General Engineering
There's nothing general about our approachWith over 60 years experience in engineering and manufacturing recruitment, there aren't many roles or industries we haven't already recruited for. So whet...
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There's nothing general about our approachWith over 60 years experience in engineering and manufacturing recruitment, there aren't many roles or industries we haven't already recruited for. So whet...
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We make our process as bespoke as your machineryThe Special Purpose Machinery sector sees companies manufacturing bespoke and custom made machines which are used across the FMCG, Automotive, Aeros...
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A robust process for a fluid marketThe Process Engineering sector has been a cornerstone of ATA's engineering recruitment activities for nearly two decades. We have worked extensively with both s...
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The automotive sector is highly driven by quality of process, which this fits perfectly with the ATA WayEmploying 182,000 people and generating £67 billion for the UK economy, Automotive is one o...
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Quality driven recruitment and manufacturing go hand in handEmploying over 110,000 people and generating £22.4 billion in turnover for the UK economy, the aerospace sector continues to be one of ...
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Through our in-depth knowledge of the Food and FMCG sectors, we have built a strong track record of delivering quality candidates to our customersFood manufacturing is well established as one of ...
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As the Warehouse Automation sector has grown, we have grown with it, developing strong relationships with a number of OEM's as well as many of the UK's biggest end users. Our specialist team have...
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Building the highly-skilled teams you need to keep your business thrivingWe've been working with some of the biggest names in the construction materials manufacturing sector for several years, bu...
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Multi-Skilled Maintenance Engineer (Either Bias) Job Title: Multi-Skilled Maintenance Engineer (Either Bias) Location: Chester Salary: £47,000 - £50,000 DOE Shifts: 4On 4Off 2 Days 2 Nights About the Role: My client is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Maintenance Engineer (Either Bias)to join our dynamic team at a leading, innovative manufacturing facility. This role requires a hands-on approach, ensuring all equipment and machinery operate at peak efficiency. If you are a problem-solver with a passion for engineering and a knack for diagnosing and repairing complex mechanical systems, we want to hear from you! Key Responsibilities: Perform routine and preventative maintenance on a variety of production and auxiliary equipment. Diagnose mechanical and electrical issues promptly and accurately. Execute repairs and modifications to improve equipment reliability and performance. Collaborate with the production team to minimize downtime and enhance productivity. Maintain accurate maintenance records and update documentation as required. Ensure compliance with safety regulations and company standards. Qualifications: Proven experience in a multi-skilled maintenance role within a manufacturing or industrial environment. Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems. Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and manuals. Proficient in using hand and power tools, diagnostic equipment, and machinery. Excellent troubleshooting skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Must have a minimum NVQ Level 3 either Electrical / Mechanical or equivalent. Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team. The Benefits: UK Healthcare cashback scheme Free parking on site Regular employee engagement events Free occupational health service Your voice counts - dedicated staff welfare committee Free annual health check Annual Christmas bonus 20 Shifts holiday How to Apply: If you are a dedicated Maintenance Engineer looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity, please submit your CV. Contact Information: For further information, please contact Jon.paryazani@ata-recruitment.co.uk Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
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** Mechanical Design Engineer ** Food Machinery / Plant lay-out / GA’s / Food industry / Solidworks Location: Greater Manchester / Trafford Park 6-12-month contract / project £35.00 - £40.00p/h DOE – Outside IR35 Our client: Our client is a leading UK Engineering, projects, and installations company, managing large EPC projects for major blue chip FMCG manufacturers UK wide. They are recruiting for an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer, for a 6-12-month contract, with the likelihood of long-term extensions. You will be expected to oversee a small team of installation electricians across sites UK wide (mainly Northern based) within FMCG & food process manufacturing. Due to an influx of projects, they are looking for a Mechanical Design Engineer to join their team on a contracts basis to assist on key projects. For the position of Mechanical Design Engineer, you will require to conduct the following daily duties: Producing designed and detailed manufacturing drawings in accordance with the project requirements for major food brand blue chip organisations Ability to design utilising CAD - Solidworks and AutoCAD site surveys - measure up Steel platforms, Pipework, layouts, Conveyors etc Good understanding relating to steps for fabrication processes Fabrications & installation drawings GA’s / Isometrics / Guarding