How it works
Nine stages. One closing orbit.
The commercial relationship is sequential by design. Each stage establishes something the next one depends on, and the circle only closes once the arrangement is running and being reviewed.
- Engage
- Assess
- Coordinate
- Fund
- Administer
- Reconcile
- Continue
The progression
Engage → assess → coordinate → fund → administer → reconcile → continue.
Each arc on the diagram represents one stage. The orbit closes at stage nine, when the arrangement is live, administered and under continuing review.
- 01 Agency engagement
- 02 Commercial assessment
- 03 Umbrella coordination
- 04 Workforce support
- 05 Funding
- 06 Initial six-month period
- 07 Administration
- 08 Reconciliation
- 09 Ongoing support
The nine stages in detail
- 01
Agency engagement
The recruitment business describes its position: the work it is winning, the workforce expenditure that follows and where the commercial or administrative pressure currently sits.
- Business and commercial context
- Current arrangements
- What the requirement actually is
- 02
Commercial assessment
The arrangement is reviewed as a commercial assessment — company information, expected workforce expenditure, payment cycle, contractual structure and supporting documents.
- Company and structure
- Costs and payment cycle
- Supporting documentation
- 03
Umbrella coordination
Where an umbrella company forms part of the arrangement, the administrative relationship between the parties is established so information moves through one coordinated route.
- Commercial information
- Administrative arrangements
- Payment coordination
- 04
Workforce support
Where additional temporary or contract personnel are required, workforce support is discussed as part of the same relationship — subject to requirement, availability, scope and agreed terms.
- Requirement and scope
- Sector and location
- Availability
- 05
Funding
Where approved and agreed, qualifying workforce-related costs are funded within the agreed limit and in accordance with the documented commercial terms.
- Agreed limit
- Qualifying costs
- Documented terms
- 06
Initial six-month period
Subject to approval and agreed commercial terms, qualifying workforce-related costs may be funded during an initial period of up to six months. Where agreed, the applicable premium is not charged during the initial six-month funding period.
- Month 01 to month 06
- Premium treatment as agreed
- Documented in advance
- 07
Administration
Payment information, invoices, agreements, workforce records and supporting documentation are coordinated against the arrangement as it runs.
- Payment information
- Records and documents
- Ongoing handling
- 08
Reconciliation
Funded costs, payments, administrative charges and the applicable premium are reviewed so the commercial position for the period is clear to the parties.
- Funded and paid
- Charges applied
- Position agreed
- 09
Ongoing support
The arrangement continues under its agreed terms, with coordination across funding, workforce, administration and documentation. Changes to limits, scope or charges are agreed in the same documented way.
- Account coordination
- Agreed variations
- Continuing review
Stage 06 in full
The initial period, stated precisely.
Because stage six is the element most easily paraphrased incorrectly, the operative wording is repeated here in full.
Where agreed, the applicable premium is not charged during the initial six-month funding period.
Following the initial period, the applicable premium applies in accordance with the agreed commercial terms.
Subject to commercial assessment, eligibility, agreed funding limits, contractual documentation and individual commercial terms.
Next step
Stage one is a conversation.
Describe the work you are winning, the workforce expenditure behind it and how you are currently paid. Everything else follows from that.