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New to Market

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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20 May 2025
Creative/Digital/Media, IT/Telecoms

Human skills as important as ‘oven-ready’ tech skills

So says the CEO of the CIPD, the UK’s professional body for HR, learning & development, Peter Cheese.

Speaking last Friday [16 May 2025] at the Houses of Parliament launch of the UK Hiring Taskforce, Cheese told the 200 attendees that at the same time, however, instead of filling skills gaps, employers are also looking for potential in applicants through characteristics such as “attitude, aptitude to learn human skills like collaboration and communication, and critical thinking. The more we debate the future of work, the more we debate about AI impacting jobs and skills in the future, the more we are coming back to these core skills”.

Humanities knowledge is part of building such capabilities into organisations, Cheese said: “People talk now about the half-life of job skills is somewhere between three and four years. In other words, every three or four years, we’re going to have to retrain half of our workforce.”

Access to and retention of talent are a top issue for business leaders around the world, with “almost every organisation saying they can’t find all the skills. But then you question them on that, they say yes, we’ve been getting too focused on hiring what I’ve often described as ‘oven-ready employees’ and they don’t exist – partly because we are changing the nature of jobs at an ever-increasing rate”, Cheese said. “So, the reality of how we approach recruiting has got to be expanded from the point of view of the employers as well.”

He asked the audience: “So why do we seem to be reverting back to saying ‘I just want tech skills’? We know the world is not, unfortunately, going to be a better place if all we have are a lot of tech people. Frankly, we need humanity to work alongside that as well.”

Cheese has been appointed to the UK Hiring Taskforce steering committee.

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18 August 2021
Creative/Digital/Media, IT/Telecoms

NEW TO THE MARKET: 16-20 AUGUST 2021

• Venn, a digital marketing agency in Manchester, has announced that it has launched a new recruitment SaaS platform Vennture. The new platform will power Venn’s recruitment agency websites and brands will be able to build a career website enabling them to attract and engage with talent and give a far greater insight into their company and culture. Venn says agencies using the Vennture platform can directly help brands manage their careers websites, post jobs and track passive and active candidates all from one central place.

11 August 2021
Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Charity & not-for-profit, Executive search, Interim recruitment, IT/Telecoms, Apprentices/Grads/School leavers

NEW TO THE MARKET: 9-13 AUGUST 2021

• Resourcing transformation specialist Omni RMS has launched a new search consultancy service to help organisations find change leaders. Omni Search, led by recruitment industry expert Ben Fitzgerald, connects businesses with the permanent or interim leaders they need to manage and facilitate people-led, organisational & culture change management programmes.

• Tech start-up RoleCatcher has launched a tool to improve people’s chances of landing their dream role thanks to a new 21-day back-to-work programme. Alongside its tech solution, the job application tracking platform has developed a programme to guide applicants through each stage of the recruitment journey.

Participants sign up for the free 21-day programme, where they receive daily emails with set tasks and training resources, all designed to build employment skills and improve their chances of landing their dream job.

• Talent RISE is launching a global initiative aimed at helping young people with the challenges to finding employment. RISE Day will take place on 3 September, involving 300 people around the world volunteering their time to provide support to young people in need.

RISE Day will see staff from global tech recruitment company Talent, and its associated charity foundation Talent RISE, take part in a phone call initiative with young people who have registered their details. Young people will receive free support and guidance around employment and will be offered tools and a spot in the Talent RISE database to get access to free workshops, industry events and job opportunities. From today, young people can register their details here.

• International recruitment firm Staffing 360 Solutions has announced the launch of The JM Longbridge Group. The company is formed from Staffing 360 Solutions’ companies Longbridge Recruitment 360 and The JM Group joining together.

Simon Girven, managing director at The JM Group, who led both companies for the past two years, says: “Bringing the two brands together enhances our client offering, provides career opportunities for our team members and supports the evolution of our business.”

28 July 2021
Public sector, Executive search, IT/Telecoms

NEW TO THE MARKET: 26-30 JULY 2021

• Competex Pro, a payroll umbrella company for senior independent professionals, has announced that it has achieved approved provider status under the Professional Passport accreditation for payroll umbrella companies. The Professional Passport accreditation demonstrates the high standards that companies adhere to across all their processes, policies and procedures. It shows that Competex Pro is fit for purpose, complies with current government legislation, and adapts to legislative changes.

• Investigo Consulting, part of recruitment company Investigo Group, has relaunched as Definia. Definia offers tailored services to “transform and future proof businesses” in the public and private sectors. It deploys teams of subject matter experts to help its clients deliver business initiatives, adopt new technology and bring about transformation. Investigo says the rebrand will “emphasise its own unique identity in the group’s suite of businesses”.

20 July 2021
IT/Telecoms

Hays relaunches IT business as Hays Technology

The Hays Technology brand will operate globally, and has launched in Australia and New Zealand so far.

Since 2008, the Hays IT business has grown from being Hays’ third-largest specialism, generating around 14% of group net fees, to its largest specialism, with annual fees of a quarter of £1bn, a company statement said.

James Milligan heads the company’s global technology business. He is based in Ireland.

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