etc The successful Mechanical Design Engineer will need to have the following attributes: Apprentice trained ideally to NVQ L3/HNC Mechanical Engineering Solidworks & AutoCAD conversant Experienced in Food plant lay-outs and capital equipment design In depth Food Industry projects & site survey experience A team player, flexible mindset, who strives for excellence Commutable to Greater Manchester The benefits of this position: A highly reputable EPCM Working in the office 5 days a week – part of the team Minimum 6–12-month contract with potential for longer Outside IR35 – Limited company suitable I am looking to speak to talented contract Mechanical Design Engineers who are looking for a rewarding and challenging technical position for a 6 -12-month contract. For more information on this please contact Luke Corr, Recruitment Manager, at ATA Recruitment. ATA Recruitment specialises in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Civil, Transportation and General Engineering recruitment on both a permanent and contract basis – for more opportunities like this one, visit our website - By applying you accept the terms of our Privacy Notice which can be found on our website. ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
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** Electrical Assembly Fitter ** Greater Manchester/North West area Gross rate: £20.00 - £25.00p/h DOE Outside IR35 suitable 3-month min. contract (likely extension/on-going) I am working with a key client in West Yorkshire who are looking for an experienced Electrical Fitter with site installation Engineering experience, to work on capital automated equipment in the workshop conducting overhaul and repair to like new and install at customer premises. You will be responsible for stripping, fault finding, fitting, assembly, and site install & commission. You must be flexible to travel. For this position of a Electrical Assembly Fitter, you will require to conduct the following duties: Ability to read engineering drawings and schematics to tight tolerances in some instances and use hand tools Electrical - building of machinery and overhaul from an electrical perspective Power up – deal with any issues – fault find Set up inverter drives – program auxiliary equipment, go online to see what’s going on Run cables, terminate, Read schematics etc. Travel to customer site as part of a team, to ensure smooth installation dealing with any issues Working to high standards, ensuring health & safety and quality procedures are adhered The successful Electrical Fitter / Installations Fitter will need to have the following attributes: Electrical fitter/Installations experience Automated special purpose machinery build experience A strong team player, professional and customer facing Ability to read complex engineering drawings / schematics etc Strong communication skills, with a keen eye for Health, Safety and Quality. You will ideally be apprentice trained with an electrical engineering/apprentice trained background, minimum Level 2. The benefits of this position: On-going work with likely extensions and further projects Growing company, good positive working environment and team Outside IR35 (Limited Co. suitable or Umbrella) I am looking to speak to talented Electrical Fitters, with site installations experience, who are looking for a very rewarding and challenging contract position. For more information please contact Sam Martlew, Recruitment Specialist at ATA Recruitment. (sam.martlew@ata-recruitment.co.uk) ATA Recruitment specialises in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Civil, Transportation and General Engineering recruitment on both a permanent and contract basis – for more opportunities like this one, visit our website - By applying you accept the terms of our Privacy Notice which can be found on our website. ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
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Electrical Maintenance Engineer. Location: Birmingham. Salary: £50,000 - £53,000 + Company Bonuses + Premium Overtime Rates + Specialist Training + OEE Courses. On-Target Earnings: £60,000+ Shifts: 4 on 4 off Rotation. (Days and Nights) Join a Multi-Billion-Pound Group and Be a Vital Part of the Business! Benefits: Quarterly company bonus scheme averaging £2000 - £5000 per annum. Overtime rates at 1.5, 1.7 and 2.0 your standard rate. Have a real input into a critical part of the business. Get specialist training on unique machinery. Enjoy bundles of investments in you! Expect comprehensive training, courses, and the potential to earn on top of your basic salary. The Company: This is an amazing opportunity to work within a prestigious £multi-billion-pound group. Our client stands as one of the world's largest, rare earth metal suppliers, with a widespread network and multiple sites across the U.K. They take pride in supplying bespoke products to diverse industries, including the military, aerospace, and public sectors. As an Electrical Maintenance Engineer, you will play a crucial role in operating, maintaining, and improving a unique and vital part of the factory. The machinery in this role is exclusive and rare, with only a limited number of similar machines in the world. Joining this company will give you the chance to manage your own section within this renowned multi-billion-pound organization. The Role of Electrical Maintenance Engineer: Take charge of a critical part of the production process! We are seeking a specialist Electrical Maintenance Engineer who is an all-rounder. In this role, you'll oversee operations, maintenance, and continuous improvement ideas for the entire area. The bespoke machinery on-site is designed specifically for their industry, making it one of the few capable of handling their unique products. Our client offers an incredibly detailed training plan to ensure your