Plastics Recruitment: a 2016 Outlook

Listgrove, a recruitment specialist at the forefront of the plastics, packaging and chemicals sectors for over 40 years, predicts 2016 to be a year which will cultivate opportunity for well managed businesses. 

“The plastics sector is presently in good shape and I expect this to continue during 2016” says Conrad Taylor, Executive Business Director of Listgrove, “there is a ‘feel good’ mentality from our clients across all industries”. This positivity is largely as a result of investment in R&D and in employee skills. 

A major change in previous months relating to employment is the ongoing skills gap occurring in the UK manufacturing markets. This skills gap, particularly within the plastics sectors, has only been partly resolved by further investment into graduate recruitment, apprenticeships and staff training. 

Growing faster than the other G7 nations, 73% of UK manufacturers are now operating globally, with many realising the importance of widening their market on a multinational scale and adapting their products to reflect this. With this increased attraction to global opportunities there is a widening pool of talent becoming available for UK manufacturers. 

Language and cultural fit may present a hurdle for those seeking to recruit from a world market, however with plastics production and manufacturing becoming more technologically advanced it is necessary to bridge the gap. Recruiting internationally with the use of psychometric testing and relocation allowances has become more popular. 

In our opinion the changes and developments are overall positive as they lead to further innovation and developmental opportunities through the increase in talent, bringing top level candidates in to UK companies and a broader coverage of skills to manufacturers in order to fill vacancies. 
Listgrove would like to wish a successful new year to all members of the British Plastics Federation.