Advanced Selection helps manufacturers face skills crisis

THE country’s manufacturers are enjoying tremendous recovery and latest figures from the CBI suggest continued confidence.

But south coast recruitment specialist Advanced Selection warns that the current skills crisis threatens to overshadow a sustained recovery as companies struggle to recruit quality staff to take them forward to the next phase of expansion.

Andy Hughes, who heads up the Advanced Selection, a division of Southampton-based Guildsrealm, said that quality candidates were proving increasingly scarce, a trend which is set to continue.

Companies are finding it ever more difficult to recruit the right staff and those trying to find staff themselves are suffering from poor levels of applications both in terms of numbers and quality,’’ said Mr Hughes.

This is adding to the ongoing business pressures in all areas of operation. Globalisation continues to be a real threat, there are rising interest rates and, for many companies, the picture is not as rosy as it is being painted, making it even more important to have the right people in place.’’

Mr Hughes said that companies are increasingly turning to experts, such as Advanced Selection, to find the right people to fill manufacturing roles, accepting that using recruitment specialists pays dividends in the long term and ensures the staff they recruit are the best for the job.

But he said that finding the right candidates was not the whole story in the recruitment process. Manufacturing is not a glamorous industry and companies need to offer the right candidates real prospects, job security and a package of benefits which extends beyond an attractive salary.’’

He said job security in particular was a vital element in any remuneration package for companies looking for consolidation and expansion in the future.

People are such an important element in any company and only companies which have the best quality staff in place will be in a position to meet the challenges ahead.’’