HALFORDS LAUNCHES MAJOR RECRUITMENT DRIVE

Last year, Halfords launched a recruitment drive for its autocentres business to meet rapidly increasing demand for vehicle servicing, MOTs, maintenance and repairs.

The Redditch-headquartered motoring specialist, which is creating 1,000 new automotive technician roles over the next 12 months, is prioritising attracting retirees back into the workforce and is also challenging itself to increase the number of women in automotive technician roles.

Halfords is the UK’s largest provider of motoring services with more than 600 garages and nearly 700 vans.

Graham Stapleton, Halfords CEO, says he wants to use the opportunity created by a boom in demand to

Loungers has always done things di

Loungers is an operator of café/bar/ restaurants across three distinct but complementary brands: Lounge Café Bars, Cosy Club and Brightside - it’s new roadside cafe concept (the first one opened earlier this year on the A38 in Kennford, south of Exeter). It currently has more than 210 sites across England and Wales, and plans to continue expanding at a rate of around 30 new sites per year, creating around 1,000 new jobs annually. rewire the company’s workforce.

It’s attitude that matters at Loungers. It takes on those with no past experience, but who demonstrate the attitude and behaviours that it believes will make them successful, and customers happy, while also providing career opportunities.

“We have a big focus on people who left the workforce in recent years but are now starting to return in these tough economic times,” he said. “We want to give people the best possible route to return to work. Becoming a qualified automotive technician can be an incredibly satisfying second career.”

Halfords is developing what it calls its Retyrement Plan to make returning to work attractive. The plan includes greater flexibility, including part-time working, and – in what is believed to be an industry first – opportunities for older people to complete apprenticeships. The company is establishing a training academy which is capable of turning novices into qualified technicians.

Company name Area

Gloucestershire

Barnwood Trust Cheltenham

Working to help change conditions for disabled people and people with mental health challenges in Gloucestershire, aims to act as an agent of social change

Baylis Group Cheltenham One of the UK’s largest independently managed Vauxhall dealerships

BorgWarner Stonehouse Designs and manufactures systems that supply original equipment to nearly every major automotive OEM

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for

Cheltenham

Borough Homes Cheltenham Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO) responsible for the management and maintenance of Cheltenham Borough Council’s housing stock, housing and homeless service.

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for

Clarkson Evans Cheltenham The UK's largest new home electrical contractor Invests heavily in apprenticeships, training apprentices in-house, and employs sta directly rather than using sub-contractors

Creed Foodservice Cheltenham One of the UK’s leading independent family-owned foodservice wholesalers

Dowty Cheltenham Part of GE Aerospace. makes 1,200 propeller blades a year, most for military transport

EG Carter & Co

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for, a Living Wage employer, an "outstanding company" in Best Companies

Gaizka Bilbao, Dowty Gloucester Site Leader, said: “I began in the technical engineering, moving into Six Sigma process improvement, then into operations. GE o ers incredible training opportunities and I have been able to take advantage of them.”

Gloucester Construction company Says it has one of the highest employee retention rates in the UK construction industry with many employees exceeding 25 years of loyal service. Its apprentice and management trainee schemes have been fundamental in producing the company’s future tradespeople and managers

GCHQ Cheltenham Government Communications Headquarters – otherwise known as GCHQ

GE Aerospace Cheltenham One of the largest GE Aerospace sites outside the USA and a major contributor to the local economy

Gloucester City Homes Gloucester Independent housing association providing a ordable homes and supporting communities

Green Gourmet Stroud Food manufacturing and innovation company for food service and retail sectors

Hercules Site Services Cirencester Supplies labour to construction companies running major projects across the UK.

Infosec Cheltenham Cyber and technology consultancy

Kohler Mira Cheltenham (and Worcester) The company created the world’s first thermostatic shower valve. It has three main brands: Mira Showers, Kohler UK and Rada – the commercial division providing water control valves for healthcare, education, sport, leisure and commercial

Mears Group Gloucester One of the UK’s leading housing solutions providers to the public and private sector

Sir Jeremy Fleming, GCHQ Director, said: "The people at GCHQ come from diverse backgrounds and bring their unique skills, but all share a passion to make a di erence for their country."

