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New to Market

4 June 2025
Oil & gas/Energy, Life sciences

Green energy firm aims to bring skilled jobs to Kent

Hydrogen TE (UK) is seeking planning permission from Kent County Council to build the UK’s first waste-to-hydrogen base at a 10-acre site in Manston, near Ramsgate. The project aims to convert household and commercial waste into clean hydrogen, significantly cutting landfill and carbon emissions.

According to a report from news site BDaily, bosses say the jobs would include skilled and graduate roles, alongside a training centre to foster local talent. The hydrogen produced will supply commercial heavy vehicle fleets and waste management operations, helping meet UK net-zero targets.

Michael Engsted, Hydrogen TE managing director, says: “This area of Kent has seen a huge depletion in jobs over the past few decades, which has forced many skilled workers and graduates to relocate.

“We are determined to help revitalise the local community by giving talented individuals a reason for staying here. We are committed to prioritising local recruitment for positions including finance, engineering and science.”

According to BDaily, the company also has plans to expand with a second plant near Newport, Wales. Joint MD Jeremy Parkin adds: “We are keen to establish the standard for plants like this, which will one day become a familiar sight across the UK.”

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27 May 2025
Creative/Digital/Media, Industrial/Manufacturing

NEW TO THE MARKET: 27-30 MAY 2025

• Aston University has announced a new initiative, guaranteeing all full-time master’s students a professional internship as part of their studies. Launching in September 2025, the Postgraduate Guaranteed Internship Scheme will be available to students enrolled in MSc, MA and MBA programmes at both the Birmingham and London campuses.

This scheme is designed to enhance employability by providing high-quality industry placements lasting between one and six months. These internships may be conducted in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid format, and will be facilitated through Aston’s global network of employers. The initiative is available to both UK and international students.

• Worcestershire-based Four Squared Recruitment has launched its new Recruitment Academy, a strategic initiative aimed at developing early careers and entry-level talent. The Academy supports new entrants with structured training, mentorship, and hands-on experience to prepare them for the demands of a competitive job market. Three new team members have also joined Four Squared as a result of the programme. The initiative helps close the gap between emerging candidates and evolving industry needs.

• Gi Group UK, part of global company Gi Group Holding, is strengthening its position in the recruitment and HR sector by delivering forklift and material handling equipment (MHE) training. With warehouse operative roles in high demand across the UK, the company provides essential upskilling opportunities to meet the growing needs of the logistics sector. The MHE training programme supports up to three candidates daily and is RTITB-approved, ensuring high standards of safety, compliance and operational efficiency.

• Technology recruitment provider itris has launched itris X, a cloud-based CRM and applicant tracking system (ATS) built specifically for recruitment agencies and staffing professionals. The new platform is designed to streamline the entire talent acquisition process with a focus on automation, scalability, and ease of use. itris X addresses core operational challenges in recruitment by offering AI-powered automation to reduce repetitive tasks, advanced reporting tools for performance insights, and personalised candidate communication features. The system is accessible across devices and integrates with a wide range of recruitment tools and platforms. Key features include lead and marketing management, user-friendly design and comprehensive customer support. itris X is scalable for use by both small agencies and large global firms, maintaining performance and usability regardless of company size.

• ManpowerGroup has launched the Work Intelligence Lab, a new global initiative designed to help employers and workers understand and adapt to the impact of AI on jobs and skills. With over half of employers (53%) already using AI in hiring and onboarding, the Lab provides real-time insights into how automation is transforming the labour market. The Lab leverages Manpower Group’s workforce data, drawn from millions of placements over 70 countries, and integrates real-time hiring trends, employer demand and worker sentiment. It aims to give organisations clearer visibility into emerging skill requirements, role changes and workforce dynamics.

27 May 2025
Oil & gas/Energy, Engineering

Energy recruitment firm launches in Aberdeen

Founded by Alan Golightly (pictured), an experienced recruitment professional with more than 27 years in the industry, the company targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) requiring tailored support for complex hiring needs. 

The firm provides permanent recruitment solutions for technical and engineering roles, as well as short-term internal recruitment assistance to help businesses manage hiring fluctuations without increasing fixed costs. Agilient also offers custom recruitment strategies that align with clients’ specific values and growth plans.

Golightly previously worked for, among other oil & gas recruiters, NES Fircroft, and launches Agilient from global energy recruiter Simpson Booth.

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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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22 July 2024
Public sector, Education, Construction & property, Industrial/Manufacturing, IT/Telecoms, Healthcare/Medical, Apprentices/Grads/School leavers

Skills England launches to boost nation’s skills

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has also today appointed Richard Pennycook CBE, former CEO of the Co-operative Group and lead non-executive director at the Department for Education (DfE), as the interim chair.

“Skills are crucial to economic growth, with a third of productivity improvement over the last two decades explained by improvements to skills levels,” the announcement said.

But between 2017 and 2022 skills shortages in this country doubled to more than half a million, and now account for 36% of job vacancies.

Skills England will bring together central and local government, businesses, training providers and unions to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions, providing strategic oversight of the post-16 skills system aligned to the government’s Industrial Strategy, the statement explained.

Supporting local areas to develop the skilled workforces they need – in particular across construction and healthcare – is fundamental to the new government’s mission to raise growth sustainably. By working with the Migration Advisory Committee, Skills England will also help reduce reliance on overseas workers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Our skills system is in a mess, which is why we are transforming our approach to meet skills needs over the coming decades. They will help to deliver our number one mission as a government, to kickstart economic growth, by opening up new opportunities for young people and enabling British businesses to recruit more home-grown talent.