confidence and success in the role. Your day-to-day will include: Maintaining an organized PPM schedule. Operating complex, heavy industrial equipment. Handling reactive maintenance tasks. Preparing handovers and shift reports. Suggesting and implementing continuous improvements. Our client values your growth and success, offering an outstanding introduction program and hands-on training opportunities. You'll find an excellent balance, with this role being an average of 40% operation and 60% hands-on maintenance. Successful Candidate: We're seeking an Electrical Maintenance Engineer with a keen eye for detail and a strong commitment to safety. You'll enjoy a unique job title and role which is highly sought after. Medium to heavy industry experience. Electrical Engineering qualifications at Level 3+ or equivalent. Exciting Benefits Await: Work with a market leader offering stability, career growth, and extensive skill development. Enjoy 33 days holiday. Competitive salary and lucrative extras. Benefit from bespoke training on specialist equipment. Ready to take the leap? Contact me directly at daniel.swain@ata-recruitment.co.uk or give me a call at 07562208052. Don't miss this golden opportunity! ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
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Junior Maintenance Engineer, Wellingborough £40,000, Private healthcare, 3x Life Cover, Pension, 8% Annual Bonus, Fantastic Training + Progression Opportunities. 3 on 3 off Panama Days Company: We are currently working with a leading global provider of reusable packaging solutions for the FMCG Industry serving customers in 50+ countries. The Company has 6 sites within the UK, with a turnover of £350M The company recently experienced a higher demand of their services and are now looking to increase headcount on site to support with the maintenance of the machinery. The company offer lots of opportunity for development and progression, with the current engineering manager at this company as a machine operator and worked his way up through his apprenticeship. We are interested in talking to the following people: Maintenance assistants, Junior maintenance engineers, engineers looking to diversify into maintenance or engineers that have recently completed their apprenticeship. The Role: As a Junior Maintenance Engineer, your role will include: Reactive Maintenance · Planned Maintenance – PPM Work Respond to Equipment and facilities breakdowns · Health and Safety · Maintain Engineering service records Plant OEE Performance You: As a Junior Maintenance Engineer A Junior Maintenance Engineer, with experience within any maintenance environment. Willingness to learn and develop, An understanding of electrical fault finding. A hands-on, team Player. Qualifications Minimum NVQ level 2, apprenticeship, city, and guilds – electrical or multiskilled The Benefits: Robust onboarding process The ideal candidate will have the opportunity to progress into the other roles within the organization. Rare opportunity to work on a day shift pattern. Great job security Fantastic Training and development program Opportunity to progress into senior roles – Current engineering manager started as an operator. If you think you are the right maintenance engineer for this position, please call Chatan on 07884 491 721 or email chatan.makan@ata-recruitment.co.uk ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
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Mechanical Design Engineer £40,000 - £45,000 Pension Contribution 25 Days + Bank Holidays Full Product Training in Switzerland Location: Coventry Reference: BP 140 ATA Recruitment are working closely with a Global leading manufacturer of high-precision machine components and state of the art automation solutions for largely the Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Renewable Energy, and Aerospace sectors. With a turnover of £260 million and 1100 employees over 30 locations worldwide including the U.K, Switzerland, USA, Korea, India, and China our client is on the forefront of design and innovation, they are currently looking to add a Mechanical Design Engineer to their successful UK team based in Coventry. This will be a perfect role for an energetic and dynamic Mechanical Design Engineer looking for a new opportunity with realistic progression opportunities and personal development, you will be provided with full product training in the UK and at their headquarter in Switzerland for 2 weeks along with continuous support from industry experts. The Role: As a Mechanical Design Engineer, you will work closely with the sales team providing sales application information and concept designs for potential clients using Solid Works CAD package, there will be an element assembly support and project engineering involved, so this will suit someone who loves variety in their work duties. The Mechanical Design Engineers key responsibilities will be to: Produce design layouts and CAD models using Solid Works CAD software. Produce supporting calculations for design solutions. Liaise with the technical support team based in Switzerland. Attend customer premises when required for technical meetings / site surveys. Assist with on-site technical installation. Undertake Project Engineering activities such as producing technical files and documentation, risk assessments, and timing plans. The Candidate To be successful in your application for the Mechanical Design Engineer role, you will need: A Mechanical Engineering qualification. 