F1rst Commercial Recruitment.

14/08/2025

The UK jobs market is cooling, but there are still pockets of growth you need to know about.

Take a look at this months 'Report on Jobs' to find out more....

Falling vacancies, rising candidate supply… and a few surprising bright spots in July’s jobs report Slightly different format this month with my REC & KPMG UK Report on Jobs. I wanted to show the overall labour market picture and also show a Northern snapshot, as it is currently an outlier among...

06/06/2025

NEW JOB: Compliance and/or regulatory background? Looking for something with career potential? Take a look at this newly created role paying circa £50k with a well-established business and good reputation. Give us a call on: 0161-359-3111 or apply today:
https://adr.to/ajnxoai

05/06/2025

NEW JOB: CNC Applications Project Engineer based North Manchester, paying circa £50k. Experience essential. Great company. Immediate start for the right person. Call Sharon on: 0161 3593111 for a confidential conversation or apply using the link:

13/05/2025

April’s Report on Jobs is in - and while hiring remains subdued, there are signs of stabilisation.

This month’s data offers insights worth paying attention to.

Read my latest Recruitment Outlook Report to explore what it means for your business and where the hidden opportunities might lie.

I didn’t share a commentary on last month’s REC and KPMG Report on Jobs - because frankly, not much shifted in March, and I was up to my eyeballs finishing off some key recruitment roles. April’s data, however, confirms what many of us have been sensing: we’re in the thick of a jobs market t...

11/03/2025

Take a look at this months report that gives an overview of the current recruitment market and the impact for both businesses and individuals.

While there are certainly challenges within the UK labour market at present, the latest data from the REC and KPMG Report on Jobs shows resilience, tenacity and an ability to adapt. There has been a notable shift towards a softening in the intensity of pressures.

13/02/2025

This months 'report on jobs' offers a crucial early look at 2025 recruitment trends highlighting a cautious start to the year. However, the report also presents reasons for optimism, particularly as economic confidence shows signs of improvement.

My summary report takes a look at the key insights of relevance to you, helping underpin confident decisions around using talent to secure success over the coming year.

With economic confidence on the rise and recent interest rate reductions, now is the time to prepare for future growth.

Companies that focus on adaptability, skills development, and workforce planning will be best positioned for success.

If you need recruitment support, give me a call on: 01613593111

an unsurprising review of a job market that has had a subdued start. But the report’s data is rounded off with a special feature A Look at Employers’ Confidence Throughout 2024, which asserts “there are grounds for optimism for 2025.

04/02/2025

In April 2019, I wrote a paper entitled: Living longer: How our population is changing and why it matters. I asked:

“Is the pool of experienced, capable individuals over the age of 65 really being capitalised upon or are stereotypes still too ingrained in society to see the opportunities that our changing population brings?”

In January 2025, the ONS released their latest ‘National Population Projections: Past, Present and Future’ which highlighted the concerns around persistent labour challenges and how our ageing population is set to double.

In light of the recent concerns relating to the global decline in birth rates and subsequent implications for UK growth, I thought it would be interesting to revisit this question to see what, if anything, has changed....

In April 2019, I wrote a paper entitled: Living longer: How our population is changing and why it matters. I asked: “Is the pool of experienced, capable individuals over the age of 65 really being capitalised upon or are stereotypes still too ingrained in society to see the opportunities that our ...

28/01/2025

I'm not sure how many teachers and parents understand how the world of modern manufacturing is fundamentally different to what it was 20 or 30 years ago.

Digitising technologies make it a far more exciting proposition these days (and it pays more than most other industries too).

However, technology is one thing, but people will always be at the heart of modern manufacturing.

As 2024 recaps come out and we look at the view ahead for manufacturing this year, it’s a chance to look at the risks and rewards up for grabs in 2025. I’ve been invited to Parliament next month to discuss driving growth and the vital role of the labour market.

20/01/2025

How many young people do you know who understand what manufacturing and engineering actually is, or what it involves, even at a basic level?

It's shocking to find out that they know 'very little' about a sector that is becoming more advanced than the gaming sector when it comes to digitising technologies and AI.

Jump on board! It really can be career-defining!

In recruitment, words matter. The language we use shapes how people perceive us, and more importantly, whether they see themselves in the opportunities we offer.

24/12/2024

Are you an experienced Manufacturing Applications Project Engineer who enjoys the challenge of short lead times and varying product schedules?

Do you have the ambition to progress within a business and really be an integral part of its long-term, future success and direction?

If you enjoy the cut and thrust of a fast-paced and modern precision engineering environment, then take a look at the job link below.

It might just be the job you’ve been waiting for. 👇🏻

https://adr.to/qyjweai

23/12/2024

Great opportunity for an experienced administrator.
Apply using the link or share with someone that you think might be interested.

https://adr.to/cmcweai

18/12/2024

If you're a are you ready for what's coming.

In my final article for 2024 I'm sharing my 30 years of manufacturing and engineering recruitment expertise in order to help SME companies think about 2025 planning, and the likely roadblocks that might occur if we aren't thinking forward.

If you'd like my help navigating skills, talent pipelining, and recruitment issues, get in touch.

[email protected]
O: 0161-359-3111

As we head into 2025, the manufacturing industry is standing at the edge of major transformation. From digital adoption to skill shortages, from sustainability pressures to government reform, the landscape is shifting rapidly.