Why We Love Working With Businesses That Value Their People

At Oliver Rae, people are at the heart of everything we do. Whether it’s matching a skilled CNC setter with their next challenge or helping a manufacturer strengthen their production team, we know that success starts with the right people, and with businesses that truly value them. People-First Businesses We’re drawn to companies that see […]

Mind The Gap

The skills gap is growing, a crack in the ground that's growing and spreading

The skills gap in manufacturing & engineering isn’t coming. It’s already here. And it’s widening by the day. Across the West Midlands, experienced machinists, welders, toolmakers, press brake setter/operators, and maintenance engineers are reaching retirement age. Many of them have spent decades perfecting their craft, holding together production lines, and passing on their knowledge to […]

April’s Employer Changes Got You Worried? Here’s Your Hiring Fix

Good businesses deserve good people. How Oliver Rae can help with the new April Employer changes

April might bring sunshine, daffodils, and easter eggs…But in 2025, it’s also delivered another wave of financial pressure for employers across the UK. With the National Minimum Wage now at £12.21 and Employer National Insurance contributions increasing again, businesses are understandably asking: – Can we still afford to grow? – Do we need to restructure […]