A Recruiter’s Cautionary Guide -What Can Go Wrong Without the Right MSP?

Celebrating 10 Years of Recruitment Outsourcing Success

This year, Orion celebrates a decade since we launched our outsourcing capability. What started as a pilot programme has become a trusted, proven, and growing part of our business.

In those ten years, we have:

• Won and retained multiple MSP partnerships
• Delivered a wide range of single-source talent solutions
• Secured major international RPO contracts
• Grown from a small trial into a strategic service for global energy clients

We could not have done it without the trust of our clients, the dedication of our partners, and the hard work of our brilliant team. Together, we have proven that outsourcing recruitment is not just about filling vacancies. It is about enabling projects, reducing risk, and helping the energy sector deliver.

Here is to the next ten years of supporting energy clients worldwide. 

What Can Go Wrong Without the Right MSP? -  A Recruiter’s Cautionary Guide - 

When major energy projects move forward, everyone’s eyes are usually on the engineering milestones: site preparation, equipment delivery, safety audits, or commissioning dates. Yet in our experience, the real delays often begin much earlier. They start with hiring.

Across the energy sector, from LNG construction in West Africa to offshore drilling in the Middle East, one truth remains constant. If people are not in place at the right time, projects stall. Schedules slip, costs rise, and client reputations come under pressure. In other words, the workforce plan can make or break a project.

This is where the right managed service provider (MSP) and recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) model makes the difference. Orion has been supporting energy clients worldwide for over a decade through our outsourcing capability, Orion ISP. What began as a small pilot has grown into a core part of our business. Over the past ten years we have won and retained multiple MSP partnerships, secured a major international RPO, and delivered a wide range of single-source talent solutions. Most importantly, we have helped clients remove the friction from hiring, keep projects on track, and focus on delivering energy safely and efficiently. 

Why Energy Projects Need Smarter Hiring Support

Energy projects are ramping up again across global markets. With demand for LNG surging and new investments flowing into renewables and traditional oil and gas, the appetite for growth is strong. But growth brings pressure. For project managers and HR leads, the challenge is not ambition. It is execution.

Hiring in this sector is rarely straightforward. Clients face long lead times, complex compliance rules, and frequent skills shortages. In some markets, there are bottlenecks with visas or local content requirements. In others, contractor turnover creates constant churn. Internal HR teams often find themselves juggling multiple vendors, each with different standards and systems. This leads to delays, inconsistency, and added cost.

The result is that even projects with the best planning can falter. Engineering and procurement may be aligned, but without the right people on the ground at the right time, progress slows.

This is exactly why MSP and RPO solutions exist. Orion delivers MSP support for contingent hiring, managing contractor supply end to end. We also deliver RPO support for permanent hiring, acting as an extension of the client’s HR team. In both models, the goal is the same: faster hiring, full compliance, and recruitment that scales with demand.

What MSP and RPO Actually Look Like in Energy Hiring

It is easy to talk about outsourcing in the abstract. But what does it look like in practice?

Managed Service Provider (MSP):
When Orion acts as the MSP, we become the single point of contact for all contingent hiring. That means we manage everything from sourcing contractors to onboarding and reporting. Instead of juggling multiple vendors and inconsistent processes, clients have one trusted partner accountable for results. The benefits are speed, compliance, and the ability to flex the workforce up or down as projects require.

As part of our MSP model, Orion also provides a range of value-added services that reduce complexity and improve delivery for clients. These include:

• Global mobility services – ensuring people and skills can move seamlessly across borders
• IT equipment provision – equipping teams with the tools they need from day one
• Meet & Greet services – smooth arrivals and first impressions for mobilised staff
• Employer of Record solutions – enabling compliant hiring in challenging jurisdictions
• Accommodation support – arranging housing close to project sites
• Medical & Training Administration – managing ongoing essential compliance requirements before and after mobilisation
• Statement of Work provision – delivering structured workforce solutions for defined projects

Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO):
 In an RPO model, Orion integrates with the client’s HR function to manage permanent hiring. This includes everything from sourcing and screening to interviews and offers. RPO is particularly valuable when a client is launching a new project, expanding into new geographies, or experiencing rapid growth. We bring structure, market knowledge, and scale to what can otherwise be an overwhelming task.

Key Hiring Challenges MSP and RPO Solve

Energy clients do not outsource recruitment for convenience. They do it because the risks of not doing so are high. Here are some of the most common challenges we see, and how Orion’s outsourcing solutions address them.

