Interim management is now a mainstream resourcing option for organisations of all sizes, providing a flexible and strategic labour force that can be cost effective and low risk. The industry is valued at £2bn and there are approximately 20,000 senior professionals operating as interim managers in the UK, so how can businesses looking for senior level talent ensure they get the best value and return-on-investment?

Russam GMS, the UK’s longest established interim management provider, who celebrated 30 years in business last year, has launched a definitive guide to interim management to help organisations get the best value from interims, understand how the recruitment process works, as well as the key success factors and pitfalls to avoid.

The benefits of employing an interim manager are many, but for most companies the speed they can be in place and deliver results are most attractive. Around 40% of interims are hired to undertake strategic business projects. Often over qualified for their roles, their remit is to ‘hit the ground running,’ and deliver from day one. They are also refreshingly independent, with no interest in office politics and typically cost an organisation far less than employing a senior level executive full-time.

When recruiting an interim, a company must be really clear about the skills they require and have an ideal candidate in mind. The best interims get snapped up quickly so companies will need to move fast. Once a candidate has been selected the job brief, time scales and objectives need to be agreed to ensure a successful project.

Companies should use a reputable interim provider to source interims with the right balance of management skills, technical know-how and market knowledge. The Interim Management Association’s list of ‘approved’ suppliers that adhere to its rigorous code of practice and standards is a good place to start.

Russam’s guide includes a ten point check list outlining the best practice processes that every business should ensure their provider follows and highlights several interim success stories.

Remember interims are for all size of business, large or small. In fact it’s often SMEs that can benefit most from interim management as they can access senior executives they may not otherwise be able to afford.

For your free copy of the guide, prepared by Russam GMS, with contributions from the Interim Management Association (IMA)  CLICK HERE