3D & 2D CAD software design experience. Hands on mechanical experience. A flexible working attitude. The Benefits: For the Mechanical Design Engineer role, you will receive: £40,000 - £45,000 Pension Contribution 25 Days + Bank Holidays Full Product Training in Switzerland ATA Recruitment are working exclusively with this client we will be conducting a short list starting today, we will conduct the 1st interview over the phone and the successful candidates will then be forwarded to our client with our recommendation. If you wish to be considered for this opportunity then please respond with your intention as we are looking to fill this role in the not-so-distant future, you will then be contacting by one of our Recruitment Consultant who will be able to provide more details. Contact: Bhav Patel Recruitment Consultant 07704543752 Bhavesh.patel@ata-recruitment.co.uk ATA Recruitment specialises in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Civil, Transportation and general Engineering recruitment on both a permanent and contract basis – for more opportunities like this one, visit our website. By applying you accept the terms of our Privacy Notice which can be found on our website. ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
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**Mechanical Assembly Fitter ** Greater Manchester 3-month contract initially Rate: £22.00-£25.00p/h DOE Limited or Umbrella (Outside IR35) Our Client I am working with a key client who are a heavy plant engineering and construction company, based in Greater Manchester. We are recruiting for Mechanical Fitters on a key customer site for a minimum of three-month contract, to assist on the upgrade of key capital project. Duties & Responsibilities Working on an array of equipment such as gearboxes, bearings, conveyors, drives and motors etc, and including new walkways, gantries and hand railing etc Liaise with other teams and key stakeholders Strong technical understanding to ensure mechanical specifications are met Report any snagging issues to Site Supervisor Reading from mechanical assembly drawings The Successful Candidate: Strong communication skills, with a keen eye for health, safety and quality Site Safety passport would be beneficial Ideally apprentice trained- NVQL3 Mechanical Engineering A strong team player Outside IR35- Limited co. contractors I am looking to speak to experienced Site Mechanical Fitters who are looking for a rewarding and challenging contract position. For more information, please contact Sam Martlew – Recruitment Specialist at ATA Recruitment. ATA Recruitment specialises in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Civil, Transportation and General Engineering recruitment on both a permanent and contract basis – for more opportunities like this one, visit our website - By applying you accept the terms of our Privacy Notice which can be found on our website. ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
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Internal Project Manager (FMCG) Leicester, LE4 Salary: £60,000 + Benefits 25 Days + Bank Holidays The company: Our client is a family-owned food manufacturing business with a large presence here in Leicester and a turnover exceeding £1 billion. Here at ATA we have worked closely with this client for over 12 years, so can confidently say they are the ideal business for anyone looking to further progress their career and open the doors to new opportunities within a consistently growing business. As a business, the produce a vast range of food products for all of the major Supermarkets and food service industry. The Role: As a Project Manager, you will oversee a variety of projects from small-scale installations to large-scale site developments. This role will involve managing projects from cradle to grave, ensuring you are complying with all regulations, managing budgets, and writing CapEx requests. You will also be responsible for managing contractors, conducting risk assessments, and travel to suppliers for sourcing of equipment. This role reports directly into the Engineering Manager and will see you being the lead on all projects. Your responsibilities will include: Managing projects from conception to completion (cradle to grave) Maintain budget control and manage contractors coming on site Write and present capital expenditure reports Conduct PUWER assessments and manage tendering processes (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) Oversee projects including Civil works, Internal renovations all across the facility New machinery installations Ensure guidelines and regulations are adhered to Conduct both pre-delivery inspections Contractor control including risk assessments What we’re looking for in a candidate: Previous engineering experience / background A background in the food industry, or similar manufacturing environment Project management experience Prince 2, CI Experience or Lean Six Sigma qualifications (ideal) Self-driven individual with confident communication skills Ability to manage multiple projects and work independently from the engineering manager The Benefits: Salary £60,000 7% matched pension plan Private medical healthcare Profit-related bonus scheme Flexible working hours and potential to work from home Working hours are Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm 25 days holiday plus bank holidays Opportunities for professional development and career growth How to Apply: If you are a motivated and experienced project engineer/manager looking to join a growing company, we want to hear from you! Please send your CV to Matt Taylor at matt.taylor@ata-recruitment.co.uk or give me a call on 0116 218 1644 ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
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As part of our vision to bridge the skills gap through world-class recruitment and attraction methodologies, we provide a flexible, tailored workforce solution to meet the needs of businesses of any size. From ad-hoc permanent placements to high-volume temporary solutions and sensitive business-critical hires, ATA can help. For more information on our specific engineering recruitment services, click on the icons below.
