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13 May 2025
Transport & logistics, Graduates/Apprentices/School leavers

Aspiring pilots can apply to join fully-funded training programme

Flight training typically costs in excess of £100k.

The programme has been developed to support Jet2.com’s growth, enabling the leisure airline to fly more customers away to enjoy their holidays on an expanding fleet of aircraft.

Jet2FlightPath is open to candidates from all backgrounds (subject to meeting the application criteria) and aims to boost social mobility and promote diversity within the pilot community. To apply, candidates need at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including maths and a science subject, or equivalent qualifications – making Jet2FlightPath more accessible than other programmes.

The selection process, including assessments and interviews, will see successful candidates invited to take their place on a fully funded 18-month Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) training course in the UK, Spain or US, with courses starting this year. Upon completion of the ATPL course, trainees will then be offered Type Rating training on either an Airbus or Boeing aircraft, before becoming a Jet2.com pilot. Three partners set to deliver this training are Skyborne Airline Academy, Leading Edge and FTE Jerez.

When completing the Jet2FlightPath pilot training programme, trainees will also be fully immersed in the operation and culture at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, “so that they can understand all the qualities that make up the businesses”, a company statement said. This includes gaining exposure to various customer-facing roles such as cabin crew and ground operations.

Jet2.com plans to put 60 pilots through Jet2FlightPath in the first year of the programme and then expand it to attract “even more” aspiring pilots in the coming years as the company continues to grow, the company said. 

The UK’s third largest airline currently employs over 1,800 pilots and will operate a fleet of up to 135 aircraft this summer, flying customers to sun and leisure city destinations across Europe, the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands from 13 UK airport bases.

The brand-new Jet2FlightPath programme opens for applications today [13 May 2025]. Pilots of the future can find out further information as well as how to apply by clicking here.

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6 May 2025
Public sector, Creative/Digital/Media

NEW TO THE MARKET: 5-9 MAY 2025

• Heidrick & Struggles has launched a new Government & Defense Tech Practice, aimed at serving the growing demand for technology leadership within public sector organisations. With governments estimated to account for 10% of global technology and IT services spending, the firm sees this as a significant market opportunity. The practice consolidates the company’s experience from over 200 engagements to provide leadership solutions for organisations delivering technology to national, state and local governments worldwide.

The new practice will support clients by offering leadership search, development and organisational effectiveness services. It brings together more than 30 experienced partners across sectors such as IT services, aerospace and defence, energy and private equity, operating globally across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The initiative addresses the increasing reliance of governments on advanced technologies like AI, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity and robotics.

• Workforce management solutions firm Matrix has supported more than 10,000 individuals across the UK into employment between March 2024 and April 2025 through its Social Value team. The efforts focused on a wide range of community initiatives, including employability workshops, career guidance and volunteering opportunities. These programmes were designed to help students, jobseekers and public sector employees gain essential skills and access new career pathways.

• UK start-up Project Brains has launched ProdigyPB, an AI-powered platform designed to revolutionise job description creation and recruitment. Tailored for SMEs, growing businesses, and HR teams, ProdigyPB helps define precise hiring needs by aligning job roles with specific business challenges. The tool generates clear, bias-free job descriptions in seconds and enables users to engage with vetted fractional specialists from Project Brains’ talent pool, according to a company statement. ProdigyPB is currently available in Beta across the UK.

28 April 2025
Life sciences, Engineering

NEW TO THE MARKET: 28 APRIL-2 MAY 2025

• Jobmatch Sweden, a leader in occupational psychological testing, is expanding in Norway through a new partnership with consulting firm Sund Raad. Sund Raad, which focuses on enhancing employee engagement for small and medium-sized businesses, will integrate Jobmatch’s DNV-certified Talent test into its services. This marks Jobmatch’s second partnership in Norway, following its 2022 collaboration with Hapro Jobb og Karriere. Jobmatch Talent is a scientifically validated tool used for recruitment and employee development, according to the company press release.

