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New to Market

28 April 2025
Life sciences, Engineering

NEW TO THE MARKET: 28 APRIL-2 MAY 2025

• STEM recruitment specialist Matchtech has launched STEM Futures, a free, on-demand employability platform aimed at helping young people break into engineering and technology careers. The programme includes expert-led sessions on job search strategies, CV writing, interviews and personal development, and is part of Matchtech’s broader initiative to address the STEM skills gap and support emerging talent.

In addition, Matchtech has awarded the first two grants from its Materna Fund, a £2,500 bursary created to support engineering students facing financial hardship. The inaugural recipients, Sergio Carreno Vargas and David Sarembock from the University of Portsmouth, are using the funds to focus on their studies and development without the added pressure of financial strain.

• Jobmatch Sweden, a leader in occupational psychological testing, is expanding in Norway through a new partnership with consulting firm Sund Raad. Sund Raad, which focuses on enhancing employee engagement for small and medium-sized businesses, will integrate Jobmatch’s DNV-certified Talent test into its services. This marks Jobmatch’s second partnership in Norway, following its 2022 collaboration with Hapro Jobb og Karriere. Jobmatch Talent is a scientifically validated tool used for recruitment and employee development, according to the company press release.

25 April 2025
Construction & property, Graduates/Apprentices/School leavers

National student lettings agency launches apprenticeship scheme

In a bid to support young people and grow skilled and knowledgeable individuals for the student lettings sector, loc8me recently launched its 18-month programme, which is open to anyone aged 16-18. The scheme will offer hands-on experience, mentorship and the opportunity to engage in paid work.

Raffaele Russo, founder of loc8me, said: “We’re thrilled to launch this apprenticeship programme, giving young professionals a real chance to learn, grow and begin building a career in an exciting industry.

“Now more than ever, young people are seeking opportunities, guidance and goals to pursue. With this programme, we’re investing in their future – and in the future of the lettings sector.”

Apprentices will have the chance to study the theoretical and practical elements of the lettings industry, and on starting, they will be given a mentor from the loc8me team to support their development via regular meetings throughout the course.

loc8me now operates in 13 major university cities across the UK, including Loughborough, Durham, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff, Newcastle, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leicester, Hull, Bath and Bristol.

Freya Watson-Russo, academy co-ordinator, said: "At loc8me, we’re committed to nurturing the next generation of letting agents. … We’re giving young people the chance to build a future, gain confidence and carve their own path.”

Founded in 2008 by Russo, loc8me manages more than 2,500 properties and employs more than 75 staff members.

(L-r) Apprentice Ollie Coe, loc8me's marketing assistant and academy co-ordinator Freya Watson-Russo and apprentice Isabel Tebbutt ©loc8me

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14 April 2025
Creative/Digital/Media, Engineering

NEW TO THE MARKET: 14-18 APRIL 2025

• Manufacturing and engineering specialist Busy Bee Recruitment has relaunched its website. The refreshed online platform has a modern design and enhanced user functionality, offering an intuitive browsing experience that makes it easier than ever to explore current vacancies, submit CVs quickly and securely, access expert recruitment advice via a blog and submit vacancies directly online.

• Deel, a global payroll and HR provider, has launched a suite of AI-driven products to help companies hire, manage, and pay international teams. Deel will offer an all-in-one global workforce platform integrating payroll, HR, and IT, designed to support compliant operations across borders. Key updates include: Real-Time Payroll in over 53 markets (expanding to 130+ by 2027), offering instant calculations and faster processing; Deel PEO for offering top-tier benefits without enterprise-level costs; Benefits Admin for simplified, compliant benefits management across countries; Deel Talent for streamlined recruitment via trusted agency networks; Workforce Planning, Compensation, and Engage tools – powered by AI – for smarter headcount strategy, global pay management, and employee development; IT Lifecycle Management features like MDM, IAM, and EPP, supporting global device and security control.

11 April 2025
Creative/Digital/Media, IT/Telecoms

Spotted Zebra merges Interview Intelligence and Assessment in one platform

This is technology that transcribes, analyses and evaluates conversations through an AI-powered lens. The merger connects assessment results with interview data, addressing the growing challenge enterprise talent leaders face: making confident, objective hiring decisions when candidate information can be fragmented across multiple tools.

In a statement, Spotted Zebra says that enterprise talent acquisition teams are facing twin pressures from AI-generated candidate applications and deepening skills shortages. 

The launch responds to a critical market challenge, the statement continues; while more than three in four businesses report widening skills gaps, employers are inundated with applications with around half of all jobseekers using AI tools to apply for roles. Current solutions force companies to choose between expensive, disconnected systems or compromise on either assessment breadth and depth, or a scalable interview process and structure.

“We’ve integrated Interview Intelligence with Assessment because our enterprise customers are facing unprecedented challenges in talent acquisition,” said Ian Monk, co-founder and CEO of Spotted Zebra. “By unifying these previously siloed technologies, we’re enabling talent teams to make data-informed decisions based on a complete picture of each candidate’s capabilities.”

