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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.

7 October 2019
Marketing, Life sciences, Charity & not-for-profit, Executive search

NEW TO THE MARKET: 7-11 OCTOBER 2019

• Independent job board CV-Library has launched Quick Apply – a new feature enabling recruiters to specify when a CV isn’t needed to apply for certain jobs, making it easier for candidates to apply for these roles. Clients can continue to post their jobs as normal, but will now have the option to specify if a CV isn’t mandatory in order to apply.

• Life sciences executive search firm Euromedica has rebranded and launched a new website. In 2016, Euromedica was acquired by Walter James, an executive search firm backed by former Dragons’ Den star James Caan CBE and part of the Recruitment Entrepreneur portfolio.

• Recruitment marketing specialist JVP Group have moved to new offices on the New Vision Business Park located next to St Asaph Business Park. The move is a key part of the recruiter’s significant three-year growth plan.

• Nationwide recruiter Search Group has relocated its Manchester operation to a new central location at new, fully refurbished and larger premises at Corner Block on the junction of Quay Street and Deansgate in a bid to accommodate continued growth and give employees an improved working environment.

• The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has launched a suite of free online resources outlining steps voluntary organisations can take to ensure that they are run in a way that actively prevents beneficiaries, staff and others from suffering harm, harassment, bullying, abuse and neglect.

The resources were developed collaboratively by an NCVO-led partnership made up of expert organisations, created to deliver phase 1 of the Safeguarding Training Fund. Included in the resources is an explanation on what people recruiting into voluntary organisations/charities should think about during recruitment, including role descriptions, interviews, getting references and when to carry out criminal record checks.

30 September 2019
Transport & logistics, Charity & not-for-profit, Executive search, IT/Telecoms

NEW TO THE MARKET: 30 SEPTEMBER – 4 OCTOBER 2019

• Recruitment software provider Access Group has launched Access Accelerator. The software, which launches at the Recruitment Agency Expo tomorrow [2 October], combines Access’s recruitment CRM with a candidate attraction web front-end using technology from Volcanic, which is now part of the Access Group.

• The Hoxby Collective, a community of self-employed professionals, has rebranded and will now be known as Hoxby, and follow a non-hierarchical profit-share model. In addition to refreshing the name, logo and brand message, Hoxby will share the company’s profits annually with the entire community.

• International marketplace of executive coaches Not Actively Looking (NAL) has launched a new service that will make it easier for senior executives to find qualified executive coaches. The service, previously visible only to executive members of the NAL platform, will now be available to anyone visiting the site, along with a range of career transition services to be provided by NAL.

• PeopleScout is introducing its Affinix technology in Europe as part of its recruitment process outsourcing offer. The technology integrates a variety of tools in one platform to streamline sourcing, screening and candidate engagement with speed and scalability.

The product leverages artificial intelligence, recruitment marketing, a mobile-first application process, virtual assessment and scheduling, machine learning, predictive analytics and other technologies with a one-point applicant tracking system and vendor management system integration. It was launched elsewhere in the world in 2017.

• Fifty technology and telecoms employers across the UK have pledged support for a new industry-wide mentoring programme – the Rebus Mentoring Programme – to help senior women progress from managerial roles to board and top executive roles. The goal is to help achieve 33% of board positions being held by female leaders by 2020. Rebus, organised by Odgers Berndtson, a leading global executive search firm, is being launched at an event in London today in partnership with BT and Avanade. Business leaders from over 50 leading telecoms and technology employers planning to participate will attend.

• Welsh-based recruitment agency RhinoRecruitment.com has launched an IT division, led by sector specialist Mo Alamgir. The division will recruit across software development, testing cyber security, project delivery, and cloud infrastructure and devops roles.

• Charity worker Amy Allen has launched Senploy, a recruitment website dedicated to uniting prospective employers and candidates within the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) sector.

Allen, who works as the lead school administrator at Cheshire’s The Seashell Trust – an organisation that supports children and adults with severe and complex learning disabilities – decided to create the SEND niche jobs site as an antidote to myriad generalist job sites that did not reflect the specialist needs of the sector.

• US enterprise career site and recruitment CRM technology provider SmashFly Technologies has released Pipeline Intelligence. The AI-driven sourcing engine aims to help talent acquisition teams better organise and match pipelines to skills and jobs, and understand the people within these pipelines, to prioritise recruitment marketing campaigns.

• US multinational transportation network Uber will this week launch Uber Works – a platform that connects workers with businesses that need to fill available shifts – initially in Chicago.

The platform enables users to get detailed information about shifts they’re interested in, including information about gross pay, work location and skills, or required attire, as well as allowing users to clock in and out and log breaks. Uber Works helps ensure timely payments to workers, and aims to provide more transparency and opportunities for feedback in the marketplace.

23 September 2019
Retail, Sales, Public sector, Transport & logistics, Commercial & office support, Charity & not-for-profit, Executive search, IT/Telecoms, HR, Hospitality/Leisure, Graduates/Apprentices/School leavers

NEW TO THE MARKET: 23-27 SEPTEMBER 2019

• Chef booking service BookAchef.com has launched. The platform matchmakes catering outlets and eateries with sought-after skilled chefs. Focusing on linking the specific requirements of the eatery with that of chefs, it allows chefs to build their own profile and set their own rates in order to sell themselves to hospitality customers.

