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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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4 November 2022
Sales, Transport & logistics, Creative/Digital/Media, Charity & not-for-profit, Executive search, IT/Telecoms, Apprentices/Grads/School leavers

NEW TO THE MARKET: 31 OCTOBER-4 NOVEMBER 2022

• Professional services provider FDM Group has announced its partnership with CRM provider Salesforce to help boost the availability and capability of CRM specialists across the Salesforce ecosystem. As a Salesforce Authorised Training Provider (SATP), FDM will train consultants using Trailhead Academy, which consists of expert-led learning content to develop niche skills in Salesforce, before placing and integrating them in selected job roles in industry-leading businesses across the country.

• Digital talent solutions specialist Lorien and MAMA, a coding school for kids, held a free ‘eco-hackathon’ at Lorien’s global HQ in London. Twenty-four children aged five to 11 attended the ‘Green the World’ hackathon on 26 October, where they were challenged in teams to find solutions for change. The students were joined by business leaders and mentors from Lorien and MAMA.codes to inspire and to help them see the real-world applications and potential for their ideas.

Three-quarters of the children attending the day were part of the long-term outreach programme that MAMA.codes set up in 2018 to support families from the community affected by the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, in partnership with local charity Nova New Opportunities.

• London-based executive search firm Norman Broadbent Group has launched its first Scottish offices in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The Edinburgh team will be led by managing director Michael Diamond who will focus on targeting the board, C-suite and leadership market of Scotland’s largest brands and businesses. In Aberdeen, chief operating officer Sean Buchan will be based out of the firm’s new office on Rubislaw Terrace within the city’s West End office district.

• VIQU has moved to a larger office space in Edgbaston, increasing its Birmingham team’s capacity from 18 to 32. The IT recruitment firm was established in Birmingham in 2014, and opened a smaller second office in 2018 in Southampton. VIQU says this office is designed with collaboration and cross-departmental teamwork in mind and plans to fill the space to capacity within 18 months.

• Logistics firm Whistl has announced its Whistl Apprenticeship Fund has funded 251 apprenticeships in 76 different organisations. The company invited small businesses in the areas where it has sites to apply for funding for their own Level 2 to 5 apprenticeship schemes with a focus on early years learning, digital and engineering focused apprenticeships.

18 October 2022
Creative/Digital/Media, IT/Telecoms, Graduates/Apprentices/School leavers, Apprentices/Grads/School leavers

NEW TO THE MARKET: 17-21 OCTOBER 2022

• Experis, a global IT professional resourcing and project services firm (part of ManpowerGroup), will work together to train and re-upskill people around the world with in-demand IT skills and help them use those new skills to secure employment.

The collaboration between Experis and the Cisco Networking Academy is currently live in the US and Mexico, with plans to expand to additional markets in future phases. It will focus on learning paths where the demand for skilled workers is far outpacing supply including IT pathways, cybersecurity, networking, programming and data. It aims to place more than 1,000 people in new IT roles in the first year.

14 October 2022
Creative/Digital/Media, Engineering, Construction & property, Executive search, IT/Telecoms, HR, Accounting/Finance

Three recruitment entrepreneurs launch £125m Aristotle Partnerships

Nick Cragg, Craig Buckingham and Roger Frost have announced the formation of an entirely new specialist recruitment and staffing solutions company called Aristotle Partnerships, according to the firm.

The new enlarged group will comprise Nicholas Associates Group (NAG), Red Rock Partnership (RRP) and Syntax Consultancy (Syntax), with all brands continuing to operate under their trading names and maintain their existing brand identity.

Aristotle Partnerships brands will now be able to offer apprentice and graduate placement and recruitment, blue and white collar flexible, temporary and permanent recruitment, engineering, IT, finance & HR, executive search, IT consultancy, digital learning and development consultancy, and HR management software solutions.

Nick Cragg founded Nicholas Associates Group in 1977, initially supplying site engineers to the construction industry. Through diversification, organic growth and acquisitions NAG now offers apprentice to boardroom talent management solutions.

Craig Buckingham is chairman and founder of RRP, which he established in 2007, and also a member of The Leaders Council of Great Britain & Northern Ireland. Roger Frost is managing director of Syntax and has more than 35 years of success in creating great partnerships with clients in the IT sector. In 2005 he enacted an MBI to buy out the previous management team of Syntax.

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11 October 2022
Marketing, Oil & gas/Energy, Transport & logistics, Creative/Digital/Media, Engineering, Construction & property, IT/Telecoms, HR

NEW TO THE MARKET: 10-14 OCTOBER 2022

• Recruitment firm Acorn has announced it is launching a new division named Acorn Building Services. It will combine the UK recruiter’s construction, mechanical, engineering and housing divisions into one, to help increase the availability of sustainable job opportunities for under-represented groups in all sectors.

