Hill McGlynn Recruitment

20/10/2026

Today, I'm thrilled to discuss the DBT's ambitious road map to place 40,000 construction workers annually, revolutionising how we think about recruitment and training in this vital sector. As part of their industrial strategy, the DBT is committing to creating robust pathways for construction careers that will greatly benefit the industry's workforce.

A key component of this plan is the Construction Apprenticeship Network, which aims to bolster recruitment and training among small contractors. This network is incredibly important as it provides a systematic way to develop talent locally and ensure smaller firms have access to the apprenticeship schemes that larger companies have long benefited from.

What excites me most is the opportunity for regional customisation. By engaging local mayors and employers, the plan tailors training to meet regional demands, fostering a highly skilled workforce unique to each area's needs. Additionally, the enhanced use of public procurement to support training ensures that skills and employment outcomes are given priority in major projects.

Heathrow's forecast of 17,500 local jobs during the peak construction phase of the new runway is just one example of the initiative's massive potential. The scope of opportunities spans from engineering and electrical installation to logistics and digital roles - a testament to how diverse and inclusive the construction sector can become.

Let's not overlook the impressive incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs hiring apprentices aged 16-24. This incentive not only encourages youth employment but also ensures that young talent is nurtured and integrated into the workforce seamlessly.

The plan's emphasis on areas like AI and industrialised construction indicates foresight into how evolving technologies will reshape the industry. I'm eager to see how this forward-looking approach will prepare new entrants for the future of construction.

These development plans hold the potential to redefine construction recruitment, making it a more dynamic and appealing career choice for many. I look forward to witnessing and contributing to this transformation in our industry.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has unveiled plans for 40,000 construction placements annually, alongside an apprenticeship network to help

13/10/2026

PMI for construction, why it matters!

“The economy is growing.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean construction businesses are getting busier.

GDP, recession headlines and Construction PMI answer different questions. Understanding the difference gives you a better view of what’s happening across the industry.

📊 What is Construction PMI?

The Purchasing Managers’ Index is a monthly survey of construction businesses. Its headline reading tracks whether activity is increasing or decreasing compared with the previous month.

• Above 50 = activity expanding.
• At 50 = broadly unchanged.
• Below 50 = activity contracting.

A reading of 46 does NOT mean construction has shrunk by 4%.

And a rise from 44 to 46 means the decline has eased. It doesn’t mean growth has returned.

🏗️ Why can it matter more than GDP?

For near-term construction decisions, it is often more relevant.

GDP measures output across the wider economy. Growth in services can support the national figure while construction struggles.

Construction PMI focuses directly on our industry and arrives early. The wider survey also tracks new orders, employment, input costs and supplier delivery times.

That can help explain why tender opportunities are thinning, projects are being delayed, or margins are tightening before the wider economic headlines catch up.

📉 What about recession?

The commonly used definition of a technical recession is two consecutive quarters of falling real GDP.

But construction doesn’t have to wait for the whole economy to enter recession to experience a prolonged downturn.

Equally, the UK avoiding recession doesn’t automatically mean healthy order books for contractors.

PMI is useful as an early signal. Official construction output data, project starts, and your own pipeline help confirm the picture.

🔎 What should we actually watch?

Look beyond a single headline number:

• Are new orders improving consistently?
• Is activity strengthening across housing, commercial construction and civil engineering?
• Are rising costs eroding margins?
• Are planned projects turning into work on site?

📅 Where are we now?

September’s Construction PMI rose to 46.1, up from 44.3 in August—the slowest contraction since January.

However, every monthly reading from January to September 2026 has remained below 50. After falling to this year’s low of 38.2 in May, the readings have improved considerably.

The message: the downturn has eased, but construction has yet to return to growth. That gives us grounds for cautious optimism heading into 2027, rather than evidence that a recovery is already established. This is why many of our clients are utilising Hill McGlynn's Internal Recruitment service. Saving over 50% on the traditional agency route and is more cost-effective than employing a directly employed internal recruiter.

🔮 Our view on 2027

A cautious, uneven recovery looks more plausible than a sudden industry-wide boom.

Infrastructure, utilities, education and selected industrial projects could provide support. Private housing will depend heavily on affordability, funding costs and confidence.

Glenigan’s June 2026 forecast projected an 11% rise in underlying project starts in 2027. That is a forecast for starts—not an 11% increase in total construction output.

The risks remain: financing costs, material prices, planning delays and investment decisions could all slow progress.

The signal worth looking for is sustained improvement in new orders, followed by actual project starts and output.

For construction businesses, that tells us far more than a headline saying the UK has narrowly avoided recession.

If you would like a discussion on the wider industry and how to save on employment costs, get in touch with Aaron on 07852 528667 or [email protected]

10/10/2026

Just read a revealing survey by Pick Everard that's shedding light on the current state of the construction sector. According to the Q3 report, just over half of respondents are busier than they were a year ago. 🚧

However, this increase in activity comes with a side of caution due to rising costs, skills shortages, and an uncertain policy environment. Of those surveyed, 42% described their mood as "concerned," and nearly three in ten were "cautiously optimistic."