• Business travel authority BTA has launched a job board on its website to provide support for the travel agent’s former members of staff following the collapse of Thomas Cook. Designed to showcase employment opportunities across its network of travel industry members and partners, the job board offers details of roles currently available including branch managers, product managers and account managers.

Roles are available from number of operators including Eurostar, Lufthansa and Marriott Hotels, as well as a high volume of business travel agents who have also pledged their support.

• Back-office to boardroom recruitment specialist Camino Partners has launched Camino Consultancy. The new division will be led by head of practice Harry Hewson and senior recruitment consultant William Birch. Replicating Camino Partners’ business model, Camino Consultancy will focus on placing all back-office to boardroom level professionals into the management consultancy sector.

• CO3 Chief Officers 3rd Sector – a membership organisation for third sector leaders in Northern Ireland – has formally launched its bespoke executive and board-level recruitment service under a new brand. Engage Executive Talent is a social enterprise that offers recruitment solutions to organisations in the public, private and third sectors. It is led by CO3 CEO Nora Smith and newly appointed director Patrick Minne.

• Few & Far, a talent consultancy formerly called Knowit, has today unveiled its new look and new services for early-stage up to fast-growth businesses, and large companies looking to transform and appeal to new talent.

These include Attract, a benchmarking process to help develop a strategy for talent. Build, where a Few & Far team member works internally and is supported by the wider external team to hire for product development teams quickly, and then Sustain, where Few & Far will offer companies of all sizes a variety of services to help continue to grow sustainable team for the future.

• Global background check and drug screening solutions provider First Advantage has launched XtdForce, a new screening tool. The solution offers mobile-friendly, candidate-powered workflows, with continuous monitoring features, digital badging capabilities and employer zero-cost options.

After providing the necessary screening criteria, XtdForce sets and enforces the organisation’s requirements. Contingent workers and strategic partners then engage directly with the solution, with XtdForce managing the process on the organisation’s behalf.

• North-East England recruiter Frank Recruitment Group is opening its latest office in Charlotte, North Carolina, in October, creating up to 90 jobs in its newest US location.

• Global strategic resourcing specialist Hortor has launched a new graduates training programme. Graduates will be led through the 18-week initiative delivered by Recruitment Training Group, comprising webinars and group-based training exercises. Each session will target a distinct element of the recruitment organisation, including SWOT analysis, organigrams, candidates, sales, ongoing business development and client meetings.

Throughout the programme, which will include homework assignments and additional reading and research, each candidate will also be offered support from a senior member of the Hortor team who will act as a mentor.

Upon completing the programme, a graduation ceremony will take place to reward each candidate with a certificate in recognition of all of their hard work.

• Scottish recruiter HRC Recruitment has launched ‘Back in Business’ – a new support programme to help professionals from a variety of backgrounds return to the workplace after a career break.

The programme aims to help experienced returners restart their careers and transition back into employment with a course of workshops to boost skills such as rebuilding professional confidence, CV writing, interview skills and networking. Candidates will then be put forward for paid returnship opportunities with partner companies, typically lasting four to six months.

While initiatives of this nature have typically been aimed at women returning to the workplace after taking time out to raise their children, the programme is open to professionals of any gender, at any stage of their career. The workshops will take place in Glasgow and Edinburgh, starting on 1 October.

• Recruitment firm REED today launches a prize draw pledging to clear up to £50k of the winner’s student loan – and highlights the impact of debt on the incoming UK workforce. The winner will be chosen from an online draw on reed.co.uk, which will be accessible to students and graduates in Great Britain who have an outstanding loan.

• Managing director of Smart Resourcing Solutions, Sophie Milliken, has published her first book. Learner to Earner is the recruitment insider’s guide to job success, and helps students and graduates looking to secure their first job.

• Staffordshire-based recruitment company Vantage Consulting has moved to a larger location within Staffordshire Technology Park where it has been based. The new office now includes increased room for the sales and back-office team and a chillout/kitchen area to encourage down-time for the team.

19 September 2019
Accounting/Finance

Start-up of the Month: Walters People

The brand, which launched in France 15 years ago and is also in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Ireland, will initially focus on contract and permanent recruitment in the accounting & finance and business support fields.

Walters People director Phill Westcott told Recruiter the brand aims to stand out in the market by making transactional recruitment more personal, combining technology with a human-led approach to deliver a more seamless recruitment experience.

The brand aims to do this by operating across four pillars of commitment:

Speed – through guaranteeing shortlists within 24 hours for contract roles and within 48 hours for permanent roles

Testing – through a partnership with a testing platform, candidates receive aptitude and personality profiling so they can be assessed on how successful they will be in the role

Video CV – digitising the CV by including videos of candidates describing their experience and skills

Quality assurance – digitalising the candidate registration process so there are no gaps in candidates’ work history or rights to work.

Looking ahead, the brand is seeking to expand across its parent company’s UK office network.

“At the moment, I’ve got 30 people who make up our Walters People business in London, but [Robert Walters Group] has a network across the UK with seven other offices. Our plan is to expand the brand into our regional businesses and expand on many of the disciplines that we can offer within Walters People, which will leverage the four pillars as the brand expands,” he said.

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