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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.

19 January 2023
Hospitality/Leisure

Sixty Eight People launches international division to solve UK’s hospitality crisis

It is estimated that 20,000 chefs will leave the hospitality industry in the UK this year, placing further pressure on the domestic talent pool. The new division, Sixty Eight International, sources skilled chefs of all levels, while guiding companies through the process of gaining a sponsorship licence. 

Although post-Brexit, the process is more complex, international chefs are now billed as ‘skilled workers’ by the UK government and can come to the UK to work.

Sixty Eight People has invested heavily in developing a pipeline of international talent, with 45 chefs in place following a successful pilot scheme.

Founder Abi Dunn says: “I’m so happy to be able to support our clients with one of their biggest headaches. But also excited to provide great places to work for our overseas candidates. The response to the pilot scheme has been fantastic from both the operators and the candidates.”

Hospitality businesses of all sizes are invited to a free webinar to find out how they can benefit from a pool of international talent. The webinar on 31 January will provide advice to recruit international hospitality talent.

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19 January 2023
Retail, Social care, Hospitality/Leisure, Healthcare/Medical

Cera to create 10,000 jobs for care sector in 2023

Most of these roles will be in frontline healthcare services such as professional carers and nurses. Applicants are encouraged from those working in retail, hospitality and leisure, who have transferable skills that they can bring to the care sector.

Cera also offers flexible hours, with excellent career development opportunities, for those looking to take on extra work alongside a primary job, to earn more and help with the cost-of-living pressures.

Dr Ben Maruthappu MBE, CEO and co-founder of Cera, was one of the healthcare leaders to attend the prime minister’s emergency NHS Recovery Forum at Number 10 Downing Street earlier this month, considering opportunities to rapidly alleviate NHS pressures.

He said: “Britain is facing a dual crisis – an economic one and a second that grips our health service. We are hoping this ambitious jobs programme goes some way to solving both crises: helping people return to work at a challenging time and allowing us to deliver millions more home healthcare visits each year. Our technology allows us to effectively recruit and train new carers in record time, to rapidly expand our care capacity.”

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16 January 2023
Creative/Digital/Media, Executive search, IT/Telecoms

NEW TO THE MARKET: 16-20 JANUARY 2023

• FourPointZero Recruitment, a recruitment business focused on the XR and Metaverse, has completed a move to larger office space to accommodate its growing team and expanding operations. The new office is located at Manchester Airport and is more than double the size of the company’s previous space and provides ample room for the recruiter’s continued growth.

• Heidrick & Struggles has opened a new office in Colombia to support its operations in the region. The new office is located in Bogotá and will be led by Roberto Hall and supported by four key consultants with a wide range of expertise across all of the firm’s existing sectors.

10 January 2023
Public sector, Transport & logistics, Commercial & office support, Executive search, Industrial/Manufacturing, HR

Acorn Recruitment rebrands as Acorn by Synergie

A company statement said that the rebrand has been implemented to better reflect Acorn’s position as part of Synergie, an international group of companies and institutions offering global HR management and development services in recruitment, temporary employment and permanent and executive solutions. 

Acorn’s new name also coincides with an expansion into two new regions – Worcester and the Midlands – following success at the Gloucester branch, which opened in September last year. Acorn by Synergie is to help candidates and companies with resource management in these areas by opening two new branches, the company statement said.

Jamie Anderson will be heading up the new areas as director of operations, while Russell Tudge joins as recruitment consultant. Anderson was formerly the operations director of South Wales, and Russell was the manager of Acorn’s original Newport branch. Both are responsible for the recruiter’s partnership with the Ospreys rugby team, working on an initiative to help senior former players back into the world of work. 

The new branches, which will be run virtually initially, will specialise in commercial and administration, warehouse and industrial, driving and public sector recruitment.

Acorn by Synergie provides permanent, contract and temporary recruitment support and specialist Executive Search service UK-wide, and also offers international recruitment support to countries and professionals worldwide through its subsidiary Acorn by Synergie Global Recruitment. 

Acorn by Synergie’s Head Office is at Celtic Springs, near Newport, South Wales, where many of Acorn by Synergie’s specialist divisions are based.

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