Regularly works with local secondary schools and supports Women in Engineering. O ers internships, apprenticeships, mentoring and sta development to help employees achieve their potential

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. Also retains a diversity champion award and has a 'two tick' award for its support for disabled employees

Certified as a Great Place to Work

Hercules CEO Brusk Korkmaz, said: “Young people often go into construction because a relative works perhaps as a plasterer or a bricklayer, and they know they can earn good money straight away. But they can be in the same job, earning the same money 10 years later because they haven’t upskilled. We show these young people there’s a career path, such as from bricklayer to machine operator to works manager.”

Incentives, perks, and benefits are chosen by the employees. Recently added unlimited holiday and duvet days as benefits. Activities such as spa days, axe-throwing, go-karting are o ered as incentives for every quarter, all suggestions from the team

The company’s website says: "At Kohler Mira you are encouraged to define your own career path and then drive it. With three UK leading brands there is never a shortage of opportunities to grow, evolve and succeed."

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. Champions social mobility, an Investor in People and in the top nine per cent of the UK's most socially responsible businesses in the FTSE4Good index

Company name Area

Gloucestershire

Neonplay Cirencester Games developer

Everyone in the team, from the most junior to the most senior, can come up with their own game idea in regular team hackathons, which could then become the next big hit. In fact, some of biggest hits have come from hackathons, including a student on work experience from the University of Gloucestershire, who created Roller Splat, which went on to get more than 65 million downloads from a game he prototyped in a day. It was the most downloaded app in the world for weeks

Ontic Cheltenham A leading original equipment manufacturer for established, certified aircraft parts for more than 45 years

Prima Dental Manufacturing Gloucester Manufacturer of precision dental products

ProCook Gloucester Brand was started more than 20 years ago and was the first company to sell cookware sets by direct mail in the UK. Launched on London Stock Exchange in November 2021

Renishaw Wotton-underEdge World-leading manufacturer of measuring systems and production systems

SLG Brands Cheltenham International beauty brand company

Spirax Sarco Cheltenham One of the leading manufacturers and providers of steam and thermal energy solutions

Thinkproject Gloucester

Oxfordshire

Established in Germany more than 20 years ago, expanded into the UK. Now a leading software and service provider for construction and engineering projects

Abbott Witney Global medical device company. Witney is Abbott's UK Centre for innovation in its diabetes care products

Brainomix Oxford Spin-out from the University of Oxford. Its AI imaging platform has been adopted across multiple healthcare systems worldwide.

ConMed Shrivenham Medical technology company

DCS Europe Banbury Family-owned business, supplying health, beauty and household brands

Evotec Abingdon Life sciences company which delivers on its mission to discover and develop highly e ective therapeutics and make them available to patients.

Grundon Oxford Waste management company specialsing in environmentally friendly disposal

Hampers.com

Abingdon Fills hampers with food, drink and lifestyle products from selected producers

Hawkins Group Banbury Construction group made up of four divisions

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. It o ers roles to support diverse skill sets in a number of career paths to suit an individual's goals

“In a time like we are now, Prima has been outstanding. It’s nice to have an amazing team which give constant support” said an employee

Certified as a Great Place to Work. A Living Wage employer and a certified B Corp

Sta member said: "Whichever part of Renishaw you work in, you’re involved. We all make a di erence.” Another sta member said: "When we hold each other to account, we value the commitments we make to each other, and we keep ourselves collectively on track.”

Sta member said: "Working at SLG you are at the forefront of innovation and creativity. You really feel part of a work family. Everyone is passionate and enthusiastic about what we do which makes it a great place to be.”

Sta member said: "I wanted to work for a business that is local but also global. This gives me exposure to new industries and technologies, working in the field at customer sites. It is a really great business to work for, with a family feel to it – yet at the cutting edge of engineering."