With an initial focus on South-Wales and Bristol, its Acorn Building Services division will now help drive forward new projects and initiatives to further support its clients in contributing socially as well as economically to areas they work in too.

Lawrence Beach, client development director for Acorn, will be responsible for developing these initiatives, focusing on social value, people pathways, tenders and more. Operations director Osian John will also head up the new division in an operational capacity and drive the day to day running of the team involved.

• Scottish recruitment firm Be Personnel is opening a new office in Dunfermline, Fife. The firm recruits in the food processing, commercial, industrial and driving sectors, as well as recruiting for senior/management level positions. It will open its second Scottish office at the Flexspace Dunfermline business centre in October, staffed by an initial team of four working across recruitment and business development functions.

• Global payroll, compliance and hiring firm Deel has launched Deel Equipment in partnership with equipment workplace specialist Hofy to enable businesses to send remote team members equipment internationally it says in seconds, saving hours on manual tasks. Equipment rental on Deel operates on a subscription basis and pay a flat fee per piece of equipment, with pricing varying based on equipment item, location, and contract length. It is available for new and existing full-time employee contracts.

• Linear Recruitment has announced its current owners have completed a deal to move the ownership of into an Employee Ownership Trust. This means its staff become owners of the company they work for. The recruitment agency specialises in the construction, power, infrastructure and rail industries across the UK, with offices in Newcastle, Manchester, Shirebrook, and its head office in Sheffield.

• Recruitment technology provider Matrix SCM, has launched a revamped brand identity and a new website. Matrix SCM will be named as Matrix. The new site includes features that aim to simplify the site’s navigation and bring it up to date as a valuable resource of information for agencies and clients alike.

Solution sections on the website is the provision for specialist areas such as:

  • Matrix Workforce - A fully managed neutral vendor service which delivers employers recruitment supply chains and systems for hiring and managing contingent workers.
  • Matrix Milestone - Where organisations can buy and manage statement of work, consultancy and professional services projects.
  • Matrix Talent Pool - Helping organisations build a pool of pre-screened, prospective workers who have indicated a desire to work with them.
  • Matrix Cr.net - Our leading propriety platform which automates and manages every step of the temporary worker hiring process.
  • Matrix Umbrella – Provides fully compliant employment contracts and payments for contractors.
  • Matrix Payroll – Provides payment and compliance services for organisations who hire contingent workers.

• Recruitment and staffing solutions company Nicholas Associates has announced plans to open a new office in Leeds following the appointment of Michael Alderson as business manager. The new office will be on Park Row in the city’s business district and will specialise in temporary and permanent recruitment solutions for the built environment. The company is part of the wider Nicholas Associates Group, whose head office is based in Rotherham.

The group recently announced the formation of an entirely new specialist recruitment and staffing solutions company called Aristotle Partnerships.

• The Rightcheck platform has launched ‘My Rightcheck’, fulfilling the capability of the established regtech platform to address all key stakeholders needs. This new candidate-centric app is the third integrated component of this industry for addressing recruitment compliance.

• Learning and Skills platform THRIVE has launched Marketing Studio, a new service that combines consultancy and design to elevate the effectiveness and engagement of learning campaigns. The design side of the service will provide platform teaser videos, campaign banners and other branded resources, supporting L&D teams to deliver sleek, on-brand learning content and campaigns.

Marketing Studio’s consultancy offering means companies can extend their skills with workshops and apply a marketing approach to their learning strategies, helping them meet their business objectives and drive better results from their learning campaigns.

• uComply has been accredited as an Identity Service Provider (IDSP) by a UKAS approved certification body to offer products to help perform ID checks. The audit is carried out against the UK digital identity trust framework and companies that pass receive the relevant kitemarks. It has launched a digital ID service uIDentify, which will:

  • send prospective employees an invitation to upload their own ID documents
  • on receipt of the documents ID authentication checks are performed using biometric data, liveliness and facial recognition
  • A pass/fail notification will be sent within 2 minutes.

• Recruitment technology platform Willo has created a new system that it says will “seamlessly” integrate digital right-to-work checks for UK, Irish and EU workers into the hiring process. The firm has built the tech as a result of a major change to Home Office regulations from 1 October, meaning employers will no longer be able to check workers’ right-to-work documents over video call or email. Willo’s authentication system is built-in as a step of the asynchronous hiring process, meaning applicants can complete identity checks without the need to rely on an external IDSP – creating a simplified process that also offers significant efficiencies for employers.

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