Unlike standard Interview Intelligence tools that primarily transcribe conversations, Spotted Zebra’s implementation establishes a data framework that truly connects skill measurements across different evaluation methods:

  • Real-time skill evidence mapping: Comprehensive role skills profiles are automatically created thanks to AI-powered intake meetings between recruiters and hiring managers. 
  • AI-assisted interview questioning technology: The AI-powered Interview Guides automatically generate targeted question paths for specific role skills profiles and each candidate.
  • Consolidated hiring evidence dashboard: The Decision Kit combines summarised skill data from both assessment scores and interview evidence, weighting each source appropriately based on predictive validity for specific skill types. 

According to the company statement, AI in Spotted Zebra enhances human decision-making, ensuring the final call on a candidate’s suitability for a role is objective, data-backed and always in the hands of the hiring team.

Headquartered in the UK, Spotted Zebra was launched in 2020 by Monk and co-founder and chief commercial officer Nick Shaw.

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26 February 2020

Pilot programme aims to get over-50 jobseekers back to work

This is due to the Greater Manchester Employment Support for Over-50s pilot scheme. Jointly launched by The Centre for Ageing Better, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Department of Work & Pensions, the programme is aimed at improving support models for older people.

Research by the Centre for Ageing Better last year found that older jobseekers would benefit from personalised support that could be flexible around caring commitments and health needs.

The pilot will focus on providing employment support that works for older jobseekers, trialling a range of approaches with the aim of finding a successful model that can inform national government policy.

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17 February 2020
Creative/Digital/Media, Engineering, Commercial & office support, Executive search, Interim recruitment, IT/Telecoms

NEW TO THE MARKET: 17-21 FEBRUARY 2020

• Sustainability and safety recruitment and talent development specialist Acre has opened an office in Amsterdam. Harco Leertouwer joins the company as managing director for Benelux.

• Back-office to boardroom recruitment specialist Camino Partners has launched an interim recruitment division. The division will be led by experienced senior interim finance recruitment consultant Jack Stuart.

• Global strategic resourcing consultancy Hortor has expanded its office in San José, Costa Rica. Spanish-speaking business development manager Florencia Prato has recently been appointed to lead a team of resourcing experts in the capital city. “With an educated workforce and growing economy, we believe scaling up Hortor’s consultative approach [in Coast Rica] will deliver greater results for companies in this relatively untapped marketplace,” Prato said.

• Stanton House has opened a new office in Singapore, its second in the Asia-Pacific region. Laura Taylor has joined the recruiter to build and lead the technology and transformation team in Singapore.

• Staffordshire recruiter Vantage Consulting has rebranded. The rebrand involves the launch of the agency’s four brands, each providing recruitment services across technology, engineering, engineering technology and executive search, as part of the Vantage Group.

• The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is funding a pilot scheme to help the region’s screen industry discover new talent, or to encourage people from other careers to switch to the television industry.

It is working in partnership with Create Central – the new industry-led body set up to turbo-charge the region’s film, TV and games industries. Solihull College & University Centre and Screen Central will provide the skills training.
 

13 February 2020
Transport & logistics, Industrial/Manufacturing

Start-up of the Month: J&J Recruitment

Davies says the agency plans to stand out in the market by providing a “risk-free” recruitment process.

This includes a ‘free replacement service’, which means if a placement does not work out for whatever reason within the first six months, the agency will find the client a replacement free of charge.

“We also adopt the attitude that ‘one size does not fit all’. Therefore, all our packages are tailored to each individual client with a full understanding of their requirements. Our aim is to provide recruitment support that allows our clients to remain in full control of the process without the typical recruitment issues, allowing them to save time and money. We believe our process eliminates all the stresses many companies experience when recruiting. We do the leg work, so you don’t have to.”

While the future is unknown as a new start-up, looking ahead Davies adds: “Our aim over the next 12 months is to remain consistent in what we do to ensure our long-term goals prosper.”

11 February 2020
Marketing & Sales, Engineering, Construction & property, IT/Telecoms, HR

Gi Group launches Grafton Recruitment brand in UK

The move follows the firm’s 2018 acquisition of Grafton Recruitment Europe back in 2018. The Irish arm of the company was acquired by Stafflline last summer.

The new organisation will focus on permanent recruitment solutions in the corporate, HR, IT, construction, procurement, sales & marketing, engineering and business change sectors. It will absorb the business of Gi Professional and build on its success in existing markets.

Seven nationwide hubs will support the firm’s operations with offices in Hatfield, Portsmouth, Milton Keynes, Hull, Leeds, Leicester and Peterborough.

Commenting on the move, country manager Gi Group UK & Ireland Paulo Canoa, who recently succeeded Bev White, said: “We’re delighted to launch the Grafton brand, building on its strong reputation and sustained success in Europe. We’ve assembled a highly-skilled team, which will embody the Grafton spirit – innovation, hard work, professionalism and customer service excellence.”

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