Voted one of the UK's top workplaces in tech last year

Its "Hands Up" team at Witney, a team of employee volunteers, run various initiatives, including wellbeing, sustainability, Women in STEM, schools engagement, Women Leaders of Abbott employee network, and charity fundraising

Michalis Papadakis, Brainomix co-founder said: “We have a clear purpose and value that everyone can subscribe to. It’s about giving ownership, having clear empowerment. Being part of an innovative company and having trust in your team.”

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. "Committed to hiring and retaining employees from all di erent backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, and experiences.”

Sta member said: "I have been fortunate to work alongside some great managers and peers who allowed me to lead and develop myself and teams of outstanding individuals."

Adam Stoten, Site Head for Evotec’s Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Campus in Abingdon, said: “We have tried to ensure at Evotec that as we have grown there is a collective sense of ownership and understanding of what goes on across the company.”

Actively encourages personal and professional development. Strong leadership and direction is core to the business, with innovation and initiative actively encouraged

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. Team works flexibly between homes and HQ. Everyone receives Bupa private healthcare, along with an extra day o for birthdays and one "duvet day" per year.

Mike Hawkins, CEO, said: "Hawkins is successful purely because of the people we employ, many of whom are better qualified and more experienced than me.”

Company name Area

Oxfordshire

Isansys Lifecare Abingdon

Developed an advanced patient monitoring system.

Nominet Oxford Runs the UK’s internet infrastructure – developing an expertise in the Domain Name System (DNS) that underpins sophisticated threat monitoring, detection, prevention, and analytics used by governments to mitigate cyber threats.

Oxford PharmaGenesis Oxford Independent healthscience consultancy providing communications services to the healthcare industry, professional societies and patient groups

Owen Mumford Woodstock Medical device manufacturer

Oxford Products Witney Designs and sells products and accessories for motorcycles and bicycle riders

Purdicom Wantage Technology company and valueadded distributor

Siemens Healthineers Eynsham "World leader in the design and manufacture of superconducting magnets for MRI body scanners"

Torchbox Charlbury, Oxford Employee-owned communications agency

University of Oxford Oxford Ranked first in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022

VoCoVo Chipping Norton Retail telecommunications service provider

Yasa Motors Oxford Motor manufacturer

Bristol & South Gloucestershire

Keith Errey, Founder, said: "Whatever stage your company is at, your skilled people need to be challenged intellectually."

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. Its GiveHub Initiative enables employees to apply for a grant of up to £1,000 for an organisation they are closely connected with, and matches funds raised by employees for charitable causes up to the £1,000 each month.

Certified as a Great Place to Work. Sta member said: "I joined Oxford PharmaGenesis in February 2021 and doing so remotely went better than I could ever have thought. There was regular communication and I received a wonderful welcome pack that made me feel like part of the company even before I started."

Through its B Corp status, the company has pledged to prioritise people over profit. The company also has a dedicated learning and development department for all colleagues

Last year Oxford Products saw some sta struggling with the cost of living and gave everyone £150 extra a month, which lasted all year. This was on top of a head o ce bonus scheme o ered to everyone – from warehouse sta to those in the o ces – when sales rise

Gold Investors in People accolade. Has an "outstanding record of employee satisfaction"

Certified as a Great Place to Work and also ranked as one of the UK's Best Workplaces for Wellbeing

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. Only works with organisations that are socially progressive and environmentally sustainable.

The university said: "Personal and professional development is key to enabling individuals to reach their full potential and maximise their contribution to the University.”

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. Fast-growing business "where there’s time for co ee as well as serious discussion. We want our company to thrive, but also want help each other grow professionally"

Promises to invest in employees at every stage of their career

Aardman Animations Bristol Animation and production company Sta member said: "I like that most of the time it just feels like I’m having fun and making a project with friends, who are all learning and growing just the same as I am."

