Recruit expert talent in the UK
The UK has a large, diverse and highly skilled workforce and a sophisticated recruitment industry to help you to access it.
Ways to recruit
Job-listing websites
If you're looking for staff with specialist skills, advertising online is one of the most effective methods to find the right people. You can quickly reach a wide pool of candidates and potentially attract a large number of applications, as UK job-listing websites are visited by thousands of people every day.
Larger, well-known websites for listing vacancies in the UK include:
Sector-specific media
Many industries have specialist job-listing sites, which can be crucial if you're targeting a specific skill set.
Trade or industry-based publications are also useful for finding highly specific candidates for your sector. You may be able to advertise your roles with the publications in print and/or online.
Trade associations may be useful for finding the right websites or publications to contact. A list of trade associations is available on the website of the UK Trade Association Forum.
Recruitment consultants
Specialist consultants will have a good knowledge of your sector in the UK and a wide range of contacts. They should know the available talent, where they are and how to reach them, salary rates, career expectations, available skill sets and any current hiring complexities. They'll have the latest market information and can advise you on advertising and branding for recruitment.
A list of recruitment companies is available on the Recruitment and Employment Confederation website.
You can also search our Investment Support Directory to find recruiters that specialise in hiring talent for your sector in the UK.
Government-supported schemes and resources
As well as recruiting experienced people, you may also wish to recruit staff with potential, and provide support and training for them to develop the skills required. The government supports a number of schemes to help you do this.
Apprenticeships
This is a government-supported, work-based training programme that employers can use for new or existing staff. Apprenticeships are a useful way for employees to learn new technical skills.
They are available at all skill and experience levels, including degree level.
Find out more about apprenticeships, including accessing funding, on the government's apprenticeships website.
Skills Bootcamps
Skills Bootcamps are flexible training courses that allow participants to gain specialised sector-specific skills and can help employers to upskill their existing workforce or recruit new talent. Courses last for up to 16 weeks and are available to adults based in England.
Read about the scheme on the Department for Education website
Jobcentre Plus
This is a government-funded employment agency that offers recruitment services to help employers with:
- recruitment guidance and specialist support for businesses
- setting up work trials to give opportunities to try out potential recruits
- support from other employment schemes
Sector-based work academy programme
This Jobcentre Plus scheme can help employers in England and Scotland to fill vacancies more effectively by providing people with training, work experience and guaranteed job interviews.
Recruiting ex-military personnel
The Career Transition Partnership is an initiative to support Armed Forces leavers who are moving from military into civilian roles. They offer career transition guidance, skills workshops, vocational training and employment routes.
Resources based on where you're expanding to
England
The Department for Education website lists resources for helping businesses to recruit, including training and employment schemes.
Northern Ireland
The website of InvestNI, Northern Ireland's regional economic development agency, outlines the talent and training support on offer to international businesses.
Scotland
The website of Scottish Development International, Scotland’s national and international economic development agency, sets out Scotland's top skills areas and where to get practical support.
Wales
Find out about the Flexible Skills Programme, on the Welsh Government's business support website. The programme supports businesses to upskill their Wales-based staff.
Recruiting people fairly
You'll need to be aware of UK law that is designed to prevent discrimination against people during the recruitment process.
Discrimination is the process of making unfair distinctions between people based on differences in characteristics. It's against the law to treat someone less favourably than someone else because of a personal characteristic such as religion, sex, gender reassignment or age.
To comply with the law, you need to ensure that you do not discriminate, including when you advertise jobs, or choose candidates for interviews or job offers.