Creating stability amid organisational change

Seamless transition delivering cost savings, compliance, and strategic workforce capability 

In early 2023, following a divestment, a major UK energy infrastructure provider became an independent entity—marking a pivotal moment for the sector.

Pontoon was awarded the new business and tasked with ensuring operational continuity during this transition. Our client needed to establish operational independence while maintaining continuity for critical infrastructure projects.

With approximately £50 million in contingent workforce spend, the stakes were high. Limited internal resources, strict compliance requirements, and a tight transition deadline carrying financial penalties meant time was of the essence.

Engineering a seamless transition

Pontoon's team leveraged our proven MSP expertise to deliver a transition that was both rapid and robust. We mirrored the successful programme framework from the previous operating model, adapting it to the new organisational structure created by the divestment to ensure continuity.

Technology replication was key—by maintaining the existing Vendor Management System (VMS), we avoided disruption and safeguarded data integrity. Supplier engagement was another critical pillar. We worked closely with partners to re-contract under the new entity, ensuring uninterrupted talent supply. Compliance was non-negotiable: audit-ready processes were implemented to meet strict regulatory requirements during and after the transition.

Innovation underpinned our approach. We introduced real-time dashboards for spend and compliance visibility, developed a fast-track onboarding process for critical roles, and automated timesheet validation and approval workflows—eliminating manual intervention and reducing human error. These enhancements accelerated delivery and improved accuracy across workflows.

Turning transition into transformation

The impact of Pontoon’s approach was immediate and measurable:

• Zero disruption to contingent workforce operations throughout the divestment and post-the transition.
• £4.6 million in cost savings, achieved through direct sourcing and workforce optimisation.
• Strategic hiring success, with over 600 contractors placed since go-live—including pivotal leadership roles such as CIO and CISO, alongside building critical cyber capability from the ground up with 60 hires in 12 months.
• Time efficiency gains, averaging 14 days to offer and 13 days for onboarding.
• Compliance excellence, maintaining a 100% record confirmed by internal and client-led audits.
• Full visibility of £50 million spend from day one of operations.
• Stakeholder confidence, reflected in positive feedback from senior leaders and hiring managers.

Pontoon has also maintained world-class NPS performance of 74—a testament to the strength of the partnership and the trust built during a period of significant change.

By combining deep MSP expertise, advanced technology, and a commitment to innovation, Pontoon enabled the client to successfully navigate its divestment and achieve operational independence without compromise—laying the foundation for strategic workforce planning and continued optimisation as the organisation powers the future of UK energy.