Are You Ready For Peak? We Can Be Your ‘Go-To’ Food Manufacturing Recruitment Agency

There are some recruitment calls we can see coming. And there are others that start with… “Any chance we can have 25 people for tomorrow?” We get both. But as food manufacturers start heading towards one of their busiest times of the year, we’d much rather be having the first converation. Peak is never a […]
What To Do After GCSEs? Have You Considered…

Firstly, congratulations! GCSE results day is a big deal. But it also seems to be the day where, at 16 years old, everyone suddenly expects you to know exactly what you’re going to do with the rest of your life. You might be one of the lucky ones that does know exactly what you want […]
How To Attract Skilled Workers in Manufacturing

Finding skilled workers in manufacturing isn’t exactly getting easier. Press brake setters, maintenance engineers, CNC machinists, welders, laser setters, and toolmakers. Business across manufacturing and engineering are competing for many of the same skills. However, there’s something we think gets overlooked in conversations about the skills shortage. You’re not just competing with other vacancies. Quite […]
6 Years in Recruitment, The Lessons We’ve Learnt

This month, Oliver Rae turns 6. Over the last six years, we’ve spoken to thousands of candidates, partnered with hundreds of businesses, filled vacancies across manufacturing, engineering, and logistics, and had more conversations about recruitment than we could ever count. Some of those conversations have been straightforward…others haven’t. After six years in the industry, there […]
If Recruitment Is Cheaper…What’s Being Missed?

There’s a lot of movement on price right now. In the world of recruitment, rates are being pushed down. Agencies are undercutting each other. Businesses are being offered ‘the same service’ for less. On the surface, it’s the way the world works in tough times. National minimum wage increased. Costs are up across the board. […]
Umbrella Company Changes 2026

Why these changes matter, what the risks are, and how to protect your business moving forward. Doing things properly has always mattered to us. We’ve always been big on doing things properly. Not in a box-ticking way, not because we feel like we have to, but because we’ve seen what happens when things aren’t done […]
Why Businesses Are Hesitating To Hire

Hiring feels different right now…more businesses are hesitating to hire. We’re hearing it every day.“Let’s hold off for now.” “We’ll see how things go.”“We’re not sure if it’s the right time.” And to be honest, it makes sense. With rising costs, changing demand, and uncertainty across manufacturing and engineering, many businesses are taking a step […]
Why We Don’t Promise ‘Anyone You Want’ (And Why That’s a Good Thing)

Honest recruitment for manufacturing businesses starts with truth, not promises. It means giving realistic expectations, clear communication, and prioritising retention over speed. It reduces rehiring, protects team morale, and delivers long-term hiring success. If you’ve worked with recruiters before, there’s a good chance you’ve heard something like this…“Yes, we can find that.”“Absolutely, no problem.”“Anyone you […]
What Manufacturing & Engineering Recruitment in 2026 Looks Like

2025 became a year that asked a lot of manufacturing and engineering businesses. There were wins, there were setbacks, and there were plenty of moments where decisions felt heavier than they used to. But it was also a year that reinforced why the right recruitment partner matters and why people-led recruitment still has a place […]
How To Reduce Turnover in Production Roles

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, […]