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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.

10 January 2025
Banking/Financial services, IT/Telecoms, HR

NEW TO THE MARKET: 6-10 JANUARY 2025

• Recruitment consultancy Investigo has expanded its office in St Albans, Hertfordshire, strengthening recruitment relationships for its blue-chip organisations and high-growth businesses. The office is led by industry veterans David Blanco, director, and David Taylor, associate director. The St Albans team of 14 experienced professionals specialises in finance, finance transformation and HR recruitment. Investigo is part of The IN Group of recruitment companies.

• Personio, an HR software company for small and mid-sized businesses, has introduced a range of updates to its Intelligent HR Platform, enhancing flexibility and efficiency for HR teams. The new Time Tracking feature enables employees to log their hours via multiple devices, with data integrated into a centralised system. The updated Org Management feature offers businesses the ability to create nested team structures up to 10 layers deep, seen through a dynamic and filterable org chart. This helps organisations maintain accurate reporting lines and improve data accuracy while enabling employees to quickly locate and connect with colleagues.

A redesigned Inbox streamlines administrative workflows by introducing sorting, filtering and bulk actions. These tools prioritise key tasks and allow HR teams to approve multiple requests at once, making task management more efficient. In recruitment, new Analytics tools provide insights into the hiring process, including metrics such as time-to-hire and offer-acceptance rates. Talent teams can analyse trends over time and drill down into data by category, department or other filters to optimise recruitment strategies.

• Pro-Force has launched a permanent recruitment division designed to connect clients with top-tier talent for permanent roles and to provide skilled worker visa support. Heading up the new division as permanent recruitment manager is Kim Lane, who brings 25 years’ industry experience. In addition to traditional recruitment services, Pro-Force’s permanent recruitment division will offer skilled worker visa support, facilitating access to a broader pool of qualified candidates able to enter the UK on five year visas, for roles featured on the Home Office eligible occupations list.

13 December 2024
Oil & gas/Energy, Engineering, Executive search, Industrial/Manufacturing, HR, Accounting/Finance

NEW TO THE MARKET: 9-13 DECEMBER 2024

• Astute People, a recruitment agency specialising in power generation and renewable energy sectors, has announced its exclusive partnership with the South Clyde Energy Centre (SCEC) to recruit for 36 essential roles as part of the facility’s major crewing-up initiative. Located on the outskirts of Glasgow, the SCEC is an energy-from-waste (EfW) facility designed to process 350,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste annually, converting it into renewable energy.

Astute People will support the SCEC in filling a variety of roles across several departments, including operations and maintenance, engineering and technical support, environmental and compliance, health & safety, and management and leadership.

• ChiefJobs.com, a dedicated job board for C-suite executives, has officially launched. The platform aims to address gaps in the executive job market, offering a premium experience for both jobseekers and recruiters. ChiefJobs.com is led by Simon Fabb, who previously founded JobsOver50K.com in 2010, a job board focused on high-earning professionals in the UK, which was acquired after three years by a private equity firm. Fabb’s return to the job board industry comes after identifying unmet needs in the executive recruitment space.

• Quest Pay Solutions has rebranded as QPS Group and introduced a new suite of services tailored to recruitment agencies and contractors. A Bluestones Investment Group company, for the past eight years, the company has been a partner to recruitment businesses, specialising in umbrella PAYE and CIS services. In response to changing industry demands and recently updated compliance regulations, QPS Group has collaborated with its partners to create a new range of products. These new services aim to support recruitment businesses by driving growth, ensuring compliance, and providing enhanced support in adapting to these developments.

4 December 2024
Sales, Public sector, Education, Apprentices/Grads/School leavers

NEW TO THE MARKET: 2-6 DECEMBER 2024

• Flourish has launched to identify training and support talent from all backgrounds including non-graduates and those looking for a career change. Recognising a gap in the traditional early career sales recruitment and development process, the firm says it aims to build a strong community, providing access to on-demand personal coaching to help people navigate personal and professional challenges during their first year in sales.

Managing director Sarah Skelton is spearheading the business, which is part of the Apprentify Group. Skelton brings more than 20 years of expertise in training and mentoring within the employment sector. She worked for more than two decades at Pareto, a sales recruitment and training firm, serving much of her tenure as regional director for South-East England. She joins founder of Pareto Jonathan Fitchew, who is now CEO of Apprentify.

• The Protocol Group, a leader in recruitment for the further education sector, has introduced AMPLIFY, a service specifically designed to help colleges tackle the ongoing challenges of recruiting teachers and other staff. The new offering is a direct response to widespread teacher shortages and recruitment struggles, providing a hands-on solution to improve hiring practices, increase placement success, and manage recruitment costs more efficiently. Central to AMPLIFY is the placement of dedicated recruitment experts within colleges, offering tailored support to refine and optimise their hiring strategies.

25 November 2024
IT/Telecoms, HR

NEW TO THE MARKET: 25-29 NOVEMBER 2024

• Global payroll and HR platform Deel has introduced new white label and reseller programmes to support its customers and partners in driving growth and expanding revenue. These initiatives are designed to make it simpler for businesses to customise HR and payroll experiences for their teams. Companies can integrate Deel’s global hiring, onboarding and payroll features into their own services, fully rebranded to match their unique identity.

• Dutch firm In2Dialog, an Utrecht-based start-up specialising in AI-driven recruitment tools, has integrated its platform with Rotterdam headquartered Carerix, a smart recruitment technology system. This partnership enables Carerix users to leverage In2Dialog’s advanced capabilities, including AI-powered interview recording, transcription, analysis, and post-interview reporting, directly within the Carerix ecosystem. The integration aims to enhance recruitment efficiency, improve candidate evaluation, and deliver higher-quality job matches.

• Paiger has launched My Candidates, a new tool designed specifically for the recruitment industry to address growing demands for efficiency and streamlined workflows. This feature offers a centralised platform that simplifies candidate marketing tasks, leveraging AI and automation to save recruiters time on repetitive processes. My Candidates integrates essential functions – from CV formatting and candidate profiling to outreach and social media promotion – allowing recruiters to focus more on client interactions and strategic candidate placements.

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