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New to Market

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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14 April 2025
Creative/Digital/Media, Engineering

NEW TO THE MARKET: 14-18 APRIL 2025

• Manufacturing and engineering specialist Busy Bee Recruitment has relaunched its website. The refreshed online platform has a modern design and enhanced user functionality, offering an intuitive browsing experience that makes it easier than ever to explore current vacancies, submit CVs quickly and securely, access expert recruitment advice via a blog and submit vacancies directly online.

• Deel, a global payroll and HR provider, has launched a suite of AI-driven products to help companies hire, manage, and pay international teams. Deel will offer an all-in-one global workforce platform integrating payroll, HR, and IT, designed to support compliant operations across borders. Key updates include: Real-Time Payroll in over 53 markets (expanding to 130+ by 2027), offering instant calculations and faster processing; Deel PEO for offering top-tier benefits without enterprise-level costs; Benefits Admin for simplified, compliant benefits management across countries; Deel Talent for streamlined recruitment via trusted agency networks; Workforce Planning, Compensation, and Engage tools – powered by AI – for smarter headcount strategy, global pay management, and employee development; IT Lifecycle Management features like MDM, IAM, and EPP, supporting global device and security control.

5 July 2023
Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Oil & gas/Energy, Transport & logistics, Creative/Digital/Media, Engineering, Executive search, IT/Telecoms, HR

NEW TO THE MARKET: 3-7 JULY 2023

• 11 Investments, a group of boutique recruitment brands, has announced that the 11 Investments Group, and all its subsequent recruitment brands, have been certified B Corp. 11 Investments is a group of specialist recruitment brands, established by Joe Curtis, Andy Sellers and Charlie Rawstron in 2014. Founding marketing and digital recruitment agency 3Search, the trio invested in other, like-minded recruitment businesses via the formation of 11 Investments. Encapsulating their growth has also been an ambition to thrive within a socially responsible environment.

• Global talent solutions business AMS has launched AMS One – a proprietary RPO operating system. AMS One is a digital platform, built to optimise the delivery of RPO talent solutions for AMS clients. With a focus on client, hiring manager and candidate experience. It is a flexible operating system with the ability to provide an end-to-end experience for users, or integrate with a client’s existing technology stack.

• Talent acquisition and retention solutions provider AtlasJobs, a subsidiary of Pod Network in the US, has launched the platform’s People Map feature, a tool designed to transform how companies discover and connect with talent within their organisations. People Map acts as a supplement to AtlasJobs’ talent platform, enabling companies and recruiters to locate and connect with potential candidates and existing employees across the organisation.

• City & Guilds Foundation has launched the Recognise Strengths Engagement Tool (Re:SET), which aims to boost the employment prospects of applicants from marginalised and challenging social backgrounds such as refugees. The Re:SET toolkit is designed to support job applicants from marginalised backgrounds into employment. When recruiting staff, Re:SET encourages employers to look beyond candidates’ previous work experience and academic qualifications to place equal value on the skills their life has equipped them with.

• Distribution company CitySprint has announced that it is looking for 300 additional couriers across the UK, with the business focusing primarily on those with small and large vans, as well as zero emission vehicles in larger areas. The new couriers will be added to the pool of over 2,500 vans, bikes and cars, as CitySprint continues to grow its business and win new clients. They will provide support across all areas of the business, with a focus on supporting growth in retail sectors.

• Diversifying Group (formerly BAME Recruitment) has achieved certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit. It has met rigorous social and environmental standards, which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.

• ID-Pal, global provider of digital identity verification solutions, has launched its PEPs (Politically Exposed Persons) and Sanctions screening solution, designed to transform the recruitment sector. This technology offers recruiters an efficient and reliable way to streamline their candidate screening processes while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. By cross-referencing against comprehensive databases of global PEPs and sanctioned individuals, ID-Pal’s platform instantly flags any potential risks or compliance issues. This enables recruitment agencies or professionals to make informed decisions on the candidate and maintain regulatory compliance.

• Keystream, a leader in DDaT (digital, data and technology) recruitment solutions for the public sector, has announced a brand refresh and the launch of new service offerings in data analytics, digital infrastructure, EPR integration and training.