Bring science and substance to your senior selection processBusinesses need leaders that will inspire others, create focused teams, and deliver results in the role to take your business to the next level.That means recruiting at the most senior levels in businesses provides companies with the challenge of not only finding the right experience and skillset but also the right personality, character, and attributes to ensure they can deliver effective change in their role.Psychometric assessments are an invaluable recruitment tool that highlights an individual's behaviour, aptitude, emotional intelligence, and workplace personality. It is no wonder that over 75% of The Times’ Top 100 Companies use psychometric testing alongside traditional recruitment methods (Thomas), indicating a strong preference for these assessments in high-stakes hiring decisions. The benefits are clear:Companies that utilise psychometric testing report a 24% improvement in their recruitment selection process (Hire Thinking).Psychometric tests are known to reduce the time taken to recruit new hires by up to 30% (Hire Thinking).They are effective in decreasing staff turnover by an average of 20% (Hire Thinking).Approximately 81% of organisations believe that psychometric assessments help mitigate unconscious biases in the recruitment process (Tazio).Help identify areas where new hires might need additional support throughout the onboarding process, setting them up for long-term success within the organisation (Tazio).They also play an instrumental part in the consultation process. The assessments enable businesses to be in a much stronger position to be able to recruit, retain and develop the next generation of leaders within any organisation. Keen to understand a more general view of psychometric assessments, ATA Search conducted a survey of a large selection of companies for a broad range of opinions.Within our own network of business leaders:Of those that used psychometrics regularly, 89% said they were an important part of the recruitment process or a key guide to the candidate’s suitability for the role75% of clients who use assessments tools said they would specifically use them for Senior Management, Director and Executive level hiresOverall, most regular users said they would agree or strongly agree that the results of the assessments were accurate. Many clients who responded felt the assessments helped them see past false impressions at interviews and to identify character traits that they could not from a regular interview.Given the ever-changing landscape of the recruitment world, whilst there has been an increasing trend for businesses to include psychometric assessments in their recruitment process, there does still appear to be a considerable proportion of the market that would benefit from using them.Is it time for your business to consider psychometric assessments as part of your selection process and bring the science to allow you to hire the right individual that fits your business and team? As fully trained Thomas Practitioners, ATA Search can show you how psychometric assessments will add value to your existing recruitment processes. If you would like to know more or should you have any broad questions about what they are and how they work, then please contact Stewart Jackson on stewart.jackson@ata-search.co.uk or 07827 918 324 who would be happy to discuss further. For more information - click here
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Employers - get the most out of your interviewsWith the latest figures stating that there are still 898,000 unfilled vacancies in the UK, the war for talent continues to rage, and this certainly still continues to be felt in UK manufacturing. With demand still massively out stripping supply, candidates have never had more choice when it comes to interviews and job offers. Most companies have reacted to this by increasing salaries to remain competitive, so what else can you do as an employer? Today we are going to focus on the candidate experience, and how you maximise your chances of securing the Engineer of your choice.Book a room: This may seem obvious, but unfortunately this does get over looked and what impression does it create if they are kept waiting for a room to become available, or you end up in the canteen?Make sure there is enough time in the diary: Managers are always under time pressure, but you need to make sure you can dedicate enough time to doing the interview justice. Rushing the interview either means you’ll make a poor assessment or the candidate will be left with more questions than answers.Read the CV properly before hand: Take the time to think about what areas of the CV you want to explore and why. If you end up reading it during the interview as you didn’t have time beforehand, how attentive will you look in the interview? Will you miss valuable information the candidate gives you as you're reading rather than listening?Ice-breaker: Not many Engineers would say they like interviewing. So, take the time to the time to put the candidate at ease. Do this and they will perform better.Make sure the interview is a 2 way process: Naturally, the primary objective is for the interviewer is to make an assessment of the candidate vs what you want. However, you also need to make sure that the candidate walks away wanting to join your business so how do you do it?Stay focussed: Be attentive to what they have to say, maintain good eye contact and keep your body language open. Remove distraction such as phones, don’t be checking your watch. The candidate needs to feel as though you are engaged with what they have to say.Ask open questions: Try and avoid questions that start with “have you worked on” or “can you do” instead start with “what experience do you have with,” or “how would you go about fixing” it will always stimulate a better flow of conversation and mean you are more likely to get a full picture of a candidates capabilities. Also, by asking questions like “what are you looking for in your next career move” will allow to build a picture of what they are really after.Listen: Listen to what the candidate says, and you’ll always make a better assessment. Know your USPs: Take the time to tell them about what’s great about working for your business, yes money is important, but team/ business culture, training, development, progression are just as important.Get to know them as a person: Build a personal relationship. We spend more time at work than we do at home, so the candidate needs to feel comfortable with you and the work environment.Give them time to ask questions: Whether it’s 2 or 12, give them time to ask you questions. You may feel you have already told them why you are a great employer, but don’t assume you’ve covered it all. They should never leave an interview with unanswered questions, it may make the difference of whether they accept or not.Feedback: Make sure you give constructive feedback within a reasonable timeframe (48 hours), whether you want to recruit the candidate or not they need to make sure they are left feeling the process was a positive one.In today’s fiercely competitive job market, the key to securing top talent goes beyond offering attractive salaries—it requires a thoughtful, candidate-focused approach to interviewing. By refining your interview process to create a positive and engaging experience, you position your company as the employer of choice. Implement the tips we've highlighted, from effective preparation to genuine engagement, and you'll not only improve your ability to assess candidates but also enhance their opinion of you as an employer. Remember, every interview is an opportunity to build your brand and as well as hiring great talent for the future of your business.
