Despite confidence being dampened by last year’s snap general election and Brexit fallout, manufacturers are continuing to thrive, with output, orders, exports, employment and investment at historically high levels (EEF).

Our third quarterly newsletter of 2018 is now available to download. JL Newsletter Q3 2018.pdf Size: 2.27 MB

Last month Jonathan Lee Recruitment returned to Farnborough International Airshow, partnering with the Midlands Aerospace Alliance; MAA. The week-long, biennial event is the global shop window for the UK and international aerospace industry and the ideal event for those already working within the industry, as well as those looking for new opportunities. Neil Cayley, Lead Consultant - Aerospace and Aviation, said: “Farnborough International Airshow remains the best platform for the UK and international aerospace industry to showcase its latest innovations, technology and products. The investment in the new conference and exhibition centre demonstrates a great leap forward in terms of the facilities and the experience of people visiting the airshow - hall 1 is impressive! It was hugely positive to see how busy this year’s event was, particularly ahead of the country's withdrawal from the EU. It was exciting to see the UK space sector take centre stage with the announcement of a vertical launch spaceport in Sutherland, Scotland. There was also a growing commercial and corporate presence - with Boeing and Airbus dominating the event with fantastic displays and orders confirmed during the show. The show continues to be crucial to the ongoing success of the aerospace community and we look forward to the next two years, supporting our clients and candidates in advance of the 2020 event.” Competition Everyone who visited our stand at the show had the chance to enter our competition to win an Amazon Echo Show. All entries were entered into a draw with the winner picked at random. We are delighted to announce that the winner of the Amazon Echo Show is... Andrew Jory Congratulations Andrew and thanks for entering our competition. We will be emailing you shortly to arrange delivery of the prize! Aerospace and Aviation Engineering Employment Specialists For over 40 years, Jonathan Lee Recruitment has been supplying the engineering, manufacturing and technical sectors with the best permanent, contract, interim and executive candidates both in the UK and overseas. With over 85% repeat business, we are committed to continuous improvement, working closely with industry partners and professional bodies to support our candidates, clients and the wider industry. To find out more about our dedicated Aerospace, Aviation and Defence divisions click the images below: Latest News Aerospace Industry Challenges: A Different Approach to Skills Countdown to Farnborough: The Brexit Gap How the Aerospace Industry Can Adapt to Meet Industry Challenges: 4IR is Happening Stay Connected Keep up-to-date with the industry news and insights from our team of industry experienced consultants here.

2018 marks the 40th anniversary of Jonathan Lee Recruitment.

Farnborough International Airshow 16th – 22nd July 2018 Location: Pod 13, MAA Pavilion, Hall 1

Jonathan Lee Recruitment is sponsoring Talbots Law's 'London to Paris charity bike ride' later this year.

Farnborough International Airshow 16th – 22nd July 2018 Location: Pod 13, MAA Pavilion, Hall 1

Farnborough International Airshow 16th – 22nd July 2018 Location: Pod 13, MAA Pavilion, Hall 1

Midlands-based engineering and manufacturing recruitment specialist, Jonathan Lee Recruitment, celebrated its 40th anniversary with clients, suppliers and friends at a special lunch event on Friday, 29th June, at Hogarths Hotel in Solihull. Business leaders from over 150 companies in the engineering, manufacturing and technical sectors came together to celebrate Jonathan Lee’s 40 years of investment in the industry, with guests including representatives from Toyota, Williams F1, Jaguar Land Rover, Vodafone Limited and Tata Steel. Guests enjoyed speeches from Marvin Cooke, managing director of Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK and international rugby referee Nigel Owens. A prize draw raised over £4,000 for Kidderminster-based charity, the Emily Jordan Foundation, which supports people with learning disabilities in finding employment. Jonathan Lee Recruitment was established in 1978 by chairman, Jonathan Lee, with the vision to establish long-term partnerships with clients in order to fully understand their business and its needs. Marvin Cooke, a Jonathan Lee engineering recruit in 1991 and now managing director of Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, said: “Jonathan Lee was the main technical recruitment agency for Toyota when they moved to the UK in the early 1990s and I don’t think we would have got to where we are today without their support.” Jonathan Lee commented: “I’m so proud of my team and the supporting, caring ‘can-do’ culture we have created. A lot of recruitment agencies recruit people straight from university; but the key to our success is that many of our consultants have worked in the industry they recruit into and therefore have technical capabilities and a thorough understanding of the clients’ requirements.” Founders of the The Emily Jordan Foundation, Chris and Sarah Jordan said: “We’ve known Jonathan for many years; he has been involved since we set the charity up in 2008 and has always supported us so it’s great being here to support him today. We are very thankful for the generous donations made by lunch guests, which the Foundation will use to support the development of skills that people with learning disabilities need to gain employment.” Headquartered in Stourbridge with offices in Basildon and Dubai, and design offices in Hatton, Jonathan Lee Recruitment has experienced steady growth over the last 40 years. Now with a total of 100 staff, the company has one of the lowest staff turnovers in the recruitment industry with nearly 40% of employees having been with Jonathan Lee Recruitment for five years or more, and 5% having served more than 20 years. For more information on the Emily Jordan Foundation visit theemilyjordanfoundation.org.uk. An album of photos taken at the event can be viewed here.

Jonathan Lee Recruitment will, once again, be celebrating International Women in Engineering Day on 23 June.

Aerospace and aviation engineering employment specialist Jonathan Lee Recruitment is returning to the world-renowned Farnborough International Airshow this year, partnering with the Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA).

More than 350 people packed the ICC last week to recognise the achievements of apprentices from across the Midlands at the In-Comm Apprentice Awards 2018. Team members from Jonathan Lee Recruitment attended the event, enjoying the fantastic atmosphere, made all the more fun by tongue-in-cheek, Black Country comedian, Doreen Tipton. Jonathan Lee Recruitment sponsored the Ambassador of the Year award, which celebrated inspirational individuals that have been pro-active in helping to increase the number, quality and impact of apprentices. Congratulation to Keith Collins from Castings plc who picked up the top award and Philip Newell from PP Controls & Automation, who was highly commended. There was a definite feel of ‘girl power’ with two female apprentices claiming the main prizes, who had gone above and beyond on their courses to have a positive impact. Integrated Water Services’ Laura Thacker was named as the Most Improved Learner of the Year having overcome several setbacks to develop her skills and excel in her apprenticeship, whilst Maria Collins from IMI Precision (Norgren) secured the title of Outstanding Learner of the Year and Peter Wood Memorial. Other winners at the In-Comm Awards 2018 included: Learner of the Year – Business Support: Jack Shakespeare (Ames Group) Learner of the Year – Supervisory Management: Marc Edwards (Walsall Pressings) Learner of the Year – Continuous Improvement: Lloyd Scarsbrook (CPE Pressure Vessels) ​Learner of the Year – Engineering & Manufacturing Technologies: Maria Collins (IMI Precision) The Awards also celebrated businesses who recognise the importance of and invest in apprenticeships, with Birmingham-based precision metal stamping specialist Brandauer taking the Employer of the Year title for the way it has made apprentices more than 15% of its total workforce, helping to retain specialist skills and reduce the average age profile of staff in the process, ensuring the business is fit for the future. The Awards also put a spotlight on In-Comm mentors who pass their expertise and knowledge to apprentices on a day to day basis. Gareth Jones, Managing Director at In-Comm Training commented: “Bridging the skills gap has to be a joint effort; it has to be a concoction of businesses getting involved, young people having the right work ethic, parents not being afraid to give their blessing to vocational learning and education to understand what industry has to offer. “The days of dark satanic mills, oily factories and battered old machinery is not the norm any longer. Instead, manufacturing and engineering are awash with robotics, CAD/CAM systems, precision CNC machines and state-of-the-art metrology.” Biggest congratulations to all the nominees and winners. #InCommA18 #ukmfg #FutureSkills