Hiring takes too long
Time-to-hire is one of the biggest pain points in the sector. Projects often need people mobilised quickly, sometimes within weeks. Without a partner, internal teams scramble to source talent, negotiate terms, and manage multiple suppliers. Orion solves this by building pipelines in advance and managing all moving parts, from search to onboarding. The result is faster mobilisation and fewer delays.

Talent costs are unpredictable
Without a single point of control, clients often face inconsistent rates and unexpected costs. Orion provides benchmarking across all roles, giving clients cost visibility and control. This prevents overspend and keeps budgets aligned with project forecasts.

Compliance is high-risk
International projects mean international rules. From visa requirements to contractor tax compliance, one mistake can cause legal and reputational damage. Orion ensures compliance by managing onboarding, monitoring contractors, and keeping up to date with local regulations.

HR teams are overstretched
Energy projects are resource intensive. HR teams already managing payroll, employee relations, and day-to-day operations simply do not have the bandwidth for large-scale recruitment drives. With MSP and RPO support, Orion adds immediate capacity, scaling delivery up or down as required.

Vendor coordination is messy
When multiple suppliers are in play, processes become fragmented and reporting is inconsistent. Orion acts as the single accountable vendor, streamlining communication and providing centralised dashboards. This not only simplifies management but also provides clear data for better decision-making.

Across our MSP clients we have seen measurable results. On average, clients reduce time-to-fill by weeks compared to a multi-vendor approach, while also improving compliance outcomes and reducing cost volatility.

What Clients Get with Orion’s Outsourcing Models

So, what does all of this add up to for energy clients? In short, it means peace of mind. With Orion’s MSP and RPO models, clients gain:

1. Fast mobilisation of contractors and permanent hires
2. Local compliance expertise to reduce risk in challenging markets
3. Consistency across locations, ensuring the same standards whether in the UK, Azerbaijan, or West Africa
4. Scalable hiring that flexes with project demand, whether for short-term phases or multi-year programmes
5. Centralised dashboards and reports for clear oversight of progress and spend
6. Comprehensive talent coverage across engineering, project controls, commissioning, HSE, and more
7. Extended MSP services including global mobility, IT provision, accommodation, medical and training administration, meet & greet support, employer of record services, and statement of work delivery

These are not just recruitment services. They are workforce solutions designed to meet the specific pressures of the energy sector. When projects are worth billions of dollars and timelines are tight, having this kind of support can be the difference between success and costly delay.

Let’s Fix the Hiring Bottleneck

At Orion, we believe MSP and RPO services are more than recruitment solutions. They are project enablers. By removing friction from hiring, we allow project managers and HR teams to focus on what they do best: delivering safe, efficient, and successful energy projects.

If you are facing delays, unpredictable costs, or overstretched HR capacity, it is worth asking what the right outsourcing model could do for you. The risks of going without the right MSP are real. But so are the rewards of getting it right.

Talk to Orion today about building a tailored MSP or RPO solution for your next project.

FAQs

What is an MSP in oil and gas recruitment?
An MSP is a managed service provider model where Orion oversees all contingent hiring, acting as the single point of contact for contractor supply.

How does RPO help with energy hiring?
RPO, or recruitment process outsourcing, sees Orion manage permanent hiring as an extension of your HR team. It covers everything from sourcing to offers.

What roles can an MSP supply in oil and gas projects?
Orion supplies across engineering, commissioning, project controls, HSE, and many other specialist areas critical to project delivery.

What additional services can Orion provide under an MSP model?
Beyond recruitment, Orion offers a suite of services designed to remove complexity and risk from project delivery. These include:

• Global mobility services
• IT equipment provision
• Meet & Greet support
• Employer of Record solutions
• Accommodation management
• Medical & Training Administration
• Statement of Work provision

How can I outsource recruitment for my energy project?
By engaging Orion, you can design a model tailored to your project, whether MSP, RPO, or a hybrid.

What’s the difference between RPO and MSP in the energy sector?
MSP focuses on contingent labour such as contractors, while RPO supports permanent hiring needs. Many clients use both to cover all workforce requirements.

At Orion ISP, we know that the success of an energy project is measured not just in engineering milestones, but in the people who make them possible. Our MSP and RPO solutions, strengthened by services such as global mobility, IT equipment provision, accommodation, medical and training administration, employer of record, meet & greet, and statement of work delivery, are designed to remove complexity and reduce risk so you can focus on delivery.

If you are ready to keep hiring simple, scalable, and compliant, no matter how complex the environment - talk to Orion ISP today and let’s build the workforce solution that will power your next project to success.

Contact Orion ISP