• Environmental and advisory solutions firm SLR Consulting has launched its returners programme for the second time. Last year, the global consultancy firm offered a STEM Returners programme at sites in Bristol, Nottingham, Exeter and London. The firm has added four new roles, including opportunities within their geotechnical engineering and also hydrology and hydrogeology teams.

The new 12-week, paid, STEM Returners programme is open to people who have had a career break, and acts as a ‘returnship’, allowing candidates to be reintegrated into an inclusive environment upon their return to STEM. STEM Returners sources the candidates and provides them with additional support including advice, career coaching and mentoring, ensuring applicants are ready and confident to return to work.

27 June 2023
Banking/Financial services, IT/Telecoms, Accounting/Finance

Sonovate heads to Amsterdam with expansion plans

Amsterdam was chosen for the company’s first overseas office, thanks to the Netherlands’ flexible working environment. The country ranks second in Europe after the UK in terms of contingent workers per capita, according to the Staffing Industry Analysts.

Sonovate’s funding activity will focus on supporting mid-size and large recruitment businesses, consultancies and online labour marketplaces. 

“With flexibility now a business norm, unlocking access to embedded payments is vital to allow businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape,” said Richard Prime, co-founder and co-CEO.

“The recruitment industry in the Netherlands is growing at pace so having an in-country presence is vital to ensure that Sonovate remains at the forefront of the Fintech and lending industries.”

With more than 20 years’ banking and B2B lending and financial services, Tjalle Kujit, Sonovate’s first country manager, will oversee the new operation.

The invoice financing operator recently significantly enhanced its funding technology platform to enable it to better serve large, multinational recruitment businesses and launch new lines of products in the future as it continues to grow and expand its customer base.

Sonovate also recently partnered with HR platform Deel to better serve its global customer base. 

Since it started funding in 2014, Sonovate has lent more than £3.5bn to 3,300 businesses and 40,000 workers in 44 countries, and increased its revenue by over 51% from 2021 to 2022, according to the company.

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16 June 2023
Recruitment Process Outsourcing, IT/Telecoms, HR

NEW TO THE MARKET: 12-16 JUNE 2023

• Outsourced payroll solutions and worker benefits provider HIVE360 has launched two new solutions as alternatives to the traditional umbrella providers. The new solutions are HIVE360 Umbrella Plus and HIVE360 PAYE Plus, which are ‘a new generation of protection and support for agency payroll’, according to HIVE360.

• Global mobility platform Localyze has announced it has extended its range of services, which now includes support for working vacations – ‘workcations’. A workcation refers to a trip initiated by an employee who wants to temporarily work from a different country without the need to take paid time off. Workcation requests can be submitted within the Localyze platform, which streamlines the entire process end to end for both the employer and employee. Localyze manages local country requirement evaluations, as well as in-take processes and requests to streamline immigration workflows.

• Nash Squared, a global provider of technology and talent solutions, has launched its business model – Flexhuis – in Belgium, elevating it to a key player in the provision of MSP and RPO solutions in the Benelux market. With over 30 years of experience, Flexhuis offers organisations the opportunity to simplify the complexities in the hiring, onboarding and workforce management processes, allowing businesses to quickly connect with skilled talent to drive their businesses forward.

9 June 2023
Public sector, Oil & gas/Energy, Legal, Hospitality/Leisure, Graduates/Apprentices/School leavers, Healthcare/Medical, Apprentices/Grads/School leavers, Accounting/Finance

Indeed and Brentford FC aim to boost local employment through jobs fair

Global matching and hiring platform Indeed is joining forces with Brentford FC Community Sports Trust to boost employment prospects for local people.

With the rate of unemployment among 18-24-year-olds reaching its highest level in two years, the event on 14 June aims to connect young jobseekers in West London with actively hiring employers, as well as promoting apprenticeships, internships and training opportunities.

Employers including the Ministry of Justice, VolkerFitzpatrick, Thames Water, Essex Police, the NHS and Brentford FC will promote their opportunities, while advisers from the Department of Work and Pensions and other careers experts will also be on hand to guide jobseekers.

For around 165 people, the jobs fair marks their successful graduation from the Indeed Skills Lab, a three-month community programme geared to support young local unemployed people in kick-starting their careers. The scheme, which launched in April, has featured a series of work-ready workshops focusing on advice and skills, including job search, CV writing and interview techniques.

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