BAE Systems Bristol Aerospace manufacturer with a major manufacturing site in Bristol

By 2030 BAE Systems wants women to make up at least 50 per cent of its Executive Committee and 30 per cent of the workforce. The company is also set to hire more than 2,600 new apprentices and graduates in 2023. This is a 43 per cent increase on this year’s early careers intake. While most roles will be in the north of England, 67 will be at sites at Yeovil, Filton and Christchurch, 30 of which will be in digital intelligence at Gloucester

"We believe fiercely that hospitality is a proper job. So whether you're with us for a year or a lifetime, we'll look after you’,’ the company says Bristol Airport Bristol Regional airport Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. Partners with City of Bristol College and Weston College to provide apprenticeships in Motor Transport and Engineering departments at the airport

Boston Tea Party Bristol Co ee shops

Consumer Intelligence Bristol Insurance price benchmarking and source for consumer insights

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. An “output-only" environment means there is a flexible approach to working hours. Sta are in charge of their work-life balance and workload

Domo Group Bristol Cloud-based operating systems Domo o ers a budget for everyone to expand their learning outside the o ce. Over the years its teams have travelled to Helsinki, Amsterdam, San Diego and Brighton for conferences and courses

Company name Area

Bristol & South Gloucestershire

FocalPoint Bristol Developing new technologies that improve the performance of any mobile device

Ghyston Bristol Software developer

Graphcore Bristol Advanced AI systems

Huboo Bristol Logistics and fulfilment company

Hydrock Bristol Integrated design, engineering and sustainability consultancy

Immersive Labs Bristol Tests, measures and improves human cyber capabilities

Loungers Bristol Casual dining restaurants

Moneyhub Bristol Data and payments company

The company says it empowers people to make decisions and grow professionally. "We want to change the world for the better"

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. Ghyston trains most of its developers from scratch. Its in-house recruitment and training process means it develops its talent. Instead of testing for experience and knowledge, it looks for the raw ability to problem solve, learn and engage

"Graphcore hires people at the top of their field or just starting out and welcomes those with di erent backgrounds and experiences," says the company

All sta are shareholders. "We are passionate about nurturing our talent and look to ensure that all colleagues are given equal opportunities to build their career in the business," the company says

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. O ers a £200 annual healthyliving bonus to sta to support an activity they enjoy; every team takes a day to support a local charity; each o ce has a wellbeing champion encouraging team activities and all sta join an annual challenge day at Hydrock's headquarters in Bristol

Voted one of the UK's top workplaces in tech last year, and also one of the best places for women to work in Great Places to Work

"Our managers know that a happy team makes for a happy lounge. We ensure you get solid training so you never feel out of your depth, a meal for each shift worked, and there’s plenty of incentives, bonuses and trips abroad," says the company

Won Best Employer at the 2022 UK FinTech Awards. Sta member said: "The openness to ideas, discussions and opinions really stands out to me at Moneyhub. Even after a short while everyone I have spoken to has been very open to my ideas and input, and vice-versaeveryone is willing to share theirs.”

NCC (The National Composites Centre) South Gloucestershire Composite materials research and development

Pax8 UK Bristol Distribution channel for cloud IT service providers

Redrock Consulting Bristol Enables business change and improves the long-term digital health of organisations

Rockpool Digital Bristol Digital agency

Rovco Bristol Global provider of Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles and hydrographic services supported by artificial intelligence technology

"We are passionate about providing our employees with an environment, where they can thrive in their chosen career. Whether you join our graduate scheme or as an engineer with more than 20 years of experience, you'll be working with some of the brightest minds on solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing industry and the uptake of composite materials."

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. Last year it partnered with external wellbeing training provider, Sanctus, to o er coaching, plus access to round-the-clock counselling services and the opportunity to reclaim part of the costs of wellbeing-enhancing memberships, such as the National Trust and gyms

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. RedRock has high expectations of its employees, “but they are supported to succeed in an environment where the founders remain hands-on "

Certified as a Great Place to Work. The company says: "Working at Rockpool is slightly di erent than elsewhere. We place our trust in our team to make decisions and manage their own work. You won't have a boss, no one does. You'll manage your own hours. We don't do appraisals, we just talk, like normal people do.”

The company says: "As an organisation, we know that in order to achieve our goals we need to attract, develop and retain only the very best people and encourage their growth through our company."