There aren’t many things better in life than cake, except for cake that is for a worthwhile cause…

In our 40th anniversary year we are delighted to be supporting the InComm Awards taking place on June 8th 2018 at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham. The future of UK engineering and manufacturing is a topic that we care about deeply at Jonathan Lee Recruitment and the shortage of skilled engineers has been one of our core talking points and concerns. Attracting new talent into the sector is critical and we are delighted to have seen a renewed focus and energy for apprenticeships over the last couple of years and we are committed to supporting the continuation of this. InComm Training has been a pioneering force in driving apprenticeship engagement, with the growth and development of their training centres and services having already benefited many of our clients. Having personally attended the recent grand opening of their extended training facility in Aldridge and having been a regular at technology, careers and skills events at the Marches Centre, I have never failed to be impressed either by their facilities or the calibre of the apprentices I have met which can be attributed to Incomm’s dedication to providing the very highest quality training. The 2018 Awards ceremony, taking place at the International Convention Centre Birmingham on 8th June, will celebrate the UK’s best learners and employers. #FutureSkills For us, ensuring that we have a long term skilled workforce to support the sector is crucial to the ongoing success of British engineering and manufacturing. The UK is renowned for having the best engineers in the world and we want to ensure it remains a centre for innovation and cutting-edge technology. We have committed to supporting the #FutureSkills campaign in 2018, in line with our 4IR strategy. The campaign looks at ways to bring new talent into the sector and how employers can up-skill or re-train their existing workforces to manage new technologies and increased digitalisation. In my capacity as Group Business Development Manager, I also sit on the board of the Black Country Skills Factory where InComm are one of the major providers of training for both apprentices and workforce upskilling, providing a series of “bite sized” courses to local SMEs. This initiative, alongside the ongoing investment required to continue forward looking and progressive learning programmes are excellent examples of the type of funded schemes that companies are now making the most of, as it is recognised that people are the single-most important asset of every business. Apprenticeships The Apprenticeship Levy offers a route to improved training and development for businesses. We have seen a sharp increase in the number of companies setting up training operations both for their own teams and for external candidates all of which will help to address the major issues we are facing today; productivity, skills shortages, new technology and 4IR.

Jonathan Lee Recruitment is building on its long heritage of providing high calibre staff to the defence sector by forming a dedicated team, led by ex-forces, lead consultant, Peter Heap. The newly formed team, which was previously a part of the aerospace and aviation division, will focus on four core areas; land, sea, air and communication systems, covering all aspects of engineering, technical, supply chain and commercial disciplines, from shop floor to executive appointments. Peter Heap explains: “Heightened global security threats as well as higher global defence spending is driving the global defence sector. The UK has a strong legacy and an excellent reputation globally in the sector and needs highly skilled people to maintain its position as a market leader whilst delivering innovation and growth. “The newly formed division will support the high demand being experienced in this market, underpinned by the knowledge already contained within the business. We have worked with companies and candidates in the defence sector for almost 40 years, developing a deep understanding of the transferable skills needed in the sector. “We will continue to identify the best talent available, including many candidates who already possess security clearances which can save significant time in the recruitment process. “We work with a wide range of experienced candidates across defence and security engineering and technical disciplines, including ex-military professionals from the Army, RAF and Navy.” The experienced team of this new division can support engineering disciplines and design engineering, machinery and manufacturing, maintenance and production, aeronautical and avionics engineering, military communication and defence systems, electronics and software systems, programme and project management. The team consists of Peter Heap - Lead Consultant (middle), Gareth Simpson - Senior Consultant (left), Tom Duckett - Consultant (right). To find out more about the defence division and to view the latest jobs click here.

Last month team members from Jonathan Lee visited Telford Mind to present a £750 donation.

They say the sun shines on the righteous, which must make the Jonathan Lee team a pretty honourable bunch!​

As sponsor of the IMechE Coventry Automotive lecture programme, team members from Jonathan Lee Recruitment recently attended the talk; “The Lightweight Body Structure of the Aston Martin DB11,” held at Coventry University and presented by John Mulherin - Director, Body Structures and Development, accompanied and supported by Fred Walker - Manager and Programme Leader, Body CAE. The popular talk focused on the engineering achievements and challenges met by the body engineering team during the development of this the vehicle. Grant Nisbet and Gareth Simpson from Jonathan Lee attended the event and commented: “There was a great turn out and we got to meet a variety of students and industry professionals. It's fantastic to see the lengths the organisers go to, to inspire and demonstrate their knowledge. As part of this lecture, a DB11 was brought in for our perusal too – needless to say it went down well! It was a pleasure to attend and support the IMechE Coventry Automotive lecture programme once again.” The IMechE lectures provide an excellent opportunity and platform for engineers of today and the future to meet, learn and discuss various engineering topics whilst constructing their own network of contacts from all fields of expertise. The next IMechE Coventry Automobile event is their annual summer social ‘Silverstone Run’ taking place on the 18th July 2018. Members are invited to dust off their (road legal) racers, be they cars or motorcycles, classic or vintage, kit or high performance and join a convoy to Silverstone this July. The route runs from Hinckley via Coventry and Southam and on to Silverstone. See Coventry AD NearYou and Facebook pages for details and to register closer to the date. The IMechE lectures are free of charge and open to members and non-members to attend. About IMechE With over 115,000 members in 140 countries, IMechE; the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, is the largest network of mechanical engineering knowledge, skill and opportunity in the world. IMechE develops and maintains key partnerships with leading global employers to ensure their technical workforces are trained to the highest standard. To find out more click here.

Many SMEs may dismiss the use of interim managers because they are under the misapprehension that they cannot afford them. However, in reality, the cost of engaging an interim manager could end up being less than hiring a permanent member of staff for a specific project. Here, at Jonathan Lee Recruitment we have taken our own advice and have made the most of the skills of interim managers with excellent, cost effective results. We have used interim solutions to cover a number of tasks including training, HR and project management. Directly comparing an interim day rate with a permanent salary requires more than a simple like-for-like calculation. Experience shows us that the actual cost of direct employment adds around two thirds on top of basic pay. For example, if an executive is earning £100,000 per annum, the employer will incur additional costs for national insurance, car allowance, bonus, medical, pension and other benefits, as well as any unplanned costs such as for sickness, jury service, training etc.​