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Establishing strong relationships with our contractors is essential, and we take pride in acknowledging the excellent service they deliver to our clients throughout the UK.To gain insight into the day-to-day life of working as a contractor alongside ATA Recruitment, we interviewed our Contractor of the Quarter, Jordan Biggs, our Contractor of the Quarter.Jordan has been contracting for one of our clients as a Project Installation Engineer. He has visited several sites across the UK and has been involved in the Installation of a wide range of equipment in the food manufacturing sector. Machines that Jordan has installed have included conveyors, mixers, weighers, fillers, dryer, bagging and cartooning equipment and product labellers. Jordan is multi-skilled engineer with a wide range of qualifications including a HNC in General Engineering, 18th Edition and C&G Level 3 in Electrical Installations. Jordan is a skilled Maintenance Engineer and can install and maintain both mechanical and electrical systems and components including control panels, switchgear, inverters, DC drives, PLC’s, motors, conveyors, bearings, and crankshafts.Jordan has worked on several contracts for major international companies such as Premier Foods, Morrisons and IPS Culina. Following the completion of his current contract, Jordan is now looking to secure a new contract with a reputable company where he can add value to the organisation.What did your last contract involve?The last contract I worked on was on an installation project for a Food manufacturer. I was responsible for new machinery installation, machine moving, lighting upgrades and integrating new power supplies. I was involved from the installation phase through to commissioning and testing etc. Then the project would be handed over to the client so they could start production. I was responsible for electrical, mechanical and PLC elements of the project.What are your key skills that you bring to an organisation as a contractor?I am able to adapt to change quickly and can hit the ground running within any organisation. I find that I am excellent in working in any environment and adding value quickly to organisations that need support with their maintenance or installation projects. I have a great deal of experience within a variety of sectors including FMCG, Dairy and Automation.Why did you decide to start contracting?It gives me an amazing amount of freedom. I can contract when I want for various clients and move within them easily. It gives me flexibility and the ability to earn good money for the services that I provide. The variety of projects provide a real test for me and allows me to have control of my progression and career path.What feedback do you have for ATA Recruitment?I have really enjoyed working with Jon Caruso and ATA Recruitment. He has provided me with a great service and placed me in an exciting contract with a dynamic client. Another great thing about Jon was his excellent communication and transparency, he stayed in touch with me throughout the process and was always open and honest with feedback from the client.Testimonial from the clientJordan’s performance over the past 3 months has been excellent. He has been given a variety of complex tasks and tackled them autonomously, head on, with zero drama. He’s been extremely reliable and a great character to have around the business.Let us match you with contract opportunities that are right for you.Whether you're experienced as a contractor, or are just wondering how to get started, find out how ATA Recruitment can support you by calling 07827 295 376 or email contract@ata-recruitment.co.uk. Alternatively, complete the form below.
