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20 May 2025
Oil & gas/Energy, Transport & logistics

International manufacturer invests £170m in North Wales facility

The UK and Welsh governments have welcomed the investment into a new facility from the international manufacturer.

The announcement comes as the UK and EU hold a summit to discuss future opportunities to boost economic growth.

The landmark development will produce more than 100,000 tonnes of non-combustible rock mineral wool insulation per year and create around 140 direct jobs, with more in local supply chains.

The announcement coincides with the UK-EU Summit that took place on Monday [19 May 2025].

Secretary of state for Wales Jo Stevens said: “This £170m investment by Knauf Insulation is fantastic news for North Wales and our UK government mission to drive economic growth.”

Using UK-First Submerged Arc Furnace technology, the new factory will produce non-combustible, low embodied carbon, recyclable rock mineral wool insulation to support the need for safer, more energy efficient and sustainable buildings.

The UK and Welsh government-backed North Wales Growth Deal and the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone collectively support the decision by Knauf Insulation to lo-cate a second plant in the area.

As leaders in the production of sustainable building materials, Knauf Insulation’s expansion further supports the growing advanced manufacturing cluster in North Wales.

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20 May 2025
Creative/Digital/Media, IT/Telecoms

Human skills as important as ‘oven-ready’ tech skills

So says the CEO of the CIPD, the UK’s professional body for HR, learning & development, Peter Cheese.

Speaking last Friday [16 May 2025] at the Houses of Parliament launch of the UK Hiring Taskforce, Cheese told the 200 attendees that at the same time, however, instead of filling skills gaps, employers are also looking for potential in applicants through characteristics such as “attitude, aptitude to learn human skills like collaboration and communication, and critical thinking. The more we debate the future of work, the more we debate about AI impacting jobs and skills in the future, the more we are coming back to these core skills”.

Humanities knowledge is part of building such capabilities into organisations, Cheese said: “People talk now about the half-life of job skills is somewhere between three and four years. In other words, every three or four years, we’re going to have to retrain half of our workforce.”

Access to and retention of talent are a top issue for business leaders around the world, with “almost every organisation saying they can’t find all the skills. But then you question them on that, they say yes, we’ve been getting too focused on hiring what I’ve often described as ‘oven-ready employees’ and they don’t exist – partly because we are changing the nature of jobs at an ever-increasing rate”, Cheese said. “So, the reality of how we approach recruiting has got to be expanded from the point of view of the employers as well.”

He asked the audience: “So why do we seem to be reverting back to saying ‘I just want tech skills’? We know the world is not, unfortunately, going to be a better place if all we have are a lot of tech people. Frankly, we need humanity to work alongside that as well.”

Cheese has been appointed to the UK Hiring Taskforce steering committee.

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19 May 2025
Life sciences, Creative/Digital/Media

UK Hiring Taskforce launches to develop new hiring strategies

With 200 hiring leaders, recruiters, rec tech leaders and more in attendance, including Recruiter, the hiring taskforce kick-off also delivered the news that an association for recruitment technology providers is planned to launch in November “to have one voice with government, to give high risk assurance that they are people of good standing and to help us develop a rec tech roadmap”, said Keith Rosser, who as chair of the Better Hiring Institute is leading the joint force of parliamentarians and hiring leaders. 

“We want a national hiring strategy,” Rosser said in his address at the event. “What do we think the future looks like if we could start again – forget the baggage, forget the medieval CVs, the Victorian references, the industrial revolution, job adverts – and think about actually, what would starting again look like?

“And finally, a technology road map. What would rec tech look like if we had a magic wand? What do we need to consider? What do we need to debate?... What we want from you is your help shaping what needs to be considered, how we need to go forward, what are the things we really should be looking at?”

Organisers are hoping to gather concepts by November from the respective work groups, formed of people who sign up to participate, for strategy, technology and policy. “Those three work streams with then end in those three deliverables later in the year,” Rosser said.

“We want this to be the beginning of a new dawn,” he added. “We want to get leadership once more for the UK in hiring… It’s hard to imagine actually that once upon a time, the UK was a leader in this stuff… We just really haven’t moved forward. Today is our commitment to gain leadership once more.”

Viscount Camrose, shadow secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, will be the honorary president of the rec tech association when formed. 