Investing in workforce development is fundamental for any business wanting to secure its future and remain competitive. As businesses develop and grow, having the right mix of skills, experience and personality is key to success. In a candidate-led market, we find that many of our clients have been faced with a skills shortage, with recruitment and attrition of talented individuals being of major concern. However, there are steps a business can take to nurture and develop their workforce, ensuring the skills a business needs both today and in the future are assessed and addressed. 1. Recognition from the top If the importance of training and development isn’t recognised in the boardroom, you’re going to struggle. There is no end of research that provides data on the impact training staff has on the bottom line, but ultimately, HR and learning and development practitioners need to ensure that when training happens, there is a real ROI that can be measured. If the Board does not see the benefit of where their money is being spent, they will be less inclined to get excited about your latest development initiative. 2. Understand what’s available and what works There has never been such a wide range of learning and development tools available and we all learn in different ways. Make sure you understand which tools work best for your staff before investing in expensive training software or an academic course. Whether it’s e-learning, in-house training, a more traditional route using external qualifications or upskilling your staff with apprenticeship qualifications, there are a myriad of tools at your disposal and some may be funded in your area. The Skills Funding Agency is a good place to start if you are unsure if your business qualifies for staff development funding. 3. Make development a part of your culture and evolving future If you want sustainability in your workforce development, you need to do the legwork to ensure it becomes embedded in your culture. Getting development into the hearts and minds of your employees will take time but by creating an environment where development is encouraged and recognised it will soon become ‘how we do things around here’. From your recruitment processes through to appraisals, workforce development should be structured, transparent and accessible. Giving your employees responsibility for their own learning agendas can help engagement while sharing learning and knowledge by holding lunch time brown-bag sessions, writing wikis and collaborating on documents will also encourage people to get the knowledge out of their heads and into the workplace. Framing a culture that embraces development will also enable businesses to evolve quickly to future market changes. For example, increased automation and adoption of 4.0 concepts will lead the way to a new landscape of skills and jobs. This will present a substantial opportunity for employees to upskill and re-train. With the right planning and a pro-development culture, employees could seize the opportunity to move into fulfilling new, previously non-existent jobs, while allowing the business to move forward. 4. Keep talking to your staff We all understand the benefits of giving feedback to staff, but it is just as important to close that feedback loop and listen to what your employees are saying. Whether you hold focus groups, use one to ones, garner evidence from staff engagement surveys or have a staff suggestion scheme, providing a platform to feedback will tell you what is working and what they need. Feedback directly after any training sessions is also essential – it’s common sense really but is often where businesses fall down. Once you have asked for feedback, make sure you act on it. 5. Measure and improve One of the things I love most about HR and perhaps one of the most frustrating, is that you are never going to achieve utopia. Continuous improvement is what drives HR professionals, and it should drive your workforce development as well. Measure what you are doing, monitor the impact and then make the required adjustments. By tracking progress and gathering information you are enhancing the suite of metrics you can take back to the boardroom. Investment in staff development is key to driving business growth and performance, increased engagement and retention - ultimately making you desirable, an employer of choice ahead of your competition. Employees are looking for more from their jobs than ever before and businesses need to commit to investment in their staff, their development and their futures. As Richard Branson puts it so eloquently, “train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don't want to”.

Specialist digital design office supports automotive and engineering innovation in the UK Since March 2015, Warwickshire-based business has secured contracts worth £6,000,000. Engineering and manufacturing recruitment specialist Jonathan Lee Recruitment launched its own bespoke digital design office in March 2015 to support automotive OEMs with digital design and prototyping solutions for the automotive and engineering sectors. Located in Hatton Technology Park, Jonathan Lee Design Services has capacity to house 24 designers and digital modellers, using Alias, ICEM Surf and CATIA and is thought to be the first initiative of its kind in the design recruitment sector. Nick Jones; Associate Director at Jonathan Lee Design Services, explains: “I have been recruiting digital designers for 15 years now and the need for a specialist service that can deliver high-level digital models as well as low volume prototypes, especially in the automotive sector, has emerged. “We have already been involved in providing bespoke parts such as head lights and mirrors for concept cars launched at the major motor shows and it has grown from there. Demand has increased to the point where we realised there was a long-term requirement for these kinds of services and the office was born. “We have invested heavily in the new site and recruited talent from an international pool of specialist digital designers to ensure we can design and project manage prototype programmes from start to finish. “For many manufacturers, using this type of service to support innovation, is more cost effective than trying to achieve the same goals in-house.” If you have a design opportunity you'd like to discuss with us please get in touch with Nick Jones. For more information about Jonathan Lee Design Services click here.

As part of our 40th anniversary celebrations, Jonathan Lee Recruitment will be supporting The Emily Jordan Foundation. Jonathan Lee, founder and Chairman, said: “For 40 years we have been committed to supporting the welfare of the wider community and I am immensely proud of the team’s continual enthusiasm and dedication to this cause.” “I am delighted to be supporting The Emily Jordan Foundation; a local charity that has been chosen because of the excellent work they do in supporting young adults with learning and physical disabilities in developing production skills to enhance their employability. We look forward to welcoming Chris and Sarah Jordan to our Gala Luncheon later in the year to raise money for this very worthy cause. “The event will help to raise awareness of The Emily Jordan Foundation’s projects and initiatives, whilst highlighting to attending business leaders, how they can provide opportunities in manufacturing for those with learning and physical disabilities.” About The Emily Jordan Foundation Set up by Emily’s friends and family after Emily sadly passed away in 2008, The Emily Jordan Foundation (EJF) supports people with learning disabilities to lead fulfilling lives. Emily, who understood the difficulties that people with disabilities face both socially and when trying to gain employment, helped to set up Spokes; a registered charity that aids young people with learning disabilities find employment. The development of The Emily Jordan Foundation was the next step in continuing her good work. As a legacy to Emily, The Emily Jordan Foundation continues to fundraise, supporting Spokes as well as Twigs and Wood Works; which provide opportunities for people with moderation and physical disabilities to participate in a manufacturing environment to develop their skills in the workplace. To find out more about The Emily Jordan Foundation and how you can support this worthwhile cause click here. Visit jonlee.co.uk/40 to view our ‘40 Years in the Making’ which includes anecdotal stories from clients, candidates and industry authorities.

This week Jonathan Lee Recruitment will be presenting alongside the EEF in a seminar entitled ‘Manufacturing Connect: Future Factories’. The seminar forms part of the Black Country Business Festival and will highlight how the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) is shaping future skills and leadership. ‘Manufacturing Connect: Future Factories', Black Country Business Festival Thursday 26th April 2018 8.00 – 10.00am Venue: ZF Lemforder UK, Heath Road, Wednesbury. WS108LS Manufacturing is embarking on the fourth industrial revolution, but what does that really mean for a modern manufacturer? The implications are not just new technologies, but the skills that are required and the potential revolution of whole business models. Jason Cole, Client Relationship Manager, will be presenting alongside EEF’s Charlotte Horobin, Regional Director for Midlands & East and Tim Kibble, Director of ZF Lemforder UK Ltd to discuss how 4IR is transforming manufacturing. Future skills initiative Jonathan Lee Recruitment has a focus on future skills, supporting the EEF and its members to become fourth industrial revolution (4IR) ready. 4IR is reliant on a strong base of digital culture and skills. Jason Cole explains “We are thrilled to be partnering with the EEF, sharing our combined specialist knowledge about 4IR with EEF members and the wider business community. We are engaging with many businesses, particularly SMEs, to discuss the new skills and approach required. “It’s fitting that we present this topic in the Black Country; an area whose roots sit firmly within the last Industrial Revolution. The Black Country has historically been one of the one of the most industrialised parts of Britain and now boasts some of the country’s most advanced manufacturing and engineering names. “There is huge potential for local businesses wanting to capitalise on these new disruptive technologies.” Join this event to share best practice with like-minded manufacturers to see what the future might bring. For more information visit: https://bcbf.ticketleap.com/manufacturing-connect-future-factories/details #ThisIsTheBlackCountry #ukmfg #FutureSkills

Wednesday 25th April, 10.00am - 16.00pm Silverstone Circuit If you are thinking about a career in the automotive or motorsport sector, then be certain to attend the MIA Motorsport & Automotive Jobs Fair where more than 30 other high profile companies will be at Silverstone to discuss career opportunities. Whether you are an engineering student wanting to know which route to take or an experienced professional wanting to take the next step in your career, there won’t be a better opportunity to get your foot in the door. Jonathan Lee Recruitment will be in attendance alongside many of the sector’s leading engineering and manufacturing companies including: Aero Tech Laboratories (ATL) AP Racing AVL UK BMW Bosch GRM Consulting Hewland Hypermotive Ilmor Engineering Jaguar Land Rover Jonathan Lee Recruitment Lentus Composites MAHLE Powertrain McLaren Automotive SST Technology Titan Williams F1 A wide range of roles and opportunities will be available on the day, including jobs in engineering, design, manufacturing, sales & marketing, motorsport events, motorsport courses and apprenticeship schemes. Tim Parkes and I will be attending on the day to offer our advice and to let you know what positions we currently have on offer, whether you’re finding your first job after graduating or have gained experience already. To find out more about and to book your free tickets click here.