“From construction to IT, healthcare to engineering, our success as a country depends on delivering highly skilled workforces for the long term. Skills England will put in place the framework needed to achieve that goal while reducing our reliance on workers from overseas.”

Education secretary Phillipson said: “Our first mission in government is to grow the economy, and for that we need to harness the talents of all our people to unlock growth and break down the barriers to opportunity.

“The skills system we inherited is fragmented and broken. Employers want to invest in their workers but for too long have been held back from accessing the training they need.  

“Skills England will jumpstart young people’s careers and galvanise local economies. It will bring businesses together with trade unions, mayors, universities, colleges and training providers to give us a complete picture of skills gaps nationwide, boost growth in all corners of the country and give people the opportunity to get on in life.

“The organisation will identify the training for which the growth and skills levy will be accessible – an important reform, giving businesses more flexibility to spend levy funds on training for the skills they need, which employers have long been calling for,” Phillipson said.

Skills England will be established in phases over the next nine to 12 months to create a responsive and collaborative skills system.

The Skills England Bill announced this week will transfer functions from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to Skills England.

This sits alongside work to simplify and devolve adult education budgets to Mayoral Combined Authorities to ensure that they can address their adult skills needs directly and support growth in their areas.

The announcement revealed the next steps for establishing Skills England as:

  • The first phase of Skills England’s launch involves setting up the organisation in shadow form within the DfE, and starting work on an assessment of future skills needs while building strong relationships with employers. A permanent board, chair and CEO will be appointed in due course.
  • The route for employers to shape skills training is currently offered by the IfATE. IfATE’s functions will transfer to Skills England, as part of the new organisation’s broader remit. IfATE will continue its important work in the interim as the transition of functions to Skills England is finalised.
  • Skills England will hold responsibility for maintaining a list of levy-eligible training to ensure value for money, and that the mix of government-funded training available to learners and employers aligns with the identified skills needs.
  • The government will also bring forward a comprehensive strategy for post-16 education to break down barriers to opportunity, support the development of a skilled workforce, and drive economic growth through our industrial strategy.

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22 July 2024
Executive search, Interim recruitment, Accounting/Finance

Ex-PSD Group MD Cooke launches financial consultancy Sowena Group

Perran Cooke has launched Sowena Group, focusing on recruiting for senior finance posts in high-growth and private equity and venture capital-backed businesses in the North-West and London regions. These include chief financial officers, finance directors, financial controllers and heads of finance for permanent, interim and portfolio roles across all sectors.

Cooke has more than 11 years’ experience of senior and executive recruitment in finance. He was previously PSD Group’s regional MD for the North, and before that was a director and shareholder at Axon Moore and a senior consultant at Frazer John Recruitment.

A statement from his company said Cooke is already working on several retained assignments and is in discussions with potential investors to support his growth plans for Sowena (which means ‘success’ in Cornish).

Cooke hails from Cornwall and moved to the North West in 2011. Sowena is based in Prestwich, Manchester.

He said his goals are to help senior finance professionals find their next career move and to assist founders and CEOs looking to hire the best talent to power expansion for their businesses, as well as supporting private equity investors with appointments in their portfolio companies.

“My plans involve developing the business organically and evolving the brand over the coming years to help more high-growth companies by recruiting for operations, technology, sales and marketing roles, in addition to finance,” Cooke said.

Cooke was on Plymouth Argyle FC’s books as a teenager, and worked as a finance broker before moving into recruitment. In addition to Sowena, he owns mortgage company Cooke Mortgages with his wife Michelle.

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22 July 2024
Public sector, Marketing, Creative/Digital/Media

Met Police campaign targets recruits to become the change

Under the New Met for London plan, the campaign is intended to transform the Met, with Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley putting change at the centre of his vision for the future.

The campaign, which has change as its theme, is being designed and run by creative agency Pablo and recruitment marketing agency UNLIMITED.

“The work is truthful in recognising that change isn’t for everyone. The Metropolitan Police Service needs people who want to change things for the better; society, London and themselves,” said a statement from the creative and marketing team. To date, research from UNLIMITED’s Human Understanding Lab has determined that a large pool of Londoners exists “with the energy and desire to make a positive difference”, the creative and marketing team said.

“We found that by shining a light on the rich and varied skills and strengths it takes to be a police officer, those Londoners were more likely to see themselves in the role; empathy, respect, resilience, courage are all values that tally with a fundamental desire to change things for the better.”

The campaign, ‘Change Needs You’, aims to highlight the importance and impact of Met Police Constables, while acknowledging “it’s anything but an easy job”. 

Inspired by and featuring real Police Constable stories and experiences, the multi-channel campaign speaks to the special skills The Met values in its officers. “It shines on real life frontline officers who described the creative as both highly realistic and making them proud to be Police Constables,” the creative and marketing team said.

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22 July 2024
IT/Telecoms, HR, Graduates/Apprentices/School leavers

NEW TO THE MARKET: 22-26 JULY 2024

• Careers platform Springpod and UCAS have launched new virtual work experience courses. The free courses are open to school, sixth form/college and university students nationwide, offering work experience with organisations including the Met Office, Barclays, Vodafone and the UK Parliament. Designed to spark interest in diverse careers and build confidence in young people, these programmes provide every student with access to meaningful work experience, develop essential skills, and offer the evidence needed to impress employers and universities.

• Invoice finance and back office support specialist Zodeq has concluded a seven-figure facility to support large-scale IT recruitment company Senovo IT. Zodeq has provided Senovo with a new streamlined reporting process. The improved facility will allow Senovo to manage its invoice finance more efficiently and support in the company’s continuous global growth.
 

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