Strengthening Hiring Outcomes for Cooper Parry
In 2024, Cooper Parry implemented TopScore, transforming its early careers assessment centres from a manual, paper-based process into a fully digital, data-driven, and sustainable experience.
This initiative was driven by a clear ambition: to improve decision quality, enhance candidate experience, reduce administrative burden, and align recruitment practices with B Corp values.
TopScore was successfully embedded across assessment centres in our professional services teams, delivering measurable impact across efficiency, sustainability, and hiring outcomes.
About the Customer
Cooper Parry
Financial Services
Managing assessment centres end-to-end
Annual efficiency gain of 106 hours of assessor time saved
The Challenge
Prior to implementation of Topscore, the assessment centre model was:
– Heavily paper-based, creating operational inefficiencies and environmental impact
– Admin-intensive, placing significant strain on recruiters and assessors
– Inconsistent in evaluation, with decisions often influenced by opinion rather than structured scoring
– Slow in feedback turnaround, negatively impacting candidate experience
– Time-heavy, with wash-up sessions taking up to 3 hours
As early careers hiring scaled, this approach became unsustainable and misaligned with the organisation’s ambition to deliver a modern, inclusive, and high-performing recruitment experience.
“We didn’t stop recruiting during COVID, but we couldn’t do face-to-face assessment centres.”
The Solution
TopScore was introduced as a centralised digital platform to manage assessment centres end-to-end.
The solution enabled:
– Real-time scoring and feedback capture in one place
– Structured, competency-based assessment, improving objectivity and consistency
– Streamlined wash-up discussions, supported by clear data
– Removal of paper-based processes, supporting sustainability goals
– Improved collaboration between assessors, driving better decision-making
The technology was implemented alongside a broader redesign of the early careers process, ensuring it enhanced both efficiency and experience.
Impact
Dramatic Time Savings & Efficiency Gains
– Wash-up sessions reduced from ~3 hours to 30–60 minutes
– Post-assessment admin reduced from 2 hours to 40 minutes per assessor
– Annual efficiency gain of 106 hours of assessor time saved
This has enabled recruiters and hiring managers to focus on higher-value activity, including candidate engagement and hiring decisions.
Significant Sustainability Improvements
– Elimination of paper-based processes saved ~4,000 sheets annually
– Introduction of digital scoring and reusable materials significantly reduced waste
These changes directly support the organisation’s B Corp commitments, embedding sustainability into recruitment operations.
Enhanced Candidate Experience
– Candidate satisfaction increased to from 4.2 to 4.81/5
– Faster feedback turnaround and more engaging, structured assessment experience
– Improved inclusivity, enabling candidates to perform at their best
The new process has created a more transparent, supportive, and candidate-focused journey.
Stronger Hiring Outcomes
– Offer acceptance increased from 86.6% to 92%
– Assessment centre-to-offer conversion improved to 48%
– Early careers retention improved to 92% (up from 81%)
The shift to structured, data-driven assessment has significantly improved both hiring quality and long-term success.
Strategic Impact
This initiative has delivered more than operational improvements it has driven a step change in how early careers recruitment is delivered.
– Decision-making has moved from subjective judgement to data-led assessment, improving fairness and consistency
– Assessors are more engaged and accountable, with clearer evaluation frameworks
– Recruitment processes are now fully aligned to organisational values, particularly sustainability and inclusion
– The model is now scalable and future-ready, capable of supporting continued business growth
The implementation of TopScore has contributed to the evolution of Talent Acquisition into a modern, insight-led, and high-impact function.
Why This Deserves Recognition
This initiative demonstrates how technology, when implemented with clear purpose and strong execution, can transform Talent Acquisition outcomes.
The impact is clear:
– Significant time and efficiency gains
– Meaningful environmental impact
– Improved candidate experience and engagement
– Stronger quality of hire and retention
Most importantly, it has created a sustainable, scalable, and high-quality early careers hiring model, positioning Cooper Parry as a leader in innovative, values-driven recruitment.
Demo TopScore’s full range of features
Chat to our team to book your bespoke demo of Unseen’s digital assessment centre platform, TopScore.
Test its full range of features and see how it can streamline your assessment centres.