Our newsletter for the second quarter of 2018 is now available to download! JLR Newsletter Q2 2018.pdf Size: 2.23 MB

As a response to the increased demand for contracting professionals across the engineering and manufacturing sectors so far in 2018, Jonathan Lee’s Direct Contracts division welcomes Emma Evans to the team. Emma brings a wealth of experience in recruitment, account management, business development and field sales to her new role of recruitment consultant, joining Mark Bignell, Tom Noott, Georgia Silk and Claire Male in the Contracts team. DEMAND FOR SPECIALIST CONTRACTORS ON THE RISE Recent research conducted by Jonathan Lee Contract Recruitment shows a growth in the appeal of contracting for experienced engineering professionals, offering a higher variety of work content, more interesting projects and more flexibility, allowing them to use their whole breadth of knowledge and experience. This is particularly true for highly-skilled workers in niche technical specialisms that can support effective implementation of Industry 4.0 and also of highly experienced interim managers who can manage periods of change and growth. Mark Bignell, Managing Consultant, explains "we are finding a greater number of clients and candidates seeing the mutual benefit of contracting. "Candidates take advantage of the flexibility with the projects they undertake, career advancement and pay benefits, while from a company point of view, it makes workers more accessible to a broader range of companies looking for specialist knowledge – including related 4IR skills, if only for a short-term or project basis. "Emma’s understanding of in-house recruitment and her approach to client relationship building is excellent and she will be a great asset to our team that already supports hundreds of contractors and clients across a range of industry sectors. "This is supported by our friendly and professional in-house payroll team that has a 100% record of on-time payment, where all documentation is provided in line with the agreed processes.” To find out more visit jonlee.co.uk/contracting.

In recent months the pace surrounding 4IR has increased and become a major talking point within the manufacturing sector. The speed at which this change is predicted to take place is rapid, with 80% of manufacturers saying that the revolution will be a business reality by 2025, according to research by EEF; the manufacturers' organisation. There is no doubt that 4IR is going to happen, but the speed of change and the implementation of new disruptive technologies is a real challenge amongst business leaders. There is fear that the UK will fall behind the other major industrial powerhouses due to a lack of clarity and substance around a viable UK industrial strategy. According to a report by the manufacturers' organisation, EEF, the transformation of the manufacturing industry will depend greatly on a shift towards digital technologies and manufacturers are aware it would make them more productive. In fact, 62% of firms state they plan to invest in new modern connected plant over the next 5 years. 4IR is set to fundamentally transform the manufacturing sector - it will be a game changer. Businesses will want to capitalise on it, but recognise the need to invest in staff, management and leadership skills so that they can make the most out of the rapid advances in technology that are driving this new industrial age. This throws up a real problem to manufacturers who are already suffering with major skill shortages in key areas. In particular, many firms do not have the skillset in-house or the experience to implement digital technologies. Indeed, this type of business change is the typical scenario where interim and contract expertise can help guide an organisation in its next phase of business growth. Businesses are increasingly looking to interim specialists to guide them through the required changes to keep up with 4IR. This change will impact all areas of business including software systems, machinery and connectivity. One thing is clear - the ability to collect vast amounts of data and use this to make informed business decisions will become critical. These are truly challenging but exciting times. 4IR presents an opportunity for UK Manufacturing to demonstrate its ability to innovate and embrace new technology, but the competition has never been as fierce or as global. Does UK PLC have the technical expertise to capitalise on this opportunity? We’ve seen a trend in organisations turning to interims who have the technical knowledge and experience to help transition businesses toward digital technology. Jonathan Lee Interim Management has seen recent successes in areas such as automation and business transformation where interim specialists have demonstrated their ability to respond and help companies succeed in the 4IR environment. Looking to the year ahead, interims will play a vital role in preparing Britain for the transition in 4IR and it’s imperative that organisations start planning now for this change.

For original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) looking for Class A surface modelling, talent can be very hard to source and secure. Finding and employing a full team of designers and engineers can be time consuming and costly for what may prove to be a short-term project. Set up three years ago to meet this very particular need in the automotive OEM market, Jonathan Lee Design Services (JLDS) has a team of more than 20 digital modellers using Alias Surface Studio that provides fixed deliverable-based projects. Rather than OEMs having to hire staff for a protracted period of time, JLDS’ services can be used for a fixed cost to deliver a specified project. With this flexibility, JLDS could put two, ten or 20 digital modellers onto a project, dependent on the timescales and expertise required by the client. Along with a collective pool of talent with decades of experience utilising Alias software for A Class Surface modelling, JLDS also specialises in electric vehicles possessing a deep understanding of aerodynamics and lightweight structures in vehicle design. JLDS has delivered a broad range of high profile projects including major UK car manufacturers’ models and the Faraday Future FF91 electric car launched at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last year. Ron Polonski, Head of Design at Faraday Future, said: “Jonathan Lee Design Services was an important part of the Class A phase of the vehicle’s interior development. Their speed, quality and professionalism were top class and they were a real joy to work with. We will work with them again.” We’ve worked on a number of prestigious projects in the past year and have seen a substantial growth in demand for our services and, in turn, our business has grown too - more than trebling in size in the past 12 months. Our success has been down to the knowledge and capabilities of our experienced team. The target for the coming year is to continue to expand our customer base beyond automotive and leverage the extensive experience we have within the electric vehicle market. To find out more visit jonlee.co.uk/design-services.

Jonathan Lee Recruitment aerospace and defence teams will be exhibiting at the world-renowned Farnborough International Airshow later this year, partnering with the Midland Aerospace Alliance (MAA). Farnborough International Airshow is the global shop window for the UK and international aerospace industry and provides an excellent opportunity to showcase our expertise within advanced engineering and manufacturing, which extends over 40 years. We are particularly keen to speak to visitors about future skills not traditionally associated with aerospace, but are essential for the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. The unprecedented pace of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) presents a steep learning curve for many UK manufacturers, many of whom already invest in automation, sensors, big data and additive manufacturing. For 4IR to be sustainable, it must be embedded into the business strategy and founded on a strong base of digital culture and skills, and we’re finding more companies seeking our expertise to future-proof their talent pipeline for aerospace 4.0. The team will be exhibiting on the MAA’s stand, Pod 13, located within the brand-new, purpose-built exhibition hall at Farnborough Airport, which forms the UK Pavilion.

Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), has dominated the headlines over the past few years, with businesses increasingly looking to adopt technology such as robotics and automation, artificial intelligence and remote monitoring of production lines to increase efficiency. In our latest blog post, Jon Blaze; Head of Recruitment at Jonathan Lee Contract Recruitment, explores how the use of specialised contractors can help businesses implement Industry 4.0. A recent study from the University of Warwick found that many businesses are failing to harness the full potential of 4IR. This is attributed to a range of factors including the lack of an integrated supply chain, the absence of products within the business capable of customisation and a deficit in advanced skills within the business. SKILLS GAP Fully understanding all elements required in the application of 4IR is complex. This is often, best navigated by specialists with substantial experience in system integration, an in-depth knowledge of automation and robotics and/or a proven background in process implementation. In a time of an existing skills shortage, the additional challenge of finding and attaining highly skilled, and often, high value individuals to navigate and lead a business through 4IR can be substantial. For scoping, training, testing, implementation and a full roll-out of Industry 4.0 strategy, businesses should be considering a more agile approach. CONTRACTING Recent research conducted by Jonathan Lee Contract Recruitment showed a growth in preference for some experienced workers to undertake contract projects rather than full-time, permanent positions. This was particularly true for highly-skilled workers with specialist technical knowledge and significant breadth of experience. With the current shortage of skilled workers potentially one of the most constraining factors for the implementation of 4IR, companies have the opportunity to tap into this flexible, trained and experienced workforce to help bridge the skills gap. Contractors can help businesses to adapt their operations to new markets, with their sought-after expertise helping to bring clarity to decision making and help steer the strategic direction of a business. Their experience can make a difference within a relatively short space of time, at the same time as transferring knowledge and capabilities to the existing workforce. The dynamic and fast-changing technological landscape makes the contract or interim option especially attractive as companies plan for uncertainty, look to adopt new technologies, deal with fast-changing market realities and strive to improve productivity. For businesses investing in 4IR processes and technologies, the use of contractors affords them flexibility to take on specialists, providing expert guidance and advice throughout the implementation stages. This can not only help futureproof a business, but also negate the need to hire permanent staff for shorter term projects within the 12 to 18 month timeframe.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, engineering and manufacturing recruitment specialist Jonathan Lee Recruitment has seen a boost in engagement to its newly launched, interactive website, designed to improve the user journey for candidates, clients and contractors.

Last night, 14 brave volunteers from Jonathan Lee Recruitment took part in the annual mixed netball match in aid of Sport Relief.

As featured in ADS Advance, Peter Heap, senior consultant, aerospace and defence division at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, explains why the unmanned air vehicle (UAV) sector provides opportunities for ex-forces technicians and engineers.

We are delighted to be attending the BFFF (British Frozen Food Federation) Conference and People Awards on Thursday 22nd February 2018 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.

Our newsletter for the first quarter is now available to download! JLR Newsletter Q1 2018.pdf Size: 2.69 MB

Last month, team members from Jonathan Lee attended the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards Finals.

To celebrate the launch of our new website last month we held a competition to win a £250 Amazon voucher. Anyone who registered an account with us in January had the chance to win this wonderful prize! All registrations were entered into a draw with the winner picked at random last week. And the winner is... We are delighted to announce that the winner of the £250 Amazon voucher is...Chris Booth Congratulations Chris and thanks for registering. We've emailed you to with more information about how to claim your prize. What's New? The new jonlee.co.uk offers a more visually, engaging and interactive experience, making it easier than ever before to locate suitable jobs. With a suite of new features designed with you in mind, we're confident you'll enjoy the new site as much as we do! Interactive candidate dashboard - manage your personal details, update your CV and track your applications. Social registration and job application - use your LinkedIn account to log in and apply for jobs. Job alerts service - simply set your search preferences, choose how often you want to be notified and receive suitable jobs by email. Contractors zone - with payment information, useful downloads and links to our online timesheet system. Updated FAQs and interactive enquiry forms. New blog and media centre - stay up-to-date with the latest news. Dedicated sector and service pages - meet our teams and learn more about our expertise. Mobile first approach - allowing you easy access to all website features no matter what device. Stay Connected The launch of our new website is just one of many ways we'll be celebrating our 40th anniversary this year. Keep up-to-date with the latest news and announcements here. Contact Us Got a question regarding the new website? Contact a member of the team – we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Research undertaken by Jonathan Lee Contract Recruitment suggests that while those earlier in their career still opt for permanent roles, a greater number of more experienced specialists are opting for contract work where they have greater flexibility in work content and can build a career portfolio of interesting projects and roles.

Engineering and manufacturing recruitment specialist, Jonathan Lee Recruitment, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and will be marking the occasion with a number of events throughout 2018 including the launch of a new website, a rebrand and a gala luncheon later in the year. Established in 1978 by the current chairman, Jonathan Lee, the vision for the company was to establish long-term partnerships with clients in order to fully understand their business and its needs.

#christmasjumperday #JONLEELIFE. The Jonathan Lee offices have got their jingle bells, tinsel and elf hats out for this year’s Christmas Jumper Day to support Save the Children.

Jonathan Lee Recruitment is pleased to become an associate member of the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF). The BFFF is a trade association that promotes and protects the interests of the frozen food industry in the UK, advising members about health and safety, technical and legislative matters whilst influencing Government and outside agencies to address key industry issues. ​​

Last month, global representatives met at the bi annual IMSA International Executive Search conference to exchange knowledge of local markets, international assignments and discuss the global executive search industry.

October marks the second anniversary of the EEF Advantages Partnership with specialist consultancy, Jonathan Lee Recruitment. Since the launch of the partnership, Jonathan Lee Recruitment has assisted many EEF members across England and Wales with access to a broad base of technical, engineering and manufacturing talent. ​

Jonathan Lee Recruitment FMCG division exhibited at the Food and Drink Engineering and Processing Summit last week and are pleased to report that the food and drink sector is upbeat despite market uncertainty.

Last week, team members from the aerospace, aviation and defence division attended the celebratory dinner for the MAA (Midlands Aerospace Alliance) 15th anniversary. The elegant black-tie birthday dinner, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Birmingham, was attended by 140 key players from the aerospace industry and celebrated the accomplishments of the prestigious industry partner.

Today, Jonathan Lee Recruitment has proudly supported ‘Wear it Pink’ with several fundraising activities to help raise money for Breast Cancer Now. .

Our newsletter for the final quarter of 2017 is now available to download! JL Newsletter Q4 2017.pdf Size: 1.69 MB

Ahead of the annual Food and Drink Engineering & Processing Summit on 7 November at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, Dan Plimmer, lead consultant for FMCG and consumable durables at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, highlights key areas the sector needs to address if it is to tackle the current skills shortage. According to the BBC, the skills shortage in UK food and drink manufacturing shows no sign of slowing down. While engineers are in short supply, there are positive steps a business can take to secure the best talent in this competitive market.

If you are thinking about a career in the automotive or motorsport sector, then be certain to attend the MIA Motorsport & Automotive Jobs Fair taking place on Thursday 5th October between 13.00pm - 19.00pm at Silverstone Circuit.

With complex asset management becoming increasingly digitally driven, Les Hines, Associate Director - Asset Management for Jonathan Lee looks at what this means and the skills that will be needed. ​Historically, asset management has required a workforce with multi-layered engineering capabilities to deliver physical projects, developed through the study and practice of several traditional engineering routes.

It’s a good time to talk about cake. There aren’t many things better in life than cake, except for cake that is for a great cause. Did you know, that for all cake consumed on a charitable basis, the fewer calories it contains? That’s a completely true alternative recruitment fact. You’re welcome!​

Last week, our brave team of resolute, relentless runners donned all things hi-vis to take part in Mary Stevens Hospice's Neon Night 5km Run. Having endured a summer of intense training regimes, our elite squad was battle-ready and eager to go! Never will a 5km race be contested so valiantly or colourfully.

