Leading HR solutions company Gi Group Holding has secured a prestigious accolade, as it becomes the only industry-body approved recruitment supplier to the UK & Ireland oil and fuel sector. 

Gi Group Holding has gained accreditation from the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) – the fuel industry body which offers all the benchmark standards and support liquid fuel distributors and associate members need to run their businesses safely, sustainably and successfully.  

Gi Group Holding, the parent company of Gi Group, operates through several specialist sub-brands with branches across the UK, positioning it perfectly to help support the downstream fuels industry.  

With a strong presence within the industry already, Gi Group Holding wanted to offer peace of mind to companies needing to recruit. In acquiring this accreditation, Gi Group Holding follow the same standards as all UKIFDA member organisations which enables the recruiter and HR services provider to not only adhere to industry regulations, but also to ease the burden of lengthy recruitment cycles that companies within the fuel sector often have to face. 

Currently, the average recruitment period for roles within the energy and utilities sector is 28.8 days, making it the third longest sector to recruit for, only sitting behind the aerospace and defense industry and positions within Government. 

Paul Smith, Gi Group’s Chief Operating Officer UK & Ireland, said:

“It is a proud moment for our business to be named the only UKIFDA approved supplier to the oil and fuel industry across the UK and Ireland.” 

“We wanted to make a positive impact when it came to compliance and recruitment speed within the sector. We are serious about keeping companies safe and providing audit-compliant services.” 

“With our new UKIFDA accreditation, clients who engage the services of Gi Group Holding can be safe in the knowledge that candidates will be checked against latest regulatory requirements and that everything is industry compliant. No other recruiter offers this.” 

“Our specialist consultants are in constant conversation with our candidates and customers so that we can ensure we are pairing the right people with the right roles – an assurance which is particularly valuable for those working in the fuel and oil industry given the scope and nature of work they do.” 

“Being a member means a seal of approval that Gi Group Holding has an in-depth knowledge of the industry and its regulations, while crucially for our customers and candidates, our official supplier status from UKIFDA will help speed up the recruitment process across the downstream fuels industry.”  

“In achieving this status, we are able to underline our credentials as the country’s most efficient, innovative and forward-thinking recruiter.” 

Gi Group Holding is one of the world’s leading providers of HR and recruitment services and provides a full-suite recruitment and HR ecosystem. In the UK, Gi Group Holding has four brands under its umbrella – INTOO, Marks Sattin, Grafton, Gi Group. 

INTOO facilitates career development, coaching, and outplacement services; Marks Sattin specialises in finance, technology, and legal recruitment, and executive search related roles; Grafton’s expertise lies in securing employment for qualified blue and white-collar professionals. Gi Group focuses on temporary or permanent staffing for blue and white-collar workers, as well as semi-skilled professionals. 

Like many industries, the oil and fuel sector is embracing cloud-based technology at a rapid pace. This enables companies to cut costs, boost efficiency, and provide safer working environments. It also means that hiring managers and recruiters with extensive experience in recruiting for the industry are now expected to evaluate the tech credentials of applicants. While there is an increased need for real-time people data and analytics, workforces do not always have the capacity to implement and learn new systems. 

A multi-national recruiter Gi Group Holding has a global reach, with the local touch and the agility of an SME. With the industry knowledge of its expert recruiters, as well as the latest recruitment technology, Gi Group Holding can rapidly deliver the calibre of candidates organisations need, and the recruitment and people insights vital to meet the strategic requirements and demands of a changing industry. 

According to Paul that edge can give firms the extra support they need, when it comes to employing the right person for the role: “We utilise market intelligence to provide more in-depth and thorough candidate profiles. This leads to higher quality, more reliable hires, which in turn can result in increased employee engagement and retention in the long-term.” 

“Another area we are keen to help support companies with is Diversity & Inclusion. Harsh working conditions and a predominantly male workforce has made it hard for HR professionals to establish a gender balance within their companies. We are aware that the oil and fuel industry has the second lowest share of women in the workforce of any industry, with just 22% of all workers being female.”  

“Through our business training and coaching schemes, we can help companies address these glaring gaps in the workforce, and simultaneously reach untapped pools of talent. It is all about cultivating a workplace culture that caters to everyone, rather than closing the door on groups of people.” 

Amelia Brand

Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.