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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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15 July 2024

Ex-Eximius CEO launches PE firm Recruitment Portfolio model

RP said the model will help founders scale their recruitment businesses and realise value from their shareholdings.

RP’s approach targets established recruitment firms with strong growth potential. In its launch announcement, RP said a typical firm might generate £500k+ EBIT and £3m+ net fee income. RP’s model offers shareholders an immediate transaction paying them for the value in their shares, the company said.

RP’s team of recruitment entrepreneurs will then help these companies achieve increased scale and offer a second “bite at the cherry”, the company said, via a second sale of the RP group in seven-to-10 years’ time.

RP's team consists of founder ex-Eximius CEO Nick Stevens (pictured below), and experienced recruitment experts Annil Chandel and Tony Davies. 

RP is a London-based investment firm helping recruitment businesses scale. With a focus on operational excellence, strategic growth and value creation, RP partners with founders to transform promising recruitment firms into market leaders.

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15 July 2024
Executive search, IT/Telecoms

NEW TO THE MARKET: 15-19 JULY 2024

• Global talent solutions provider WilsonHCG has announced that it has fully integrated Claro’s talent intelligence and labour market analytics platform into its portfolio of talent solutions. The move comes less than two years since WilsonHCG acquired Claro Analytics to enhance its talent intelligence capabilities and provide a more ‘holistic’ approach to talent for its global client base.

12 July 2024
Public sector, Transport & logistics, Engineering, Industrial/Manufacturing

REC AGM: New government set to create industrial strategy council

This was an economist’s view of the post-election UK as Labour aims to achieve economic growth and productivity targets with “ruthless efficiency and reforming zeal”, the chief economist for manufacturers trade body Make UK said on Wednesday [10 July 2024].

Seamus Nevin (pictured) was speaking at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation’s annual general meeting and giving his opinion of the post-election UK and changes already underway towards “a decade of renewal”, as the government has described its plans. 

Targets include securing the highest sustained growth in the G7 group of countries, “ending a chronic long tail of low productivity, [with] British firms and underperforming businesses, increasing UK exports and improving ultimately the living standards of British people”, Nevin said.

More teachers, enabling construction in green and brown belt areas, the proposed move of regional railway networks into the Great British Railways system and increased private investment for infrastructure are targets already outlined by the new government. 

And Nevin predicted: “Right across government is also likely to be a new industrial strategy council, which will set targets and monitor progress across government. Together, these measures will be at the heart of what has been described as the biggest Whitehall shake-up in decades, breaking down departmental silos to pursue mission-driven policy delivery. At its core will be five new mission boards to aid cross-departmental work, with the entities to be headed by [Keir] Starmer himself and will draw on private sector expertise probably in the form of non-executive boards and adviser.”

Nevin went on to say: “The prime minister will also chair an overarching board or committee that sits atop the five mission-specific boards. The aim of this reorganisation is to reduce delays that can occur as measures passed between departments that are split between different budgets. 

“Under the planned overhaul,” Nevin continued, “the Treasurery will be changed to focus more on attracting investment and drive economic growth and move away from its traditional function of simply managing the national finances.”

With economic growth now a central aim of the Treasury department, Nevin said, the move will be “a significant cultural shift for civil servants” working there.

Industrial strategy, Nevin said, “is really the cornerstone of the government’s agenda”.

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9 July 2024
Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Executive search, Interim recruitment

Robert Walters unifies brands globally

In a statement today, the recruitment specialist says this move comes amid a changing global landscape and “signals the next step in the company’s vision to be the world’s most trusted talent solutions business”.

As the talent requirements and hiring processes of businesses evolve, Robert Walters is combining all of its expertise – specialist professional recruitment, recruitment outsourcing and talent advisory – into one business, allowing it to more seamlessly offer a full suite of talent solutions to help organisations address their hiring challenges.

Robert Walters will offer three core service lines:

  • Specialist professional recruitment: encompassing permanent and temporary recruitment, executive search and interim management.
  • Recruitment outsourcing: enabling organisations to transfer all, or part of, their recruitment needs to Robert Walters either through recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) or contingent workforce solutions (CWS).
  • Talent advisory: supporting the growth of organisations through market intelligence, talent development and future of work consultancy.

Toby Fowlston, CEO, Robert Walters ©Robert Walters

Toby Fowlston, CEO of Robert Walters, comments: “In the past few years, organisations’ hiring requirements have become more complex. From managing talent pipelines, whilst ensuring hiring is inclusive, through to accommodating different modes of employment, our clients want guidance and advice from a single partner across their talent landscape and we have evolved to meet their needs.”

As part of this brand unification, Robert Walters has introduced a new logo and visual identity that captures the essence of its global reach and expertise in talent solutions. The brand, designed to reflect the company’s commitment to quality of service, features refreshed design, imagery and typography.

The company’s digital presence will be revamped to align with the new visual identity, providing a seamless user experience for clients and candidates across the globe.

Fowlston adds: “Next year will mark 40 years of Robert Walters, and we are excited to be evolving into a talent solutions business whilst building upon, and continuing to grow, our specialist professional recruitment offering.”

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