Engineering and manufacturing specialist consultancy Jonathan Lee Recruitment has strengthened its product development team with the appointment of a new senior technical consultant. Paul Robson brings 11 years’ automotive, motorsport and aerospace experience with a notable specialism in the design, development, design validation and application of high performance electric machines to his new role; sourcing product development experts to the transportation and scientific sectors.

Neon Night 5km Run When: Friday 22nd September @ 6:30 pm Where: Himley Hall, Himley, Dudley Before you continue to read the rest of this blog, envisage your favourite Rocky training montage.... at the same time as humming the theme tune ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ Ready?!

Last week, the JLR team was treated to an evening of great food, rockin’ live music and of course great company at our end-of-summer party for 2017. Hosted at the fantastic Harley’s Smokehouse Orangery and cocktail bar in Kinver, the evening kicked off with a welcome from Jonathan Lee, our Chairman, who congratulated everyone on their hard work and success for the year to date, welcoming new members of the team and setting our goal to make 2017 another record year for the business.

Neil Cayley, lead consultant for aerospace, defence & aviation at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, discusses the potential challenges Boeing faces in recruiting for its new manufacturing site. The recent announcement that Boeing has been granted permission from the local council to build its manufacturing and research building in Sheffield as a part of the Catapult Programme, is positive news for the aerospace industry, with the opportunity for 30 new high skilled roles being created.

We are excited to be a part of the regional and national judging panel for this years EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2017. Simon Roberts, Associate Director for Jonathan Lee Interim Management and Jonathan Lee Search & Selection, will be working his way through this year’s entries over the next couple of weeks. And he’s the right man for the job!

Manufacturing and engineering recruitment specialist predicts competitive market for talent Jonathan Lee Recruitment is fielding record numbers of vacancies as demand for roles to support engineering and manufacturing businesses throughout the West Midlands and the UK continues to grow.

Jonathan Lee Recruitment’s group business development manager, David Woakes, has been appointed as a representative of the Rail Supply Group SME Council. The Rail Supply Group (RSG) formed the RSG SME Council, a group made up of UK rail industry SMEs, in recognition of the significant contribution and further contribution SMEs can have to the rail industry and wider economy. SMEs form a key part of the rail sector and, with further access, could help deliver a transformative ‘world leading’ transport network - creating a brand that can be exported across the world.

It seems we are constantly being told how critical automation is to the future of manufacturing. A topical subject across the media, it promises a utopia; increasing productivity, improving quality, removing repetitive manual jobs and replacing with highly skilled operational / maintenance jobs and improving health and safety. For many of our larger clients; OEMs and corporates, they have been investing in automated production and products for a number of years and even exploring connect 4IR concepts such as the Internet of Things. The concept being that businesses can retrieve ‘big data’ from their automated systems and unearth useful information or trends that can be fed back into their processes to further improve the efficiency of their operations. For our SME client base, this ‘reality’ doesn’t seem quite as easy to grasp. Capital, time and resources are not so easily available and so it becomes something only considered accessible or even necessary by big businesses. Automation is rapidly changing the business environment and the opportunities available should be considered by businesses of all sizes - it’s time to remove the myths and assumptions surrounding automation. It’s only for large organisations This is certainly not the case, in fact those fore running SME companies that embrace automation and indeed the concepts surrounding Industry 4.0 will find themselves competitive on a global scale. It’s not for us When systems and operations have a success formula that have stood the test of time for years or even decades, it is difficult to comprehend adjusting a proven architecture. However, one must consider how competitors may move forward. Will this push our product to the end of its life cycle? How and when will you need to adapt? If we think how the digital revolution changed the music industry in the 2000's, established norms were removed at an extremely fast pace – established brands disappeared and buying habits transformed. Imagine if a competitor invested in automated systems which allowed them to produce items faster, cheaper, with improved quality and accurately or intelligently and customised at no extra effort or cost. Imagine if you were that visionary company. It’s too expensive The cost and also how the capital is raised is a sticking point for many SMEs. The ramifications of the 2008 banking collapse still linger in the memory of many business leaders and the risks associated with lending should not be taken lightly. Of course, there is a cost attached to adopting automated processes, however, SMEs considering whether to invest can make a rational and calculated decision prior to committing to any expenditure by speaking to a systems integrator. Viewing the exercise as an investment rather than a cost is key. How can an SME get automated? Many questions an SME may have can be answered by talking to an automation partner / systems integrator. They will be able to identify areas where automation can add value to a manufacturing process and identify: How their facilities could adopt automation, what type of automation could assist What capital investment they would require and a forecast return on investment running over a number of years What internal training / up-skill your workforce would need While the list above is very much simplified, it outlines the first stepping stones to considering automation. Perhaps, one of the most important elements is to get people into the mind-set of 4.0 culture and engagement. Creating a culture where the employees are engaged and want to improve the business is key. SMEs should not think automation is not within their grasp. Take the first step and speak to a systems integrator. Why not open the door to wider market opportunities and potentially compete in a global arena? For more information, speak to Richard Heaton, resident automation and robotics expert at Jonathan Lee Recruitment. Richard Heaton 01384 446105 richard.heaton@jonlee.co.uk

We've put our team under the spotlight to ask how they would describe Jonathan Lee Recruitment in three words. Click play below to find out! Find out more about us: www.jonlee.co.uk/about-us Learn more about working for us and view our latest jobs: www.jonlee.co.uk/work-for-us

Last week, the valiant JLR 11 (plus cheerleaders) faced Higgs & Sons at the most British of summer sports; cricket! The sun shone and as usual, the beautiful backdrop of Hagley Hall provided us with an excellent pitch to commence our annual challenge. The team was joined on the pitch by a few hundred-thousand hungry red ants who made the most of the opportunity by feeding vigorously on the men in white – especially the poor umpires who held their positions bravely! Winning the toss and opting to field first, we knew from previous games that Higgs have a couple of big-hitters as well as some experienced bowlers, so we had to make a good start. Matt Heath opened the bowling with Connor Woakes at the other end and after the first four overs we took the first wicket for 25 runs. For this 20-over game, the run-rate was starting to look expensive. Excellent bowling efforts by Ed, Grant, Lee, Jonathan, Tom, Mark and Richard led to a further 8 wickets falling but at the expense of too many runs. In support of the bowling, we watched some epic exhibition fielding, catching and the occasional refusal (known internally as ‘no way am I catching that ball’!) Richard's first ball took one of Higgs' core batsman completely by surprise, taking his middle stump clean out of the ground. However, Richard's next few balls were very Very VERY wide of the mark. He's promised to work on his consistency for the next outing, but a great performance nonetheless. With Higgs & Sons ending on 161, the target was set for the JLR team. Enter Ed and Mark to open our batting effort. Our hopes were high but unfortunately Ed was caught short on 3. Mark continued through the innings and finally retired on 25. Dave (retiring on 25) and Sam Booker (out on 6), also joined the fray and our score steadily built, but we were still off the pace, Higgs’ bowling and fielding was tight and the target of 161 seemed a long way off. Enter Dan and BIG Tom, who decided to throw caution to the wind and really go for it! With canny shot selection at first, Tom then unleashed the power shots - Bang! his first six cleared the rope, then shortly after two more followed, the last one clearing the bar and social club (missing the beer pumps, thank goodness). This looked to be a winning partnership until Dan was bowled in short order. Tom had to retire as he had reached his 25, but if not for this rule, he might still be there now! Matt and Connor then batted for the last 4 overs of the game adding 12 to our total but alas, it was not quite enough. Higgs won by 13 runs. A really close match and so much fun for all those participating and watching. The team is already in intensive training for the rematch (!)