Triodos Bank UK Bristol Sustainable banking Certified as a living wage employer and recognised as an insipring workplace, among other awards. Sta member said: "I first heard about Triodos while at university. I was very interested in finance being used as a tool for improving our society and the environment. Triodos always lingered at the back of my mind as a place that I’d like to work at one day."

Tumelo Bristol Helps investment platforms and pension providers give investors insight into which firms their money is being put into.

Employees can expect flexible working, 33 days holiday, hack innovation days and a generous share scheme

Xledger UK Bristol Cloud-based accounting and finance software Certified Best Workplace for Wellbeing. A sta member said: "We’re all one big family and there’s always a listening ear for anyone who needs to talk. And thanks to the buddy programme Xledger runs, there’s an opportunity for all employees to express how they feel in confidence to a colleague.”

Company name Area

Coventry & Warwickshire

Aeristech Leamington Spa SME high-tech engineering company, delivering patent-backed highspeed electric motors and drives for automotive super-charging applications, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems, HVAC, Industrial Air and other sectors.

Aston Martin Lagonda Gaydon Automotive manufacturer

The company said: “Working at a small engineering firm means you are always close to the impact of your work. Led by a dynamic team, there is significant investment in training and development and a culture where everyone is treated fairly and with respect."

O ers apprenticeships and continued education with fully funded qualifications and a career path working with an award-winning product range and alongside expert engineers and technicians.

Codemasters Leamington Spa Computer games development Has an extensive network of universities and is increasing its presence at graduate to recruit more coders. O ers a diverse and inclusive working environment

Coventry Building Society Coventry Building Society

Deeley Group Coventry Development and Construction

Horiba Mira Nuneaton Global provider of automotive engineering, research and test services

Jaguar Land Rover Gaydon Automotive manufacturer

Lontra Napton High-tech manufacturing

NFU Mutual Stratford-uponAvon Insurance company

Pertemps Solihull Recruitment

REPL Henley-inArden Information technology

Rootwave Kineton Uses electricity to kill weeds and will help solve global issues: to remove chemical herbicides from our food and the environment to improve the health of society and the ecosystem

Royal Shakespeare Company Stratford-uponAvon Theatre and creative industries

Severn Trent Water Coventry Water utility company

Telent Warwick Telecomms business

Named as a Best Place to Work. A menopause-friendly employer and race at work charter signatory

Key to Deeley culture is intergrity. There's a non-blame culture in the business. If things go wrong, the team gets stuck in, from director level. Sta member said: "The company looks after its employees and there's a low sta turnover."

Employees who develop their skills with Horiba have access to the most advanced engineering and development facilities for energy e ciency and electrification, security product testing and safety systems engineering, self-mobility and autonomous vehicle technology, vehicle resilience, cybersecurity and defence

Degree apprentice said: "It is exciting to be involved with the company during such a huge change toward electrification and sustainability. The people I work with are truly passionate about their work and are invested in my growth."

"Our innovation culture permeates wider than our engineering team and includes excellence from our business development to our project management. This all takes place at our site in Napton, a village in the heart of the Midlands, situating Lontra in the British hub of engineering and manufacturing."

Which? "Insurance Brand of the Year". Also listed on Glassdoor's Best Places to Work in 2023. One of only 39 companies across the globe and the only UK headquartered organisation to win this award

Investment in development in the last 12 months has been around £1.5 million – roughly £1,000 per employee. Committed to a three-year strategy to increasing sta qualifications/accreditations by 75 per cent

Named as a Best Place to Work. Also included in the London Stock Exchange’s Top 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain

Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. RootWave needs innovators, quick thinkers and problem-solvers. It wants to change agriculture for ever and it says every employee’s ideas count

It's not all about the acting, there are hundreds of di erent roles at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and lots of opportunities and perks, as well as plenty of job satisfaction. Susie, a men's costumier at the Company, said: "It’s amazing – a thousand people every night look at what you have made.”

Plenty of great perks listed on the company's website, including familyfriendly policies, and various free medical services, including a virtual GP service, legal and debt advice.