• STEM recruitment specialist Matchtech has launched STEM Futures, a free, on-demand employability platform aimed at helping young people break into engineering and technology careers. The programme includes expert-led sessions on job search strategies, CV writing, interviews and personal development, and is part of Matchtech’s broader initiative to address the STEM skills gap and support emerging talent.

In addition, Matchtech has awarded the first two grants from its Materna Fund, a £2.5k bursary created to support engineering students facing financial hardship. The inaugural recipients, Sergio Carreno Vargas and David Sarembock from the University of Portsmouth, are using the funds to focus on their studies and development without the added pressure of financial strain.

• Meet Life Sciences has launched Synergy, a new standalone service designed to tackle people capability challenges in the life sciences sector that go beyond recruitment. As part of Meet’s evolution into a full-service talent solutions partner, Synergy offers tailored support in areas like workforce planning, leadership development, skills mapping, culture embedding and organisational design. Led by vice-president Kirsty Wilson, the service is built specifically for the life sciences industry and is focused on delivering measurable, outcome-driven solutions. Unlike traditional consulting, Synergy provides hands-on support from design through to implementation, helping clients build the capability needed to grow, adapt and lead in a competitive global market.

• Right Management, part of ManpowerGroup, has launched a refreshed brand strategy called ‘The Right Way’. It’s a human-centred, data-backed framework that aligns workforce development with business strategy. The new identity centres on ‘The Right Way loop’, a distinctive visual element with modern colours and typography that will be used across all brand touchpoints.

25 April 2025
Construction & property, Graduates/Apprentices/School leavers

National student lettings agency launches apprenticeship scheme

In a bid to support young people and grow skilled and knowledgeable individuals for the student lettings sector, loc8me recently launched its 18-month programme, which is open to anyone aged 16-18. The scheme will offer hands-on experience, mentorship and the opportunity to engage in paid work.

Raffaele Russo, founder of loc8me, said: “We’re thrilled to launch this apprenticeship programme, giving young professionals a real chance to learn, grow and begin building a career in an exciting industry.

“Now more than ever, young people are seeking opportunities, guidance and goals to pursue. With this programme, we’re investing in their future – and in the future of the lettings sector.”

Apprentices will have the chance to study the theoretical and practical elements of the lettings industry, and on starting, they will be given a mentor from the loc8me team to support their development via regular meetings throughout the course.

loc8me now operates in 13 major university cities across the UK, including Loughborough, Durham, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff, Newcastle, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leicester, Hull, Bath and Bristol.

Freya Watson-Russo, academy co-ordinator, said: "At loc8me, we’re committed to nurturing the next generation of letting agents. … We’re giving young people the chance to build a future, gain confidence and carve their own path.”

Founded in 2008 by Russo, loc8me manages more than 2,500 properties and employs more than 75 staff members.

(L-r) Apprentice Ollie Coe, loc8me's marketing assistant and academy co-ordinator Freya Watson-Russo and apprentice Isabel Tebbutt ©loc8me

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17 June 2019
Public sector, Creative/Digital/Media, Education, Engineering, Construction & property, Banking/Financial services, Charity & not-for-profit, Legal, Industrial/Manufacturing, IT/Telecoms

NEW TO THE MARKET: 17-21 JUNE 2019

• Education and training providers from across the UK will soon be able to access tutorials and visual resources on spotting the signs of modern slavery and how to report suspicions to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.

The resources have been designed by staff and students at Boston College, Lincolnshire, who were involved in a pilot project where the GLAA has teamed up with the college to embed the subject of labour abuse across its range of academic and vocational courses.

The resources will soon be available on the GLAA's website.

• Job search engine Jobrapido is opening a UK office in London headed up by sales director for UK and Ireland Ryan Bridgman.

The firm is also opening its first office in Boston in the US next month, which will be headed up by Matthew Ferdenzi and will be specialise in artificial intelligence and machine learning roles. 

• Specialist provider of tech and cyber-security staffing solutions La Fosse Associates has launched a pro bono recruitment and advisory practice to help charities combat the threat of a cyber-attack on their organisations.

La Fosse Pro Bono will operate with charities throughout the UK.

• Public sector and charity staffing specialist Morgan Hunt has opened a second Scottish office, located in central Glasgow.

