Published on 11 Jun 2025
In today’s challenging economic environment, managing staffing costs has become a top priority for businesses in the retail and logistics sectors. Rising wage costs, inflation, and skills shortages all contribute to a heightened need for cost control. Traditional temporary staffing solutions often lack the transparency and flexibility that businesses require. Coople offers a more effective approach, allowing companies to save money while maintaining access to qualified workers.
The retail and logistics industry in the UK continues to face significant cost increases. Wage costs are rising faster than the national average due to inflationary pressures and the ongoing shortage of skilled workers. In 2025, for example, pay in retail rose by 6.7%, from £11.44 per hour to £12.21 per hour. These increases are driven by the need to attract and retain workers amid high vacancy levels, especially in roles like HGV drivers and warehouse workers.
The skills shortage across the UK is having a substantial impact on logistics and retail operations. Retail vacancies hit 91,000 in late 2021, contributing to the rising wage bills and increased operational costs. On top of this, inflation has been prolonged, forcing businesses to focus more on cost-saving strategies while struggling to fill roles.
The UK’s ongoing economic difficulties, including inflation and high interest rates, are weighing heavily on consumer spending and business costs. Despite efforts to avoid a recession, companies in retail and logistics are particularly exposed due to lower consumer demand, necessitating a strong focus on cost control.
These economic challenges make it essential for businesses to find cost-effective staffing solutions that don’t compromise on quality or efficiency.
Lack of transparency: Traditional staffing agencies often control both the selection of workers and the pricing structure, leaving businesses with little insight into how decisions are made. This lack of transparency can lead to paying more for less-qualified workers, adding unnecessary strain to already tight budgets.
High costs and hidden fees: Many businesses struggle with unexpected fees associated with traditional staffing agencies. The agencies set wage rates, often adding extra charges that businesses cannot control. Companies are also forced to accept the candidates they are given, limiting flexibility and cost management.
Inflexibility in recruitment: Many agencies operate on fixed pricing models, offering businesses no room to adjust wages or staffing levels to meet changing demands. This can result in overpaying for temporary workers or scrambling to fill roles during peak times, all while dealing with inefficient recruitment processes.
Coople offers a digital-first solution to these challenges. By using Coople’s platform, businesses can maintain greater control over staffing costs and the hiring process itself. Here’s how:
Transparent cost model: With Coople, there are no hidden fees or subscription costs. Businesses set the hourly wage for workers (ensuring compliance with minimum wage laws), giving them full control over staffing budgets.
Flexibility in hiring: Coople’s platform offers unmatched flexibility. Instead of being locked into rigid agency processes, businesses can post jobs directly to a pool of qualified workers, making it easier to fill roles quickly and efficiently. Businesses can also use the Favourite Pools feature, where they create a trusted list of vetted workers for quick re-hiring, further reducing onboarding costs.
Vetted workers with ratings: Workers on Coople’s platform are vetted and rated by previous employers, ensuring businesses can choose from a pool of reliable, well-reviewed workers. This ensures that companies always have access to qualified, dependable staff.
Once you get access to the platform after registration and create a job, you receive an estimate for the cost per hour, as well as an estimate for the total project cost if you also specified the shifts you are hiring for. Find out more here.
With Coople, businesses in the retail and logistics sectors can reduce staffing costs while maintaining access to a high-quality workforce. Whether you need workers for peak seasons, last-minute absences, or everyday operations, Coople’s flexible, transparent approach ensures you stay in control of your budget.
Interested in learning more? Reach out to one of our account managers today to discover how Coople can help your business save on staffing costs while improving efficiency and reliability.
For many, flexible, temporary work is not just an option but a necessity. Whether balancing multiple roles, pursuing education, or seeking a better work-life balance, the demand for temporary and adaptable employment continues to grow. But what does flexibility really mean for workers in the UK retail sector? And how well does it align with business needs?
Recent changes to National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and minimum wage rates are weighing heavily on the minds of UK business leaders, according to a new survey by Coople. Some businesses might consider working around this by hiring freelancers. However, this strategy is risky and might lead to an increase in misclassifications and legal cases over time.
96% of businesses that participated in a recent Coople survey expected cost increases following this month’s changes in minimum wage and National Insurance. With high economic uncertainty, inflation and a fear of recession, this is just the latest addition to a long list of topics UK businesses must deal with in 2025.