. Clear that diverse talent pays dividends, Kier wanted to attract a wider range of candidates both in thinking and background. To do this, Kier needed a recruitment process that wasn’t just fit for the sector but a leader in the market.

However, their existing software and systems created significant barriers:

Application processes took over 10 minutes to complete, causing 30% of candidates to abandon them;
Careers site was buried within Kier’s corporate website and wasn’t integrated with external job boards;
No accessibility features meant candidates with different needs faced barriers to applying.

The turning point

The Kier team identified four key areas that needed improvement: accessibility, simplification, engagement and futureproofing. They needed a solution that could respond quickly to changing market conditions while giving recruiters more time to engage directly with candidates.

They partnered with PageUp to introduce a people-centred, AI-powered recruitment system, internally branded as ‘Kier Recruit,’ redesigning the entire recruitment and onboarding process from job search to the candidate’s first day.

The shift began in three phases:

Creating a standalone careers site

Building a people-centric, standalone careers site focused entirely on the candidate experience, with content designed collaboratively with colleagues and candidates.
PrioritisingPrioritizing accessibility

Implementing a globally leading accessibility toolbar allowing candidates to customisecustomize their experience and ensuring application forms were rendered in an accessible format.
Automated candidate updates

Using PageUp’s automated communication workflows allowed Kier to keep candidates informed via SMS and email throughout the recruitment process.

The solution in action

Kier used PageUp to transform their recruitment and onboarding processes, creating a multi- award-winning candidate experience that positioned them as a market leader in construction recruitment.

Key initiatives included:

Standalone, candidate-focused careers site

A dedicated careers site led to a 110% increase in unique visitors, with candidates spending 4+ minutes browsing and gaining insights to make informed career decisions.
Globally leading accessibility toolbar

Used over 19,000 times in just six months, the toolbar allowed candidates to adjust their experience by customisingcustomizing font sizes, colours and animations.
Streamlined application process

Reducing application form content by 68% cut completion time to 1-2 minutes, driving an 83% reduction in incomplete applications.
Automated interview scheduling

Candidates could self-select convenient interview time slots and request adjustments to ensure they have a comfortable experience.
Engaging onboarding experience

Auto-populated forms, animations introducing Kier’s culture, and a personalisedpersonalized pre-boarding stage including a welcome video from the CEO made onboarding more engaging.

The impact

Hard ROI

110% increase in unique careers site visitors
30% conversion from visits to applications
19,000+ uses of accessibility toolbar in six months
48 hours typical timeframe for job offers

Soft ROI

Won five major industry awards in 2024 for their new recruitment platform and processes.
Strengthened employer brand and attractiveness to new talent.
Recruiters have more time to engage directly with candidates due to streamlined processes.
All interviewees receive feedback, ensuring positive candidate experience.