Supports people from early in their careers right through to experienced employees. It actively encourages the recruitment of those leaving the British forces because they admire "their engrained skills and attributes"

The MTC Coventry Manufacturing Technology Centre Accredited as a Best Company to Work for. The MTC encourages young people into careers in engineering where they can develop and embed technologies that will impact British industry for years to come

Through its almost-60-year history, The Wigley Group has kept its sta at the heart of its operations, and understands the importance of a happy, motivated and diverse workforce. The Group employs sta of all ages and backgrounds. The Wigley Group o ers apprenticeships, placement schemes, graduate schemes, and work experience and when recruiting, values the experience of individuals looking for a change in career or those who may be returning to the workplace after raising children, for example.

Company name Area

Coventry & Warwickshire

Triton Showers Nuneaton Shower manufacturer

Valpak Provider of environmental compliance

Worcestershire

Bumblehole Foods Bromsgrove Leading supplier of egg-based products

DRPG Kidderminster Creative communications company

Ecl-ips Bromsgrove Security and monitoring equipment and installation

Eco2Solar Kidderminster Solar energy installer

The company said: "It’s our aim to create some of the best vocational opportunities in our sector alongside providing excellent benefits, work-life balance, and championing flexibility as much as possible within a busy manufacturing environment."

Sta member said: "I used to be picky about where I worked, but I've been at Valpak for 15 years. It's got everything I want, career progression and it's really a great place to work."

A family business which supports and engages regularly with the local community. Won Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award at the 2022 North Worcestershire Business Awards

An Investor in People which o ers personal development, flexible working, wellbeing perks and bonus structure. Also o ers work experience and placements for the next generation

A close-knit, friendly team whose owner won Business Leader of the Year in the 2022 North Worcestershire Business Awards

Named as a Best Place to Work. Sta member said: "Throughout my career I have worked for a range of companies in a range of roles, however the support I have been given at Eco2Solar is second to none. The opportunities I have been o ered mean I am now capable of things I had never considered or even thought possible."

Halfords Redditch Automotive and bicycle parts retailer Launched a recruitment drive to meet increasing demand for vehicle servicing, MOTs and repairs. It is creating 1,000 new automotive technician roles over the next 12 months, prioritising attracting retirees back into the workforce and aims to increase the number of women in automotive technician roles

ISO Quality Services Worcester Quality management consultancy

Kanes Foods Evesham Largest privately owned employer in Worcestershire.

Malvern Panalytical Malvern Scientific instruments

Morgan Motor Company Malvern Automotive manufacturer

Winner of the health and wellbeing category of the Hereford & Worcestershire Business Awards

O ers employees opportunities to develop successful careers in the food industry. Website shares stories of employees across the business

Former employee review: "Friendly and diverse people work there. Flexible working hours. Management are supportive and understanding and there is xposure to a variety of technologies"

Many of the Morgan workforce learnt their trade at the factory. It says: "We encourage job applications from all and actively seek to add fresh perspectives and new ideas to our hardworking and passionate workforce."

One Creative Worcester Architects and designers Active support for continuous professional development. The managing director said: "We recruit talented individuals and provide career opportunities within the company"

Open GI Worcester Technology for the insurance sector Its goal is to be both the technology partner and employer of choice to the general insurance market.

Sanctuary Housing Worcester Housing association

Speller Metcalfe Malvern Construction company

The Sanctuary Learning Academy provides e ective learning opportunities throughout the organisation, supporting employees to achieve their ambitions and enabling the Group to meet its business objectives.

Sta member said: "I like that I can be working one-on-one with a director one day and a trainee the next. It doesn't feel like there is a hierarchy, everyone helps everyone."

Webbs Garden Centres Droitwich Garden centre, retail Accredited as a Great Place to Work. The company has developed a career pathway strategy for all employees and runs a future leaders programme for all sta not already at supervisor level who want to develop their leadership skills

Worcester Bosch Worcester UK market leader in domestic boilers Sta review said: "It's good place to start your career. Supportive management and friendly work environment."

Yamazaki Mazak Worcester World's largest manufacturer of computer controlled (CNC) metal-cutting machines

O ers a highly successful apprenticeship training programme and engages with the local community to encourage young people into an engineering career