New to Market

13 May 2025

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

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

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

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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18 January 2024

Dept for Education campaign to encourage staff to teach in Further Education

By sharing skills, and training the next generation of workers in their field, the Teach in Further Education campaign is calling on more employers to encourage their staff into part-time teaching in FE in 2024.

New research commissioned by the DoE’s campaign has found one in four employers cite recruitment to fill growing job roles as a top priority for their business this year.

Employers recognise the importance of preparing a pipeline of talent for the future of their business and 93% agree they have a responsibility to help train people to future proof their sector’s workforce.  

Teaching in FE can be flexible and may appeal to employees including those looking for new development opportunities alongside their current career, those nearing retirement but wanting to stay connected to their industry, or people seeking a less physical role within their sector.

Practical experience gained from industry is highly sought after, and teaching and other academic qualifications are not always a pre-requisite for employment as FE teachers can start earning straight away and do funded on-the-job training. There are full-time, part-time and flexible contracts available, allowing FE teachers to balance their hours alongside other professional or personal responsibilities.

FE teachers are needed across many subject areas but there is particular demand for workers from the following sectors: health and social care, construction, engineering & manufacturing, legal, finance, accounting, and digital & IT.

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15 January 2024

NEW TO THE MARKET: 15-19 JANUARY 2024

Abacus Group, a managed services provider to alternative investment firms, has opened a new office in the centre of Edinburgh to expand its research & development and customer support capabilities while leveraging the local talent pool in the area. The new office is already being used by a number of staff, and Abacus expects to fill additional roles early this year to support its projected growth of 19.

Key to the Edinburgh decision is the opportunity the city provides to support emerging talent looking to get into the sector. The city has a reputation for having a highly skilled and diverse workforce, and is renowned for its research and innovation, especially in sectors such as technology and finance. Abacus will actively be speaking to universities in and around the Edinburgh region, with a view to getting involved in graduate recruitment schemes in the future.

Randstad Digital has partnered with Valeo, a worldwide leader in mobility technology and electrification, to serve as its global talent partner. Valeo will have access to Randstad’s talent and training services through the Randstad Digital Academy, as well as the company’s proprietary AI-driven platform. The partnership will begin in early 2024 in India, Romania and France, with plans to expand and reach automakers worldwide.

Rhino Safety, a health & safety solutions provider, has launched a new recruitment service for businesses looking to secure qualified health & safety experts. The new offering of interim health & safety consultants aims to address the challenges faced by businesses in recruiting qualified experts for short-term coverage, providing a reliable solution to ensure project safety and compliance.

• Independent business telecoms provider Rubix VT has launched its new recruitment business Rubix Recruitment. Rubix VT managing director Nick Poyner has teamed up with experienced recruitment specialist James Naylor to grow the business. The Brighton-based business will specialise in finding permanent employees for offices, sales and warehouse businesses in Sussex and the South-East.

7 December 2023

NEW TO THE MARKET: 4-8 DECEMBER 2023

• Distribution company CitySprint is recruiting couriers across London and the UK. New recruits will support the increased logistics demand during the 2023 festive season and driving continued business growth. The new recruits will join CitySprint’s team of more than 3,000 couriers across the UK and will work across a wide range of vehicles, with a particular hiring focus on long wheel-based drivers. Demand for drivers also extends to CitySprint’s electric vehicles, with the company’s fleet continuing to expand.

• Human capital advisory firm the Josh Bersin Company has launched a generative AI expert assistant and problem-solving tool for HR leaders and their teams. Galileo can help business and HR users to get answers to any HR or management question by interrogating the collective Josh Bersin Company accumulated intellectual property, covering research, in-depth maturity models, frameworks, benchmarks, videos, podcasts, case studies and more.

That assistance ranges from asking questions, but also allowing users to compare vendors, research solutions, and generate implementation plans, RFP templates, communications plans, and more. The expert assistant allows practitioners to interrogate all the Josh Bersin Company intelligence online at their own pace as if all the advisory firm’s analysts were there in the room with them.

Randstad Digital, a digital enablement organisation, has joined the global ‘RiseUp with ServiceNow’ programme to help skill and train individuals in the ServiceNow ecosystem and prepare them for in-demand jobs in technology. The partnership will provide organisations of all sizes with the talent needed to navigate the era of digital business, while expanding career opportunities for individuals. This collaboration designates Randstad Digital as ServiceNow's workforce placement partner, contributing to RiseUp's mission of upskilling one million people by 2024.

Search Capital, an investment and talent incubation company dedicated to fostering growth and innovation in the recruitment sector, has launched. The firm will provide environment, infrastructure and network for strategic business development. Currently, the company’s portfolio consists of five thriving businesses, including JCW Group, Guideline, Xander Talent, OutScout and the recently launched Core Consultants. These companies, with collective revenues of around $75m (£59.6m), represent a diverse mix of traditional and non-traditional human capital businesses across multiple specialisms and regions.

Search Capital says it brings a “transformative” approach to the traditional model of business growth by strategically investing in and supporting the development of human capital firms, helping to scale businesses and accelerate their success.

Sterling Check, an identity and background services provider, has announced Sterling RISQ is being rebranded as ‘Sterling’ in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. It is being aligned with technology enhancements to deliver global background screening and identity programs and local expertise. Sterling has employees based in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines and mainland China.

30 November 2023

Payroll Compliance Authority launches for umbrella companies

The independent, not-for profit organisation said it offers “law-abiding payroll companies an avenue to honest and trusted business through a rigorous audit process, carried out independently by global accounting firm PwC”.  

It is not linked with any government bodies.

CEO Paul Newsham is a Lancashire-based chartered accountant and, among other appointments, is a director for registered company RfM Funding Solutions and several accounting businesses operating under the RfM brand name.

He said the PCA’s services would be “an ongoing rigorous process where non-compliance has consequences” for umbrella companies.

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