Speaking on Friday at the taskforce launch, he said: “I’ve been worrying for years that the job market is too inefficient, but that it can be reduced in some sense, to a data problem. And I would love us to start making progress together in that director because actually, in a weird way, although it is a data problem, digitalisation and AI have made it worse. They have made it more difficult rather than less difficult, and I think we can go for some way this afternoon to starting that journey to correcting the problem.”

As examples, Viscount Camrose said: “Far too many jobs are far too overapplied; we see candidates receiving no response – even late on in the process, no response comes. And there are such huge advantages to all of us for doing that. First… if we are going to grow as an economy, we need to be more productive… and just placing people in jobs to which they are genuinely committed is going to boost productivity. 

“Second, economic inactivity. We have too many people who are economically inactive now, and how many of those people remain economically inactive because… it’s just too difficult to embark on the process of finding the next job. The easier we can make it [is] to everybody’s benefit. The third advantage is just national happiness.”

Also speaking at the event was Lord Chris Holmes, Paralympian swimming champion, who in 2023 introduced an AI regulation bill to address concerns about its development, fairness in use, privacy and other issues. He has since reintroduced it, terming it “light touch, right size regulation”, and believing that it has significant potential application in hiring. “If we get fairer hiring, if we get faster hiring, the aim for all of us today and for every day, we can truly have in the world the finest hiring ecosystem we can bring to bear,” he said.

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14 May 2025
Creative/Digital/Media, Engineering

NEW TO THE MARKET: 12-16 MAY 2025

• Global specialist recruitment company Eames Consulting has opened a new office in Philadelphia, focusing on technology and digital enablement. Located at the Wanamaker Building, 100 East Penn Square, this is the recruiter’s second US location, following its New York office, which opened in 2022. The Philadelphia team will be headed up by Steven Stahl, a highly experienced recruiter. Also joining are Sam Youngberg (managing consultant) and Callum Stainer (senior consultant), data and AI recruitment specialists.

• Eightfold AI, which helps organisations recruit and retain top talent, and upskill/reskill their entire workforce, has added two new foundational AI products to its portfolio. Expanding its capabilities in talent acquisition, Eightfold introduces AI Interviewer to automate candidate engagement and assessment, enhancing responsiveness and selection outcomes. The company has also launched Digital Twin, a personalised AI model that captures and applies employee knowledge across systems to drive real-time productivity and decision-making.

• SF Recruitment has opened a new East Midlands headquarters in Castle Donington, strategically positioned next to East Midlands Airport. The new hub unites the company’s Leicester and Nottingham teams, with the company broadening its expertise into STEM fields, including technology and engineering, alongside its core areas of finance, private equity and corporate services. Over 40 team members will be based at the new headquarters and plans for European growth are underway, according to the company statement.

11 September 2017
Retail, Marketing, IT/Telecoms, Hospitality/Leisure, Accounting/Finance

NEW TO THE MARKET: 11-15 SEPTEMBER 2017

• Software provider BlueFinity’s rapid app development platform Evoke has launched a timesheet and expenses app.

The app, available across different platforms including iPhones, desktop, android phones, offers: full candidate, client and agency access if required; timesheet and expenses submission and approvals; email notifications for submitted and approved timesheets; the ability to use mobile or tablet camera to capture expense receipts

• Assessment specialist cut-e has launched a customisable, online game-based assessment called playAssess, which enables recruiters to embed specific ability tests and other measures.

The game involves an alien named Odd, who has invaded Earth and taken over the top floor of a skyscraper. To save the city, job candidates have to get into the building’s elevator and complete a series of challenges, set by Odd. Each challenge is one of cut-e’s assessments, which includes 30 different ability tests, covering verbal and numerical abilities among other evaluations.

Any of these tests – and any other cut-e assessment – can be embedded into the cover story of playAssess, to provide job-relevant insights and an enhanced candidate experience. 

The game, available in 15 languages and optimised to run on a range of devices, can be used as pre-selection tool for a range of different job roles, from apprentices, high-volume customer-facing positions and seasonal jobs up to junior management roles, while its duration of depends on how many tests are added.

• James Caan-backed IT recruiter Elitegroup has opened an office in Paris. The firm says its decision to open a Paris office, based in the 7th district of Paris, will bring Elitegroup in closer proximity to its growing list of SME and enterprise clients in France.

Samir Harrad, who joined the firm in January, will head up the new office.

