Member Article

Yorkshire HR firm engineers growth

Nicholas Associates’ thriving engineering and technical recruitment team has been boosted by the appointments of Joe Worthington as senior consultant and Nathan Fuller as consultant.

The engineering and technical team saw sales growth of 60 per cent and a doubling of the payroll in 2014. The manufacturing specialist has supported employers in advanced manufacturing, oil and gas, heavy engineering, automotive, aerospace and energy for the past eight years.

Joe joins a team that has established a reputation as right-first-time source of skilled and semi-skilled staff for South Yorkshire manufacturers who have been hit badly by the UK’s acute skills gap in engineering and technical disciplines.

A recent report by Engineering UK warned that Yorkshire and Humber could lose £553 million if it fails to attract an additional 13,000 new engineers a year into the regional economy between 2012 and 2022.

Head of Technical Recruitment, Chris Carter said: “Manufacturing is enjoying a resurgence, but many businesses cannot capitalise on the upturn as demand for qualified professionals vastly outstrips supply. There are impressive local initiatives tackling the problem, such as Sheffield University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the promotion of apprenticeships, improved transport links and the world leading e-delivery connection.

“I am delighted that Joe, a talented Senior Consultant who knows the local industry inside out, has decided to join us. I am positive that with his contacts, credibility and expertise he will help identify and attract world class talent to the area. He’s a great addition to our team.”

Many of his engineering team’s clients have been with Chris since 1996 and most arrive through referrals. Chris claims to have built a close, loyal team that appreciates the opportunities that the long-term relationships with host companies bring them, pointing to the fact that no consultant has ever left the group.

Joe Worthington said: “I know Chris well and have watched him build up the engineering and technical recruitment project from a single desk to a substantial business with an impressive infrastructure and opportunities for career development. Its drivers are quality and ethics rather than the quick buck, which is why clients and staff stay with it.”

“This was the right move at the right time for me and I am excited at the opportunity to support South Yorkshire’s manufacturing sector by working with a lynchpin in the supply of top-notch people and business consultancy services.”

Nathan Fuller joins via the graduate development scheme of Nicholas Associates’ sister company, Stafforce Recruitment. His experience chimes with the team’s wide ranging offer, from traditional engineering roles through to cutting edge R&D specialisms.

With 80 live vacancies currently, the team has just made its first placement in the Middle East.

Believing that the assistance of emerging talent into employment is a responsibility of all businesses, it actively promotes the benefits of creating gateway opportunities to host companies. With this in mind, team members include two apprentices and with anticipated further strong growth this year, it hopes to offer them full time roles.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah Holbrook .