In the manufacturing and engineering sector, retention isn’t just a HR metric, it’s a production issue, a cost issue, and in many cases, a customer-impact issue. So if you’re looking to reduce your turnover, keep reading…
We see it every day, businesses fighting constant turnover on the shop floor, losing great workers to better opportunities, and struggling to replace them fast enough to keep operations running smoothly. But this is what most businesses miss, retention doesn’t start on month three, or during onboarding. It starts at the hiring stage.
Hiring the right person, with the right skills, the right mindset, and the right expectations is the biggest retention strategy you will ever invest in.
We help manufacturing and engineering business across the West Midlands reduce turnover and focus on hiring people who stay. Here’s how we do it…
Hiring for attitude will reduce turnover more than hiring for skills
Technical skills can be taught. A strong work ethic, accountability, consistency, and pride in the job…not so much.
In fast-paced, hands-on sectors like fabrication, machining, welding, press work and foundry operations, the best long-term employees are the ones who show up, care about their work, and slot naturally into the team.
When businesses hire only on experience, they often end up replacing that same person months later. When they hire on attitude and potential, retention climbs significantly.
This is why when we speak to candidate, we go into depth about:
- How they like to work
What environment they thrive in- What makes them stay at a job
- What makes them leave
- What they value in an employer
Skills matter, but retention is built on character.
Clear expectations = fewer surprises = longer employment
One of the main reasons production workers leave a new job early is simple, the reality didn’t match the advert.
Shift patterns. Physical demands. Machine responsibilities. Overtime. Culture. PPE. Break structure. Pace. Temperature. Team dynamics.
The smallest detail can make or break someone’s experience.
At Oliver Rae, we’re upfront with candidates about everything, the good, the bad, the non-negotiable. When expectations are honest, realistic, and fully understood, people don’t feel misled. And they’re far more likely to stay.
Culture fit is the hidden factor nobody talks about
You can have the most skilled CNC programmer on the planet, but if they don’t enjoy the atmosphere, respect the team, or feel aligned with how your shop floor works…it won’t last.
Manufacturing environments vary massively!
- Laid-back vs high-pressure
- Loud vs quiet
- Small team vs large team
- High precision vs high-volume
- Traditional vs modern leadership
We spend time onsite so we can truly understand your culture, and place people who naturally fit into it. That’s how you create long-term employees, not short-term fixes.
Hiring trainees builds long-term loyalty
One of the biggest retention strategies in 2025-2026, is to grow your own. Trainees we mean!
Trainees:
- Stay longer
- Develop loyalty to the company that trained them
- Absorb culture early
- Fill skills gaps sustainably
Even better, they remove the constant cycle of rehiring experienced candidates who are already bouncing between companies. When you invest in someone early, they’re far more invested in you.
Small agency partnerships outperform multi-branch recruiters
Large agencies often prioritise speed. Small agencies (like us) prioritise fit. That difference shows in retention.
Working with a specialist, independent West Midlands agency means you get:
- A dedicated account manager
- Continuity
- Real understanding of your envrionment
- Candidates matched for long-term success, not quick wins
Retention rises when your recruiter feels like an extension of your team, not just a supplier.
Retention isn’t a ‘fix it later’ problem, it’s a ‘hire right’ problem
If you’re facing:
- High turnover
- Unreliable temps
- Skills shortages
- Training drain
- Rising recruitment costs
…then the solution starts long before induction day. It starts with finding people who truly fit your business.
And that’s what we do. We help manufacturing and engineering companies reduce turnover by hiring skilled, reliable, committed people who actually stay.
Looking to improve retention on your shop floor?
Let us help you find the right people for your team. Get in touch with us by calling 01922 895 635, or drop us an email Ljenkins@oliver-rae.com.