• London-based PR staffing specialist FleishmanHillard Fishburn (FHF) has launched its brand campaign – #LISTENINGFACE. 

The firm says the campaign is part of a “comprehensive” listening exercise, which inspired the #LISTENINGFACE brand campaign. It reflects that the power of listening – to colleagues, partners and clients – is at the heart of everything the agency does.

The campaign is being promoted externally through a media partnership and a widespread social media campaign. The agency has also unveiled a raft of changes to employees’ working hours, benefits and incentives to stand out as the employer of choice in London’s highly competitive PR market.

Among the changes announced is the discarding of the traditional nine-to-five workday with flexi-time installed, with employees are also encouraged to dedicate up to 2.5 hours each week for personal fitness at any suitable time during those hours.

Other measures introduced include:

  • Passion Projects: A Dragons' Den-style competition open to all employees who can pitch for money from a £10k annual pot, with up to £600 available to any one individual, to follow a passion outside of work – whether that involves charity work or going on a writing or cookery course.
  • Side Hustle: Flexible hours plus company support and resources to help employees commit regularly to other jobs and activities away from FHF – be that volunteering, blogging, baking, politics, arts or fitness.
  • Parent Power: Staggered return to work hours for all parental leave returners, along with a number of additional benefits designed to ease the pressure of balancing work and family life.

• Job board Monster has launched Power Job Ads, a solution aimed at connecting businesses with relevant candidates wherever they are online.

Power Job Ads enables recruiters to engage with active and passive candidates every time they post a vacancy – through the Monster network, through social media and through targeted behavioural marketing that reaches the sites and apps people are using every day. Results are displayed and tracked in a single report so performance can be monitored throughout the campaign.

• Accountancy and finance staffing specialist Nixon Caunce Associates has rebranded as NC Associates.

• The Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association (PAPA) has launched a new recruitment site. The site, www.jobs.papa.org.uk, encourages people to develop careers in the industry and helps promote the job opportunities the industry offers. It has already received support from some of the UK organisations, with Pizza Hut, Stateside Foods and Harrods registering roles.

• North Wales recruitment firm Supertemps has launched S2recruitment.co.uk. The new online platform targets candidates seeking IT, senior management and technical vacancies with salaries £30k and above.

6 September 2017
Marketing

Randstad steers its brand on a new course

Human Forward is Randstad’s promise to put people first while recognising the role technology plays in modern recruitment practice. Based on extensive research, the company says the evolution of the Randstad brand represents the optimum combination of ‘tech and touch’ in helping people and organisations to realise their potential. The UK is one of the first countries in which Randstad operates to launch the revised brand. 

Adam Nicoll, marketing director UK and Middle East, says: “September 2017 marks a giant leap forward for our brand and our business. Our rejuvenated website goes live with a vibrant and energising new look and language; and we’re hosting a series of exclusive events to celebrate this transition.” 

Among the events are Randstad’s sponsorship of the next Sunday’s Great North Run, Europe’s biggest half-marathon, and the Great North CityGames. Randstad’s sponsorship will be given an extra boost by the presence of the Stad Amsterdam. Modelled on a 19th century clipper ship, the 66m vessel was built in 2000 to help the unemployed to develop new skills. The tall ship will be docking on the Tyne following a short visit to London (above).

Taking advantage of Randstad’s partnership with Williams Martini Racing, visitors to Newcastle will also be able to see a replica Williams Martini Racing car and take part in a Batak challenge, a test of hand-eye co-ordination and reaction time, for a chance to win Williams Martini Racing merchandise.

Mark Bull, CEO UK and Middle East, says: “Our refreshed identity and unique promise ensures that we’re well and truly on our way to becoming one of the most powerful brands on the planet.”

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4 September 2017
Public sector, Marketing, Education, Construction & property, Legal, Graduates/Apprentices/School leavers

NEW TO THE MARKET: 4-9 SEPTEMBER 2017

• Multi-sector recruiter Berry Recruitment has moved its Croydon location to larger premises in Selsdon Road from its previous home at 291-93 High Street.

• Job site CV-Library is launching a new advertising push this autumn across a number of different platforms and media.

The campaign will involve advertising on trains, large format roadside posters, taxis, bus shelters, gyms, coffee shops, airports, the London Underground, Glasgow Subway and the Newcastle Metro. A new radio campaign will also be launched across various radio stations including Kiss, Capital, Magic, Heart, Smooth and Absolute.

