Member Article

Recruiter reflects on changing face of industrial Teesside

Techconsult UK, based at the Wilton Centre near Redcar, has specialised in finding candidates for roles within the process and petrochemical, oil and gas, renewable and subsea sectors for the past 10 years.

The company, founded in Norway in 1999, recognised an opportunity to capitalise on opportunities within Teesside’s industrial heartland in 2006 and enlisted recruitment specialist Steve Guest, who has a strong track-record in recruitment for the technical and engineering sector, to drive forward the operation.

Over the past decade Steve has established Techconsult UK as the go to recruiter for niche resourcing sector, focusing on science and technical businesses in mid to senior level appointments and, in the long-term, is looking to replicate the success of its Teesside operations in other key growth areas of the UK.

With a first-hand insight into all aspects of science, industry and engineering, Steve says that, despite the significant challenges of the past 12 months, Teesside still has plenty to offer as a hub for many traditional and burgeoning industries and is a great place to invest and work.

“There’s no denying that the closure of the SSI steel works in Redcar was a huge blow to Teesside and the wider area that will be felt for many years to come, but there is so much we can be proud of and, as a business that has a first-hand insight into trends within science and industry, there are many burgeoning opportunities within sectors including biotechnology, chemicals and civil engineering.

“International players such as Sembcorp, SABIC and Huntsman continue to see Teesside as a place to invest and there are many homegrown success stories too; the Materials Processing Institute is widely recognised as a world-leader in materials and steel innovation and we have been working closely with them to support plans to diversify and further expand into national and international markets. There are also some very novel businesses forming here in Teesside developing innovative technologies which should be celebrated. Speciality graphene materials manufacturer Applied Graphene Materials, innovative cosmetics start-up TeeGene Biotech and Calysta are all developing ground-breaking products right here within the Wilton Centre.

“As a business that reflects the wider industry landscape there’s no doubt that we have had to continually adapt our own business model over the years in response to market demands. In recent years we’ve had to respond to the slowdown in the oil and gas sector, previously a core part of our business offer, however we are now seeing demand for our services in growth areas like civil engineering which have seen confidence returning, with significant housing, industrial and highways schemes underway across Teesside and the wider region.

“While Teesside’s strengths are clear, not only in these areas of science and industry, but also in sectors like renewable energy, digital and advanced manufacturing, it’s vitally important that we get the right talent into these growth areas and for academia to help bridge the skills gap by tuning into the needs of employers. As a recruiter we often have to look beyond the region to find the candidates with the right skills and experience to meet the needs of employers here, particularly in niche sectors. The Government spotlight needs to focus on investment in skills to support key growth sectors, so that people from the region are able to capitalise on the opportunities that exist here and so that we can retain talent from within.

“Teesside continues to be a hotbed for industry, but traditional industries it was once best known for are making way to a more diverse business landscape. It’s important that we recognise and celebrate the region’s strengths and not let the challenges we’ve faced in recent times blight progress.”

For further information about Techconsult contact tel: 01642 456300, email: contact@techconsult.co.uk or visit: www.techconsult.co.uk

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