ONE of the UK’s fastest growing recruitment businesses has turned to a West Yorkshire software specialist to help modernise its human resources operations.

A cloud-based system from Pudsey-based Cascade HR is being used by Encore Personnel, which was named by the Sunday Times as the 23rd fastest growing business in the UK. Encore places more than 3,500 temporary staff each week.

After achieving 50 per cent growth last year and predicting similar growth in 2015, Encore needed to upgrade its HR systems. The Leicester-based firm, with operations in West Yorkshire, chose Cascade’s product from 22 options to handle HR for 150 staff.

It previously relied on a simple staff database and spreadsheets which it said was time consuming and inefficient. The company, which has achieved best company to work for and best people development accolades, said employee engagement, reward and development were high priorities.

Cindy Gunn, Encore’s company business manager, said: “In a sector crowded with vendors, finding the best-fit solution was no mean feat. In fact we thought we’d chosen the right system for us, but, upon sourcing client references, we discovered that the technology couldn’t truly fulfil our needs.

“Cascade, on the other hand, was only slightly more expensive, yet it contains all of the functionality we require. Self-service will enable us to empower managers with the click of a button, freeing up our HR team’s time to concentrate on business critical processes and employee support. If we devise best-practice processes in the workflow module we’ll create additional administrative efficiencies, which be ever-more important as we continue to expand.”

Cascade’s software will be rolled out to staff by July following an implementation period.

Cindy added: “I look forward to us being better positioned to support managers and branches throughout the UK. Cascade’s inbuilt reporting capabilities will also facilitate sophisticated HR data analysis at board level, something we’ve struggled to do without an element of guesswork until now.”

Andy Court, Cascade’s head of marketing, said: “It’s great to see such a progressive company placing the wellbeing and nurturing of employees in such high regard. Encore looks set to have an exciting few years ahead and we’re delighted that Cascade will form a key part of that journey.”

Cascade, which a year ago was acquired by the IRIS Software Group, has achieved Payroll Quality Partnership re-accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals. Its payroll team has grown from six to 25 specialists.

The business, which now has 119 staff, has also has been awarded the Investors in People silver standard, after holding a bronze accreditation since 2012.