• London Mayfair-based Hanning Recruitment has launched. The real estate recruitment firm is founded by managing director Toby Speke, and backed by Rory Penn and Thomas Van Straubenzee of property management company VanHan.

• Recruitment software provider Microdec Profile has launched a new suite of reports and a report-writing tool.

The new report-writing facility enables Profile users to create their own system reports and summary pages for candidates, client contacts, organisations or vacancies. For security, system administrators are able to control which users may create reports.

The new report-writing tool includes a visual report designer, and the resulting reports can be printed or exported to common file formats, including Excel spreadsheets.

• Education recruiter Smile Education has launched SLT (Smile leadership team) Education recruitment. The business, which will recruit senior leaders in education, has been launched by Smile Education directors Mark Child and Emma Sheldon and managing director Katy Rees.

Set up as a separate company, but operating from the same office as Smile, Leasa Clarke has been appointed partner to head up SLT Education.

Clarke says the idea of starting up a senior leadership agency came from feedback from head teachers she worked with as a consultant, asking her to find them new roles and them telling her there were no agencies they knew of based in the Midlands that only focused on senior leadership placements.

She adds as Smile Education is mainly a temp recruitment agency specialising in teaching staff and school support, the two agencies will work side by side and not in direct competition.

• Poet and broadcaster Lemn Sissay, Chancellor of The University of Manchester, is launching a university bursary aimed at increasing the number of black males entering the law and criminal justice sector.

The Lemn Sissay Law Bursaries take into account applicants’ race, gender and socio-economic background, and specifically aim to address the obstacles faced by male students of African & Caribbean heritage who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The bursary will offer eligible applicants an annual grant of £3k, funded by the university’s School of Law.

The bursary is available to applicants to a School of Law undergraduate degree submitting an application via UCAS, which satisfy the following criteria:

• Male – Black African, black Caribbean, ‘Mixed’ Black African Caribbean heritage/background/origin

• Live in Greater Manchester or study at an institution in Greater Manchester

• Has not attended a fee-paying school in the UK; has not attended a fee-paying school outside of the UK for which the fees are more than nominal

They must also satisfy at least one of the below priority criteria:

• Have had experience of being in Local Authority care, or live in a ‘disadvantaged’ neighbourhood

• Applicants’ current or most recent educational institution has a performance lower than national average

• Have been eligible for free school meals at a UK senior school (if under 21) or in receipt of means-tested benefit (if over 21)

29 August 2017
IT/Telecoms

NEW TO THE MARKET: 29 AUGUST – 1 SEPTEMBER 2017

• Multi-sector recruiter Berry Recruitment has relocated its Falmouth branch to Truro.

The branch has rebranded as Berry Recruitment Cornwall, in line with its new remit of covering the entire county.

• Cooper Lomaz has launched the CLR Academy.

Under the initiative, the East Anglia-based recruiter is seeking candidates to take part in an assessment day this October ahead of starting with the agency, with four candidates being selected to start as recruitment resourcers in early November.

• Assessment specialist cut-e has launched an enhanced version of its online recruitment tool snap-it.

The new version enables recruiters to create detailed job descriptions and calculate the person-job fit for each candidate, and provides a guide to support competency-based interviews.

• Multi-sector recruiter Juice Recruitment has opened in Swindon.

The firm, which already has offices in Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham and Trowbridge, says its new office will open it up to Wiltshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire markets.

• Recruitment app provider LUCKYLINK is to unveil its latest recruit – EVA (Employment Virtual Assistant).

The recruiter bot, hardwired with artificial intelligence, is being trained by THE company through a combination of recruitment specialists, and is operating in the field sourcing and screening candidates.

The firm expects EVA to acquire the knowledge of a recruitment executive with two years’ experience in time for her official launch this October.

After a 10-minute brief from an employer, EVA's sourcing and screening capabilities allow her to source and present five suitable candidates in less than five days, says LUCKYLINK.

• Subscription recruitment agency service Recruitably has started up.

Launched by director Steve Bryant, the service is offered via a monthly subscription from £99 per month, per hire.

• Colchester-based SAP, Oracle and IT specialist recruitment agency Whitehall Resources has opened an office in Frankfurt, with the creation of a new German company – Whitehall Resources GmbH. 
 

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