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ATA Search - Executive Insights Report 2023 - 2024A comprehensive report of employer predictions, market trends and candidate behaviour across the UK, compiled using real ATA Search data.Overall, the senior recruitment market was generally positive for 2023, which was supported by strong levels of business confidence at the start of the year amongst leaders and senior executives (74% of business leaders told ATA Search they had high / moderately high business confidence in January 2023).However, the last financial year proved challenging for UK manufacturing businesses, with lots of businesses trying different tactics to navigate the choppy economic waters. As such, alongside highlighting Director and Management salaries and a full market synopsis, we have conducted interviews with various business leaders and HR professionals across different sectors on their recruitment strategies throughout 2023 and outlook on 2024.This comprehensive analysis has been designed to assist you in developing competitive compensation packages that will support your business as you attract and retain top-tier leadership talent. Download the report using the form below and contact our Associate Director Stewart Jackson if you have any questions.stewart.jackson@ata-search.co.uk07827 295 740Connect with Stewart on LinkedInDownload the ATA Search Executive Insights Report 2023 - 2024The report will open in a secure PDF format that you can either view online (web and mobile) and save for future reference. Simply fill in the form below to download.
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Bridging the skills gap with military talentThe estimated number of vacancies in January to March 2024 was 916,000. The widening skills gap in engineering and manufacturing continues to be a concern for many employers, a problem that is only going to increase due to the high numbers of engineers that are due to retire by 2026.As a result, companies are looking at ways to solve their attraction issues. Increasing salaries is the obvious solution, especially since the cost-of-living crisis, which has seen salaries increasing at an alarming rate to remain competitive. Similarly, with the ongoing war on talent and demand outstripping supply we have seen big changes in candidate behaviours which has seen many companies reporting retention issues within their teams. So, whilst we at ATA Recruitment continue to support our customers with their attraction and retention of permanent, contract and executive staff, we also want to support our customers in bridging the skills gap in engineering and manufacturing.How can employers counteract the skills shortage? An obvious solution is to recruit apprentices to encourage new talent into the sector. This is a fruitful route for many businesses, but with the average apprenticeship talking 3 years to complete, it isn’t a quick solution. Employers can also take the proactive approach by taking part in various STEM initiatives for children and young people, helping to 'future-proof' the industry by highlighting the various career paths available within the sector. Another alternative is to employ forces leavers. With 16,140 people leaving the forces throughout 2023, this is an untapped source of labour, so what are the benefits?Great problem solvers – all military personnel are trained to be able to problem solve logically, efficiently and often under severe time constraintsTechnical training and expertise – as part of their development in the forces, veterans will have been trained either to Level 3 or completed a modern apprenticeshipUsed to working in teams – team spirit and team work are key components to day to day military life, so most leavers will be comfortable and indeed enjoy the comradery of working in a teamUsed to working under pressure – all Engineers have to work to time constraints, whether it be to get a plane back in the air or fix a leaking valve on ship, the need to fix a breakdown quickly and efficiently is always vitalMouldable – having not worked in manufacturing before they will be a blank canvas, they won’t have picked up any bad habits elsewhere and will be completely receptive to the training you provide.Of course, ex forces Engineers likely haven’t worked in manufacturing before, and could be working on equipment that is new to them. However many of the components are similar and through their electrical and/or mechanical competence, they will be of a level that any business offering training will be able to get an engineer up and running quickly. Ultimately, their unique attributes align well with the demands of the engineering sector, making them highly valuable assets to any team.Get in touchWe are seeing increasing numbers of companies embracing this resource, with 38% of our customers last year recruiting forces leavers. Having seen first hand the benefits to both the employer and the individual, we have grown our involvement with organisations such as the Career Transition Partnership and the Armed Forces Covenant to support our clients in recruiting forces leavers. If your business hasn’t recruited ex-forces Engineers before but would like to know, more then please get in touch for more information.
