A large department within the Ministry of Defence was undertaking a significant capital project: a multi-year construction and facilities programme with complex commercial, technical, and operational demands. As is common with long-running infrastructure projects, costs had begun to drift beyond the original budget due to scope changes, inflationary pressure, and evolving programme requirements.

Rather than accept the overspend, the department initiated a structured cost-reduction exercise to bring the programme back on track. Their goal was ambitious: reduce spend across the supply chain by roughly 20 percent while maintaining delivery pace and safeguarding critical outcomes.

To do this, they needed additional commercial firepower. The client already had a capable in-house commercial and project team, but lacked the capacity and specialist expertise required to interrogate existing contracts, renegotiate key supplier agreements, and identify opportunities to novate or re-procure where better value could be achieved.

Permanent hiring wasn’t viable due to headcount restrictions and the time required to recruit and clear staff. They needed people immediately, and they needed them to work under the direction and control of the existing team.

This made Resource Augmentation the appropriate route.

Arguile was asked to supply experienced commercial specialists on an interim basis to strengthen the department’s capability during this critical phase. The requirement spanned a wide range of seniorities, disciplines, and responsibilities.

We supplied double figures of commercial professionals, from mid-weight hands-on negotiators through to senior commercial managers overseeing major contract workstreams. Some roles were short, targeted interventions lasting around three months; others required longer commitments of up to 18 months due to the scope and complexity of the activity.

Because the department needed these individuals to carry managerial responsibilities, engage directly with suppliers, and operate as an extension of their own team, each role had to be delivered on an inside IR35, direction-and-control basis. This is a defining feature of Resource Augmentation and a key reason the model was chosen over a Statement of Work.

Arguile’s strength lies in depth. As specialists in commercial, procurement, and contract talent, we were able to draw from one of the largest dedicated talent pools in the UK. That meant the department didn’t just receive “available people” — they received the best-fit professionals with the right experience, the right clearances, and the right level of seniority.

Our niche focus meant we could present strong shortlists at speed. The vast majority of roles competed through our team were successfully filled, reflecting both the quality of candidates and the efficiency of our process.

The commercial team was rapidly strengthened with professionals who could immediately contribute to supplier negotiations, contract reviews, and value-engineering discussions.

Although final programme outcomes sit with the department, the resource uplift helped accelerate a wide-ranging cost-reduction programme targeting around 20 percent savings across a multi-million-pound supply chain. The majority of our contractors were extended beyond their initial terms, demonstrating their value to the in-house team.

Most importantly, the client gained the flexibility and capability they needed, when they needed it — without the constraints and delays of permanent recruitment.

Following the success of this engagement, the same department later awarded Arguile a major single-source Statement of Work project on a separate programme, demonstrating confidence in both our delivery and our specialist expertise.