Embedded recruitment support for practices with more than one hire to make
Useful when you need consistent hiring capacity, not another advert to manage
RPO is not for every practice. It works when recruitment has become a recurring operational problem: multiple live roles, slow shortlists, directors losing time, salary questions, confidential hiring or growth plans that need steady follow-up.
Architecture Social can sit closer to your team, handle the recruitment work that slows you down and keep candidates moving without replacing your decision-making.
Use the cost savings calculator if you want to test the numbers, or contact us if you want to talk through the hiring problem first.
Proof points from embedded hiring support
Typical cost saving
A useful benchmark when hiring volume is high enough for a retained model to make sense.
84+ hires
Hires made through in-house and embedded recruitment support with existing clients.
23 days
Average time to hire recorded across supported in-house recruitment activity.
When embedded recruitment makes sense
Right fit: you have several hires to make, a growth plan, recurring recruitment need or a senior team losing too much time to search, screening and follow-up.
Wrong fit: you have one occasional vacancy, no salary range, no urgency or you mainly need a simple job advert. In those cases, standard recruitment support or advertising may be cleaner.
Use embedded support when recruitment has become an operational problem
Compare agency fees with embedded recruitment support
Use the calculator to sense-check whether embedded support could make sense for your hiring volume.
What we take on and what stays with you
What we take on
Role scoping, sourcing, screening, shortlisting, interview coordination, candidate communication and offer support.
What stays with you
Final hiring decisions, studio fit, interview judgement, fee approval, onboarding and the employment relationship.
When it works best
Multiple live roles, repeated hiring, limited internal time, confidential growth or a defined hiring push.
When it is probably too much
One occasional hire, no urgency, unclear budget or a role that would be better served by simple advertising.
Review our in-house recruitment terms
Testimonials from companies who are our clients:
How do we tailor support around your practice?
We start with a kick-off conversation covering hiring priorities, salaries, timelines, interview process, working pattern and what has or has not worked already.
From there, the support can be shaped around sourcing, screening, candidate management, process improvement or a focused hiring push. If a lighter route is better, we can point you back to traditional recruitment support.
Have a hiring challenge in mind? Contact us here:
In-house recruitment and RPO FAQs
These FAQs explain when architecture RPO or embedded recruitment support makes sense, and when a lighter recruitment route may be better.
What is architecture RPO?
RPO means Recruitment Process Outsourcing. For architecture practices, it means bringing in specialist support to manage part or all of the hiring process.
When does embedded recruitment support make sense?
It helps when you have multiple roles, recurring hiring needs, limited internal capacity or a short-term push to build a team without hiring a permanent recruiter.
How is this different from agency recruitment?
Agency recruitment usually focuses on specific vacancies. Embedded support sits closer to your business, helping with process, sourcing, screening, shortlisting and hiring rhythm. For one-off roles, consultancy recruitment may be simpler.
Can it reduce recruitment costs?
It can where hiring volume is high enough. Use the recruitment cost savings calculator to compare the broad options.
Is RPO right for every architecture practice?
No. If you only hire occasionally, traditional recruitment or job advertising may be simpler. The right model depends on volume, urgency, budget and internal capacity.
How do we discuss in-house recruitment support?
Use the contact page to outline your hiring challenge. We can then discuss whether embedded support, agency recruitment or another route fits best.
A selection of practices and built-environment clients we have supported:
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM)
Arney Fender Katsalidis (AFK) Studios
ECE Projekt management Limited
Jefferson Sheard Architects (JSA)
You are in safe hands. We are a member of the global recruitment trade body, Apsco.
The Architecture Social is a member of APSCo (The Association of Professional Staffing Companies) which is the only membership body dedicated to representing excellence in the professional recruitment industry.
The APSCo badge is recognised by candidates and employers as the differentiating quality mark in professional talent acquisition.
As an APSCo member, we are also required to complete a regular member compliance assessment which enables us to demonstrate that not only do we understand our legal and regulatory obligations, but also that we are working to best practice recruitment standards.