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ATA Recruitment's Annual Maintenance Insights Report 2023 is available to downloadA comprehensive report of average Maintenance Engineering salaries, market trends and candidate behaviour across the UK in 2023, compiled using real ATA Recruitment data.ATA Recruitment pride ourselves on providing service with real added value, and as part this we like to share our market intelligence and insights with our customers. You may have already seen our permanent, contract and ATA Search Insight Reports for 2023. You can view them here. In addition, we provide a more granular Maintenance survey as it constitutes such a large proportion of what we do.What did 2023 mean for Maintenance?With the number of unfilled vacancies in the UK economy not dropping below 938,000 last year, the war for talent continued to rage throughout UK Manufacturing and this was keenly felt within the Maintenance sector. As such, we have compiled our Maintenance Insights Report 2023, an extension of our previous annual Salary Report, including average salaries, market trends and candidate behaviour. The data we have collected has come from a large cross section of the market for both SME’s and large blue chips in industries such as, Food, Automated Distribution, Construction Materials, FMCG, and General Manufacturing.We hope it gives you a benchmark for where you are in the market, please get in touch to discuss the findings of this report in more detail.Download ATA Recruitment's Annual Regional Maintenance Salary Report 2023By submitting the above form, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy.Get in touchAs always, we hope the report provides you with the insight as to where your business currently sits in the market, as well as giving you some guidance on how to construct your talent strategy for 2024. If you have any questions or comments on any of the information covered in the report, please do not hesitate to get in touch.By submitting the above form, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
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"2023 has been an extremely challenging period for companies operating in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. The skills gap is widening, and the dearth of permanent candidates has opened the door for skilled engineering contractors and temporary staff. The demand to help bridge the skills gap with short-term flexible staff has increased dramatically in 2023."With over 1 million workers returning to the EU post-Brexit and 12% of the workforce in UK manufacturing nearing or already at retirement age by 2027, the skills gap in the UK has continued to widen, with the number of unfilled vacancies in the UK not dropping below 900,000 at any point in 2023. With the challenges to recruit permanent engineering and manufacturing staff, this has created a massive opportunity for the utilisation of contractors and temporary staff to help bridge the skills gap.One of our core principles is providing added value services to our customers, and we regularly provide data to support their engagement of contractors and temporary staff. To help us understand what drives the decision of skilled contractors and temporary staff, we surveyed a cross-section of the 60,000 contractors in our database for their opinions. The results have certainly made interesting reading. We hope you find it useful. 82% of those surveyed were in a contract52% of those in a contract were looking for a new assignment When asked why they were looking for a new assignment, the contractors cited the following reasons 2023Contract coming to an end31%Location of current contract5%Lack of interest in the type of work the contract requires16%Rate is too low16%Lack of hours available5%Currently out of contract20%Other10%When asked about what would be the most important element in deciding whether a new contract is right? 2023 Location28%Length of Contract18%Number of hours available9%The type of work21%Working arrangement (Hybrid working)24%How would you go about looking for a new contract assignment? 2023 Google / Bing / Other Search Engines15%Apply direct on job boards24%Upload CV to job boards and wait to be contacted by a recruiter32%Wait to be contacted by a recruiter13%Search for a specialist recruiter21%Other13%What do you few as the main benefit of being a contractor? 2023 Increased earnings27%Flexibility & Autonomy33%Working on a range of projects24%Control over the type of project you engage with10%Skill development & growth3%Tax benefits and deductions3%What do you view as the main challenge of being a contractor?Lack of security27%No paid holidays18%Career development is your responsibility6%Running your own business7%IR35 and the challenges associated with it25%Difficulty in finding new contracts17%How satisfied are you with the contract rate you received in 2023?Very Satisfied27%Somewhat satisfied61%Somewhat dissatisfied7%Very dissatisfied5%How long was your last / current contract? 20230-3 Months25%4-6 Months15%7-9 Months3%10-11 Months3%12+ Months 54%How many contracts have you had in the last 12 months? 2023160%225%313%42%What does this mean for companies looking to engage with contractors and temporary engineers to help bridge the skill gap in the future1) Length of contractWhile contractors are aware of the stability risks associated with being a flexible worker and running their own business, the length of the contract is one of the biggest attractions to contractors when deciding on which assignment to engage with. Whether using contractors for a specific project or as cover until you find a permanent member of staff, it’s key that being attractive in a competitive market requires a good length contract. 60% of the assignments that contractors surveyed have undertaken in the last 12 months have been over 6 months long.2) Reach the passive contractorsIn 2023, the contractor market has certainly become more reactive, with nearly half of those preferring to either post their CV on a job board or wait to be approached by a recruiter rather than using the traditional route of applying to adverts.3) Flexibility, Autonomy & Diversity of projectsNearly 60% of the contractors surveyed choose to be flexible workers so they can have autonomy and flexibility within these organisations. They enjoy working on a diverse range of projects as this gives them the challenge of learning new systems and processes quickly. This enables them to have a quick impact on a business and provide positive outcomes and solutions to the problems that their clients have.Get in touchIf you are interested in the findings of this survey and want to discuss the impact these trends will have on your business, contact Steve Harrhy, Associate Director of ATA Recruitment on 07827295376 or steve.harrhy@ata-recruitment.co.uk, or complete the form below. We will also be releasing our annual Contractor Rates Survey in the next month, which will convey data gathered from all the contract placements we have made throughout 2023. This extensive report, together with the feedback from contractors, shows that ATA Recruitment holds the knowledge and expertise to ensure you're ready to face the continuing concern of bridging the skills gap within the engineering and manufacturing marketplace.
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