Here's what stood out to me:
- Infrastructure, energy, defence, housing, and data centres are key growth areas.
- Tender prices are expected to rise in the next 12 months, with estimates varying between a 1-6% increase.
- Skills shortage concerns have decreased, but there's still worry over future capacity to deliver upcoming projects.

William Phillips from Pick Everard aptly described the situation: "It feels a little like we're waiting for the lights to change to green."

It's a reminder that while there are reasons to be optimistic, uncertainties around costs and policy continue to shape decision-making in the construction industry.

How are you navigating these complexities in your own projects?

Just over half of respondents to a construction industry survey have said they are busier than a year ago, a new survey has found, but fears remain over

29/09/2026

Today's Top Jobs - Interviews being booked now!

Additionally, we are recruiting for nearly 30 live roles; if you would like to find out more or have a confidential conversation. Get in touch with Aaron and the team today on [email protected] or 01795 229383

06/09/2026

Apparently, when your new recruitment business hits a milestone, you’re supposed to post something about it. Hill McGlynn turned two years old last week, and we missed it.

Not because it wasn’t important, but because we were genuinely too busy taking on new jobs and filling the ones we already had. And, actually, I quite like that. Just over two years ago, I started a recruitment business believing I was one of the best recruiters in the South East, and thinking it would be easy.

Let me tell you: I was so very, very wrong.

That first year gave me a massive, humbling, expensive, and painful dose of reality.

However, I was right about one thing: I was one of the best recruiters in the South East 😁. Jokes aside, Hill McGlynn is now so much more than one person. There is no “I” anymore; Hill McGlynn is a “we”.

Rebecca, Ellie, Georgia and our wider support team deliver a recruitment offering that I genuinely believe is far ahead of the competition. We’re about to achieve our best quarter to date, and we now offer services that no other recruitment company comes close to providing. That isn’t sales waffle. There’s a reason we never lose a client once we’ve successfully recruited for them.

We’ve come so far in the last two years, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together. I’m equally grateful to our team, our loyal clients, and every candidate who has trusted us.

I know everyone says that, but I genuinely mean it. You know who you are. Thank you.

The best part? We’re still only just getting started, and we have some very exciting news to announce over the next few weeks.

07/07/2026

Recruitment can be risky... but not with Hill McGlynn Recruitment.

We believe recruitment should be low risk, transparent and deliver real value. That's why we offer:

✅ 100-day refund guarantee
✅ 200-day goodwill free replacement (over 6 months of additional cover)
✅ Competitive fees – helping many clients save up to 70% on recruitment costs
✅ Generous payment terms – up to 90 days available
✅ Don't pay twice – if you permanently employ one of our freelance workers, we'll deduct the freelance margin already paid from your permanent placement fee.

If you're looking for a recruitment partner that stands behind its service, we'd love to have a conversation.

📩 Send me a message or email us at [email protected] to find out how we can help.

📩 [email protected]
📞 01795 229383
🌐 www.hillmcglynnrecruitment.com

06/07/2026

**Why would a recruitment agency post this?** 🤔
Reach out and find out.

At Hill McGlynn Recruitment, we've listened to our clients and developed a solution for companies that don't like using recruitment agencies.

If you're put off by:

* High recruitment fees
* Short rebate periods
* The risk of paying for the wrong hire

…it's worth having a conversation.

Send me a private message, comment below, or email [email protected]

You'll probably wish we'd spoken sooner.

20/05/2026

Recruitment can be risky! Not with Hill McGlynn!

100 Day refund terms
200 Day free replacement
Competitive pricing
Generous payment terms

28/04/2026

Interview Tips (Part 2) – Hill McGlynn Recruitment

Following on from last week's Tuesday Tips, here are five more interview tips from Hill McGlynn Recruitment to help you perform well and leave a strong impression.

• Prepare examples of projects you’ve worked on
Be ready to talk about specific projects, what your role was, what went well, what challenges you faced, and how you dealt with them.

• Maintain eye contact and good posture
Body language matters. Sit up straight, look at the person interviewing you, and show that you are interested and engaged.

• Ask questions at the end
Always have a few questions prepared. Ask about upcoming projects, progression opportunities, team structure, or what they are looking for in the person they hire.

• Be honest about your experience
If you don’t know something, be honest. Employers respect honesty much more than exaggeration, and it avoids problems later on.

• Send a thank you email after the interview
A short thank-you email shows professionalism, good manners, and keeps you fresh in the interviewer’s mind after the meeting.

Interviews are not just about experience; they are about attitude, communication, and professionalism. Small things make a big difference.

www.hillmcglynnrecruitment.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01795 229 383

23/04/2026

Happy St George’s Day, at Hill McGlynn, we are proud to be British, proud to be inclusive, and proud to support people of all cultures in the workplace.

www.hillmcglynrecruitment.com