Last week, Matthew Heath, Associate Director of Jonathan Lee Search & Selection, attended an Aviation Club Luncheon where guest speaker Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Transport, discussed the future of British aviation.

Download our latest newsletter here JLR Newsletter Q3 2017.pdf Size: 338 KB

In this blog Phil Bloomer, FMCG technical and engineering expert at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, examines how technical innovations are changing the skills landscape in a sector already struggling with a deficit of engineers. The skills shortage in the food and drink industry is well documented, with 170,000 vacancies needing to be filled between 2010 and 2020, and growing engineering shortages threatening the ability of the sector to adapt to the ever-increasing focus on technology and automation.

The hunt to find Britain’s best manufacturers is on. EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, has launched the 9th annual Future Manufacturing Awards, designed to find Britain’s unsung manufacturing heroes and most outstanding apprentices. There are nine award categories that companies can go for. This includes a Developing People Award, sponsored by Jonathan Lee Recruitment, for the company that has done the most to build skills, harness talent and develop its employees. Last year’s winner was Superior Seals, a leading manufacturer of high integrity o-rings and seals, which employs 199 people.

Today marks the Women’s Engineering Society’s (WES) fourth International Women in Engineering Day, a day of events and online activities planned by schools, colleges, universities, industry bodies, businesses, and individual engineers. Their 2016 research shows that only 9% of the engineering workforce is female which means that the UK has the lowest percentage of female engineering professionals in Europe. By comparison Latvia, Bulgaria and Cyprus lead the stats with more than 30%.

In part 2 of the blog series by Les Hines, Associate Director and expert at Jonathan Lee Asset Management, examines the UK energy’s skills challenge against the backdrop of fundamental changes facing the sector over the next 10 years. The exert recently featured in Energy World, the monthly journal published by the Energy Institute Click here to view part I of the blog series – Introducing the energy skills challenge: the ageing workforce, diversity and post Brexit Britain.

Manufacturing business were upbeat about the potential business transformation that technology is bringing at a recent Made in the Midlands Roundtable event on Manufacturing for the future, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) hosted by engineering and manufacturing recruitment specialist Jonathan Lee Recruitment, at Ricoh UK’s Telford facility.

Last week's wonderful weather perfectly coincided for the latest JLR charitable initiative. ​Friday was declared a dress down day in return for a charitable donation from staff, who swapped ties and shirts for shorts and polos.

Interim professionals can make a significant business impact, but finding the right interim manager is key to this success. It is essential therefore that there is real clarity around what a business wants to achieve by taking on an interim manager. In some cases this need is clear cut, such as appointing a direct stand-in for an absence caused by illness. However, in many cases taking on an interim manager presents an opportunity to engage with an industry professional who can apply extensive senior management experience and a greater breadth of industry knowledge . Setting objectives and goals from the outset is important, but be prepared to change and be flexible. Interim managers are adept at unearthing the root cause of problems and these may need to be addressed if the original plan is to succeed.

Made in the Midlands Exhibition Stand No. F42 25th May 2017 Ricoh Arena, Coventry We are busy with our final preparations for tomorrow's Made in the Midlands Exhibition at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. We are committed to supporting the successful future of UK manufacturing and are looking forward to talking to companies about the impact of and preparation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Made in the Midlands Exhibition Stand No. F42 25th May 2017, Ricoh Arena Midlands’ manufacturers encouraged to embrace the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) and workforce development to strike success in the next generation of manufacturing.

When a valued employee hands in their notice, it is often tempting for an employer to counter offer to keep them with the business - but is it really the right thing to do? Grant Nisbet, Lead Consultant for Jonathan Lee Recruitment’s Manufacturing & Commercial Division, discusses the potential pitfalls of the counter offer. The war for talent is a reality in the manufacturing sector today, with highly skilled people in constant demand. So when a valued employee is tempted to move on, it's no surprise that many employers consider making a counter offer in order to retain their services. But how do you decide whether making a counter offer is the right thing to do? There are a number of things all employers should consider in this scenario.

Jonathan Lee Recruitment has always had close connections with Stourbridge Rugby Football Club, currently sponsoring the 1st XV team. With the season coming to an end, last weekend Stourbridge RFC held their annual corporate lunch, with Eddie Jones, England head coach, being guest speaker at the event.

In a series of blog entries, Les Hines, Associate Director and asset management expert at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, takes an in-depth look at the UK’s energy skills challenge. Writing as a guest contributor to Energy World, the monthly journal published by the Energy Institute, Les Hines introduces the challenges facing the Energy sector.

Over the Easter period, we reconfirmed the extent of our staff's weakness for chocolate with our Chocolate Hamper raffle, being one of the most eagerly anticipated draws of the year. Thanks to all the staff who helped to raise funds for our friends at the Hall Green Retired Greyhound Trust.

Specialist engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy, Jonathan Lee Recruitment, has launched an Asset Management division to support growing demand for specialised engineering, management and director level professionals across the private equity, energy and infrastructure markets. Spanning the full life cycle of physical assets from acquisition, procurement, commissioning, construction and operations, the division has evolved to source highly skilled engineering specialists to support the whole life management and delivery of critical capital projects.

With large rail projects such as Crossrail, Crossrail2 and HS2 posing exciting infrastructure and rolling stock opportunities to businesses, from OEM to tier 5 suppliers, Philip Delaloye, rail expert at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, discusses how the rail sector is calling upon skills development to meet project requirements. Following Philip Delaloye’s previous blog entry discussing the next generation of rail engineers, Philip addresses how the sector can act here and now to relieve current skill shortage pressures.

In recent years, we have seen an increased number of employees leaving the HM Forces in favour of civilian professions. Pete Heap, Recruitment Consultant and specialist aerospace and defence expert at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, explores the reasons why military servicemen and women are choosing the private sector and what transferable skills they can offer to employers in their second career.

Around 60 per cent of engineering employers have a problem recruiting well experienced and skilled workers, generating number of concerns about our economy’s future. ​In the recent years employers are constantly struggling to find candidates with emerging technologies or manufacturing skills. Among employers there has started to appear an atmosphere of competitiveness in order to attract the recruits as it is very hard to generate them from the market. “Larger companies are able to take more junior or less skilled engineers and train them, but SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) in particular need the ‘finished article’ and so will feel this shortage more acutely. They will also be losing staff to larger organisations and may not have the employer profile to attract candidates.” says Mark Bignell, managing consultant from the Automotive Team at Jonathan Lee Recruitment. But what are the reasons behind this occurrence? Well, there can be many answers: Firstly, the studies show that the shortage of skills may not only hold back an ongoing economic recovery following 2008’s recession but also be its direct result as during these tough times a number of engineers lost their jobs transferring themselves to different sectors. “Within the automotive sector there is a skills shortage for engineers of all disciplines. This has been caused by the amount of R&D activity currently going on after the recession years.” states Bignell. Secondly, because of the shortage of skills people with desired skills (e.g. manufacturing engineers) have been offered excellent conditions which give them high satisfaction and no need to look for any other job opportunities as long as competitors won’t offer anything ‘extra’. And thirdly – the educational system in United Kingdom. Unfortunately employers accuse universities of not educating students well enough to help them prepare for work within the engineering sectors. The industry states that young graduates have been bombarded them with a number of random, theoretical skills, instead of giving them more time for training opportunities and working schemes within the industry. That is why engineering bodies start to push universities to decrease the courses fees on subjects like science, engineering, technology IT or maths (STEM). “Due to an ageing workforce with traditional engineering skills within the manufacturing industry twinned with the number of young people choosing these subjects post-16 being relatively low, especially amongst women, means there is a critical shortage of engineers now and for the future. As an industry as a whole we should be encouraging and supporting the UK's young people by educating them about the benefits and exciting opportunities in skilled engineering jobs whilst improving their career prospects. "I’m encouraged to see a number of our clients developing their own Apprenticeship Schemes however from government level down we need to address this issue immediately and put forth plans to develop our own engineers and continue the UK’s great heritage of being one of the world’s leading engineering countries.” said Les Hines, recruitment consultant from the EMC Team at Jonathan Lee Recruitment. ​

Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson recently unveiled ambitious plans that could see the UK become a global leader in commercial spaceflight. As part of the government’s industrial strategy, £10 million is being invested to enable UK access to this lucrative market and potentially create a prosperous national space sector. Recruitment Consultant and space & aerospace sector expert, Sarah Davies, discusses the future UK space vision and its potential impact on UK aerospace skills and jobs.

Scott Williams, Senior Consultant for FMCG at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, discusses the disruptive effects of bird flu and asks, with free range eggs not currently available from UK supermarket shelves, whether consumers will buy technically barn-reared eggs?

As part of the company’s charity diary, Jonathan Lee team members have taken part in several fundraising activities in support of Red Nose Day for Comic Relief. Last week's dress down day and bake sale proved to be as popular as ever with generous donations contributing to the cause. A special mention must go to Theresa and Steph for their delicious bakes, which went like hot cakes (no pun intended!). Our waistlines are definitely feeling the effects!

Last week, Jonathan Lee team members continued its time honoured tradition of partaking in a charity fundraising netball match in aid of Mary Stevens Hospice, Stourbridge. The game was fast, confusing, occasionally aggressive and utterly exhausting! Our noble players on this occasion met on Tuesday night with a slight nervousness in the air. With Lois and Matt taking turns at refereeing during the 4 x 10 minute quarters, the two teams began, asking the usual questions: Where do we start? Where can I go? How many steps can I take? And of course, when is the pub open?

MIA Motorsport & Automotive Jobs Fair Tuesday 21st March, 10.00am - 16.00pm Silverstone Circuit If you are thinking about a career in the automotive or motorsport sector, then be certain to attend the MIA Motorsport & Automotive Jobs Fair taking place on Tuesday 21st March between 10.00am - 16.00pm at Silverstone Circuit.

The meaning of ‘Industry 4.0’ can vary from business to business and from one industry to another. For the budding engineer, the term is synonymous with the exciting future of manufacturing and engineering. In this blog, Oliver Smith, Recruitment Consultant for Sub-Contract Engineering & Manufacturing at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, discusses how the 3D hobbyist could become an engineer of the future, a position supported by Ian Joesbury, CEO of Advanced Laser Technology.

Since the incorporation of Jonathan Lee Contracts Limited in 1994, the contractor landscape has changed dramatically in some ways and has remained fundamentally the same in others. The demand in the UK and Europe for a flexible workforce continues to increase and the growth in contracting roles is now outpacing that seen in the permanent jobs category. For many, this has led to the conclusion that contracting is being embraced by hirers as ‘the new norm’.

Team members from Jonathan Lee Recruitment attended the Future Powertrain Conference (#FPC2017) last week to learn about the latest innovations in the powertrain industry. The two day event that was held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham, brought together industry and academic experts to explore topics from fuel cells and hydrogen to automated driving and the application of digital technologies.

Specialist in manufacturing and engineering recruitment, Jonathan Lee Recruitment welcomes the Budget announcement of extra investment in developing technical and technology skills in the future, but warns it is not a silver bullet to bridge the widening skills gap. Budget announcement of extra investment in developing technical and technology skills in the future, but warns it is not a silver bullet to bridge the widening skills gap

Congratulations to our Christmas Contractor competition winner Georgios Papagiannopoulos, who attended our South East event to enter the prize draw raffle sponsored by Danbro. Georgios is the winner of a Triple Supercar Blast Virgin Experience Day and will have his pick from the world’s top supercars; Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Porsches and many more for an ultimate driving experience as well as a high speed passenger ride.

As sponsor of the IMechE Coventry Automotive lecture programme, team members from Jonathan Lee Recruitment recently attended the event; Aerodynamics of a 2017 Formula One Car, held at Coventry University and presented by Ivor Annetts, Project Team Leader at TotalSim Ltd. The very popular lecture saw over 300 students and industry professionals attend the event from a variety of sectors to learn more about the F1 car. Ivor Annetts used CFD analysis of the PERRINN 2017 car to detail the key aerodynamic features of this new generation of F1 cars.

The UK rail industry is rapidly growing. With record levels of investment and a host of major projects either on the horizon or happening now, there has never been a better time to consider a career in the rail sector. However, the well documented skills shortage remains a concern for the industry. In this blog entry, Philip Delaloye, senior consultant for rail at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, discusses the issues and initiatives in place to alleviate the skills shortage.

Jonathan Lee Recruitment would like to wish the winners and runners up of the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards a huge congratulations. Team members from Jonathan Lee Recruitment had the pleasure of attending the awards ceremony last week to witness the best the manufacturing sector has to offer. As sponsors of the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards’ Developing People Category, Jon Blaze, Head of Recruitment Operations at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, addressed the audience before presenting the runners up and overall winner with the prestigious accolade.

Jonathan Lee Design Services (JLDS) is celebrating after a record year in 2016, and has kick-started 2017 with a six-month programme to model a new vehicle for this year’s prestigious Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Among the many exciting projects the team has been involved in over the past 12 months is the Faraday Future FF91 vehicle, launched at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 2017, plus work on two top secret concept cars for major vehicle manufacturers.

Jonathan Lee Recruitment is building on its long heritage of providing high calibre staff to the automotive, motorsport, aerospace, rail, commercial vehicle and off-highway sectors with the launch of a dedicated transport division of 30 specialist consultants led by Managing Consultant, Mark Bignell. The Midlands-based recruitment consultancy has worked with companies and candidates in the transport sector for almost 40 years, developing a deep understanding of the skills needed to drive growth for the UK transport sector. Mark Bignell explains: “Transport is rarely out of the news these days as investment in new infrastructure, vehicles and smarter, cleaner technologies continues apace.

Our latest newsletter is available to download! Download your copy here.. JL Newsletter Q1 2017.pdf Size: 1.04 MB

Jonathan Lee Recruitment is delighted to be sponsoring the Developing People Category for the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards. During Q4 2016, the regional awards were judged by independent industry experts and peers and awarded across the country. On January 31st 2017, the overall national winners will be announced. David Woakes, Group Business Development Manager at Jonathan Lee Recruitment, explains: “Having the right people is a defining factor in the success of any business. This award offers recognition for the fantastic work that organisations are doing to nurture their employees’ skills. We wish all the regional winners the best of luck for the national finals”.

Investment in automation technologies is proving to be a real differentiator as major retailers look to harness the full potential of omni-channel retail and fast track their operational logistics, to deliver both high quality products and a positive customer experience. As recently published in Retail Packaging, Richard Heaton, Lead Consultant for theAutomation & Robotics Division, considers the exciting potential of automation as successful, ambitious retailers look to take the next step on the national and international stage and how, with the right team in place, it may not be as challenging a prospect as they might think.