• Technology and software staffing specialist Understanding Recruitment is opening an office in St Albans, Hertfordshire, this week.

The new office is headed by founding directors Chris Jackson and Dale Swords.

• The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is running a series of roadshows, aimed at unemployed people and those wanting to get a better job and to explain what training courses are on offer in the West Midlands, as the WMCA takes control of the region’s £126m adult education budget.

The events, featuring staff from colleges, training providers and job advisors, will focus on the region’s fastest-growing economies, including digital, construction, advanced manufacturing and engineering, and on business and professional services. Roadshows are scheduled for June and July in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

• Colchester-based SAP, Oracle and IT specialist recruiter Whitehall Resources has opened an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The group says there is increased demand for its services in the region.

13 June 2019

Antal looks to establish bases in Uzbekistan and Ukraine

Goodwin, who spoke to Recruiter following a business trip to Uzbekistan and Ukraine last week, revealed the international recruiter is already operational in Tashkent, Uzbekistan through an ongoing recruitment project, and is exploring either opening offices there or at least making placements in the major Uzbek cities of Samarkand and Bukhara.

But the firm also plans on leveraging its existing branch network to give it a competitive advantage in expanding in the region.

“We have two people currently engaged full time on developing Uzbekistan, with the support and help of 160+ staff and resources in our offices in Moscow, St Petersburg and Almaty in Kazakhstan. We see a lot of synergistic advantages with our clients and candidates from already being present for 25 years in the region. We believe this will give us tremendous leverage into both countries from the client, candidates, brand and infrastructure point of view.”

Goodwin added the whole region is opening up and the group is encouraged by the firm’s success in Kazakhstan led by Anna Kovinskaya, who has established Antal in the region. 

“We believe that we can replicate this success in both Uzbekistan and Ukraine from Almaty… We will open our office for Ukraine in Kiev; this will receive a lot of support from Almaty.”

With populations of 32m in Uzbekistan and 50m in Ukraine, Goodwin contends both countries’ economies are ready and willing to open up to Western products and services.

“There is competition in both markets, particularly in Ukraine, with already at least 400 recruitment companies registered there. So, we are not expecting an easy exercise to take marketshare. We are going to have to be specialists and good at what we do rather than simply relying on our 25-year presence and branding.”

And while there are political challenges in the region that the firm needs to be alive to, such as the ongoing border conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Goodwin added: “That is where our knowledge, experience and brand will give us a distinct advantage from other potential Western entrants into the region.”

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11 June 2019
Retail, Engineering, Industrial/Manufacturing, IT/Telecoms, HR

NEW TO THE MARKET: 10-14 JUNE 2019

• Cordant Group division Cordant People has opened a new branch in Aberdeen based in the new Marischal Square Development on Broad Street. The branch will be managed by Claire Buchan, who joins Cordant People from independent HR and employment law firm LAW Empire where she was business development and recruitment manager.

• Bristol-based start-up SaveTrees has launched an updated version of its online service, which enables contractors, recruitment agencies and their clients to submit and approve timesheets. The web-based service is also available to companies with permanent employees who are looking for a simple way to log their hours. It can be white-labelled to the client’s own brand.

6 June 2019
Banking/Financial services, IT/Telecoms, Accounting/Finance

Metro Bank supports ex-prisoners into safe jobs

In a statement released this morning, the challenger bank revealed the initiative – StrongTomorrow – has been independently founded by Metro Bank’s chief commercial officer Paul Riseborough (pictured below) in partnership with UK charity Code 4000, which teaches prisoners to code.

Metro Bank further revealed it supporting the scheme by hiring at least one colleague trained via Code 4000 later this year.

Commenting on the bank’s involvement, chief people officer Danny Harmer said: “Metro Bank has a long track record of supporting social mobility initiatives – from the launch of our apprenticeship scheme in 2012 and signing up to the government’s social mobility pledge, to Metro Bank’s approach to ‘hiring for attitude and training for skill’ in customer facing roles. Our support for the Code 4000 and StrongTomorrow initiatives is another great example of this.”

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