Nicholas Associates

04/09/2026

Everyone talks about supply chain resilience. Not enough people talk about workforce resilience.

A delayed delivery.

An absent shift.

A shortage of skilled drivers.

A sudden spike in demand.

Small workforce issues can quickly become major operational challenges.

The most successful logistics businesses are investing in proactive workforce planning instead of reacting when problems occur.

That means:
👉 Building talent pipelines
👉 Improving retention
👉 Developing future supervisors
👉 Creating workforce contingency plans

Recruitment should never be an emergency service.

It should be part of business strategy.

How prepared is your business for the next unexpected surge in demand?

21/08/2026

UK production stalled in Q2, but beneath the headline figure, the picture is far from static 📊

While some areas of manufacturing continued to grow, challenges elsewhere prevented the wider sector from gaining momentum.

So, what do the latest ONS figures reveal about the outlook for UK industry?

Read our latest analysis 👇

The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) Index of Production figures provide an overview of performance across the UK’s production industries during Quarter 2 (April to June) 2026. Overall output was unchanged compared with the previous quarter, as growth

20/08/2026

UK construction output returned to growth in Q2 📊 However, the headline figure doesn’t tell the whole story.

With monthly activity slowing and the future project pipeline showing signs of pressure, what could the latest ONS figures mean for the construction sector in the months ahead?

Read our latest analysis to find out 👇

The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) Construction Output figures provide an overview of industry performance during Quarter 2 (April to June) 2026. Despite construction activity declining in each individual month of the quarter, overall output remained slightly ahead of

22/07/2026

Great businesses are built by great people.

In a market where skills are in high demand, successful recruitment is about more than simply filling vacancies. It's about understanding aspirations, culture, potential, and long-term fit.

The most effective hiring strategies connect talented individuals with opportunities where they can grow, contribute, and thrive.

When organisations take a people-first approach to talent, retention improves, productivity increases, and stronger teams are created.

Recruitment is not just about hiring. It's about building futures.

02/07/2026

Meet the newest member of the Nicholas Associates team! 🎉

We're delighted to welcome Oscar Henrick, who has joined our Construction division as a Candidate Consultant. 💙

In this New Starter Q&A, Oscar shares:
✅ What attracted him to Nicholas Associates
✅ What excites him most about his new role
✅ Why our nearly 50-year history stood out to him
✅ His passion for cricket, padel, golf and football outside of work

Swipe through to get to know Oscar and join us in giving him a warm welcome! 👋

23/06/2026

Such incredible news to share! 🎉

Nicholas Associates has been shortlisted for the Best Engineering Recruitment Agency at this year’s Recruiter Awards!

We’re absolutely delighted to be recognised and proud to see our work, expertise, and commitment to delivering for our clients and candidates celebrated in this way.

This achievement is driven by our fantastic team, whose knowledge, dedication, and passion set us apart every single day.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved. We’re excited, proud, and ready for the big night!

23/06/2026

We don’t have a shortage of women in engineering; we have a retention and access problem.

That’s something we see first-hand in recruitment.

As we mark International Women in Engineering Day, it’s a chance to look beyond surface-level progress and ask more difficult questions. Why are women still underrepresented at senior levels? Are hiring practices really evolving, or just intentions?

In this latest article, Mel Glover shares her perspective from the frontline of engineering recruitment, exploring what’s changed, what hasn’t, and where businesses are still falling short when it comes to attracting and retaining female talent.

It’s an honest, insight-led view on the reality of the industry today, and what needs to happen next.

Read the full article here: https://www.nicholasassociates.co.uk/news-centre/shaping-the-future-of-engineering-a-recruiters-perspective-on-women-in-the-industry

Inwed1919

International Women in Engineering Day is always a moment to pause and reflect; not just on how far the industry has come, but on the role each of us plays in shaping where it goes next. In my role, I

18/06/2026

The latest UK production figures are out 📊

While manufacturing continues to show resilience, the wider production sector has taken a step back for the first time in several months.

What’s driving the shift, and what could it mean for engineering, manufacturing and industrial businesses?

Read our full analysis 👇
https://www.nicholasassociates.co.uk/news-centre/ons-production-output-report-june-2026

The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) Index of Production release provides an overview of production sector performance in the three months to April 2026. The data suggests that growth momentum has slowed, with overall output edging into decline despite

17/06/2026

Construction output has now recorded a second consecutive quarter of growth 📈

But with repair and maintenance continuing to outperform new work, what does the latest data really tell us about the health of the sector?

Explore the latest ONS figures and what they could mean for construction businesses in the months ahead.

Read more 👇
https://www.nicholasassociates.co.uk/news-centre/ons-construction-output-report-summary-june-2026

The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) Construction Output data provides an overview of industry performance for the three months to April 2026. The figures indicate that construction activity continued to strengthen during the period, supported largely by repair and

02/06/2026

What does effective leadership really look like in today’s evolving workforce?

As part of Humber Business Week, we joined the conversation with Nicholas Associates Group and T2 - The People Performance People to explore how organisations can move beyond assumptions and take a more informed approach to leading across generations.

A huge thank you to Martin Johnson and Rich McCarthy for an engaging session that challenged thinking and encouraged leaders to take a step back and reconsider how generational dynamics influence decision-making, communication, and performance.

At Nicholas Associates, we support businesses facing complex workforce challenges. One of the most common? Bridging gaps that aren’t always visible, such as differences in expectations, working styles, and experiences across teams.

Sessions like this reinforce the importance of taking a proactive approach. When businesses lead with understanding, rather than assumption, they create stronger alignment, reduce friction, and unlock greater potential across their workforce.

Because better alignment doesn’t just improve culture, it drives results.