We’re pleased to share three new videos featuring expert insights from across our EMN network, covering key topics that are currently impacting engineering and manufacturing businesses.

Our first session focuses on the Employment Rights Act 2025, with Lauren Bathan from Jackson Hogg outlining the key changes employers need to be aware of. From updates to unfair dismissal rules and statutory sick pay to wider implications for recruitment and management practices, this session offers a clear overview of how businesses can prepare for upcoming legislative changes.

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Our second video Rebecca McColl from Johnston Carmichael explores the evolving landscape of R&D tax credits, including recent reforms and what they mean for claims going forward. The session also introduces the Patent Box regime, highlighting additional opportunities for businesses to benefit from innovation through reduced corporation tax.

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Finally, Colin Donohoe from Lockton Insurance provides an update on the insurance market, highlighting continued softening in 2026 and what this means for premiums, renewals, and potential savings. The discussion offers practical advice on how businesses can approach their insurance strategy and ensure they are getting the best value in the current climate.

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Together, these three conversations provide valuable, practical guidance to help EMN members stay informed, compliant, and competitive in a changing business environment.

The post New EMN Video Series: Key Updates for Engineering & Manufacturing Businesses appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

How do you define a business?

Is it through market-leading products or a geographical breadth of service?

Is it strong financial management and a commitment to continued innovation?

Is it robust environmental, social and governance policy? 

In truth, all are crucial components in creating – and sustaining – a successful organisation.

But there’s another, more eminently valuable, mechanism that truly delineates a business: its people. 

From overseeing the smooth running of day-to-day operations to sparking invention and cultural progression, employees are the lynchpin around which every firm moves forward.

And helping organisations access the staff they need to maintain their momentum is specialist recruitment and outsourced talent services partner Jackson Hogg.

Reputed for providing recruitment, HR, Talent Partnerships and training services to businesses across STEM-driven sectors, the firm operates as a trusted, permanent ally in an ever-changing employment world.

And its offer is growing stronger still with JH Industrial. 

A conduit between companies and the temporary labour market, the venture helps businesses find staff, from production line operators to CNC fabricators and platers, and myriad roles between.

Central to its operation is Jackson Hogg’s extensive client list and STEM sector knowledge, which it is using to pair employers, such as manufacturers, engineers, oil and gas operators, distributors and food producers, with the right employees.

“There is a big gap in the market for a high-end, service-led offering,” says Matthew Robertson, associate director – operations and engineering.

“And that is what we are providing with JH Industrial.

“We have the talent ready to go; we’re able to supply one person through the tens to 100.

“If a business needs sickness cover, or a worker doesn’t arrive for a shift, we can act the same day.

“Similarly, if a firm needs 20 staff for the next week, we’re able to do that too,” says Matthew, who leads JH Industrial alongside Jake Richardson, the firm’s head of operations and supply chain.

He adds: “But what is equally beneficial for companies is that we are geared to do it all. 

“Our infrastructure and set-up is well established; we have in-house compliance specialists and a strong internal audit system and payroll capabilities, which provides a comprehensive service and takes the burden away from clients.”

The rich talent pool to which Matthew refers is born from Jackson Hogg’s wider commitment to people and their progression, a pledge bound in an internal mantra that attests ‘everyone deserves to love what they do’.

And with such sentiment at its core, Matthew says the personal connections forged between the business and both companies and candidates is allowing it to piece the recruitment puzzle together with much greater perception.

“We are really close to the communities in which we work, and creating opportunities for people to return to employment is very satisfying,” says Matthew, whose JH Industrial team also includes Jaymie Barry, senior consultant – temporary operations and supply chain; Mathew Johnson, team leader industrial; and contract and finance co-ordinator Suzanne Lowes.

He says: “And we’re proud to be providing a better service.

“There are a lot of agencies delivering temporary labour to the market, but our offer differs significantly because we put the people element into recruitment.

“Because of COVID-19, things, for some, became more transactional.

“But we’re out on-site with clients, and we make candidates feel they’re more than a number and are a part of the business and culture they’re entering.”

Jake adds: “The fact we meet them provides a level of value they’ve probably never experienced from other agencies.”

And while benefiting clients and candidates, Matthew and Jake say the endeavour – which carries a Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority licence to work across the food and packaging industries, in the process opening up potential further markets – will significantly supplement Jackson Hogg’s sister operations. 

Jake says: “Clients who already rely on our expert support to find permanent workers know how we operate, and they know they will get the same high levels of service when looking for temporary labour.”

Matthew says: “We’re building on what Jackson Hogg already provides, with JH Industrial helping create an end-to-end talent business.

“We’ve already started growing our team to help more clients, and are looking to further expand across the coming months.

“We’re beginning with a North East focus, but we have a view to go national.

“We know our clients and we know their cultures, and by switching their searches for temporary staff to JH Industrial, not only do they strengthen the quality of such, but they also gain valuable consistency across all recruitment formats.”

He adds: “We’re keen to speak to more businesses about their needs and challenges, to create real solutions and partnerships that unlock potential through people.”

www.jacksonhogg.com 

The post Delivering talent at all levels appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

At Jackson Hogg we are able to run a full company HR diagnostic with our clients which helps us to better understand their business and people needs. This provides us with a clearer picture of what the current HR requirements are, so we can give advice on how to improve and grow. The key things we will focus on during the HR health check are listed below:

 Compliance

Irrespective of Company size, if you employ people, you need to ensure you comply with UK employment law. Keeping up to date with UK employment legislation can often prove quite a challenge, especially for businesses that do not have any internal HR support.

Performance

As well as ensuring your business is protected from the risk of possible litigation, you should also ensure your employees are supported and encouraged to perform to the best of their abilities. Performance management and employee development are key aspects of human resource management and can have a significant impact on the overall success of your business.

Growth

Growth is only possible when your employees are engaged, productive and performing well. Additionally, you will need to ensure your internal communication is consistent and steady to help employees adapt easily to changes and developments as your business continues to grow.

How our HR health checks work

We will ask you to complete an initial document with a series of questions on your current HR and people processes. Then, depending on your requirements we can either come to you, or schedule in time to speak over the Teams or Zoom. We will then go through the health check in more depth to fully understand your business needs and your short and long-term objectives.

We will then create a bespoke report with recommendations on how you may be able to improve your business HR and people management. If relevant, we will also suggest which of our Jackson Hogg People Packages would best suit your business.

If you would like to discuss how a free no-obligation HR Health Check could benefit your business, please contact our HR Partner for a confidential chat:

Jill Mallinson

Jill.mallinson@jacksonhogg.com

07307379050

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Through in-depth research and rigorous feedback exercises, Jackson Hogg have been able to grow and develop our service offering to suit the needs of our clients. This initially lead us to develop our Resource Partnership model which offers our clients the opportunity to outsource their recruitment needs, leading to a faster, higher quality, and more cost-effective recruitment solution. From there, we identified that many clients require support with, not just talent acquisition, but also full talent management throughout the employee life cycle. This lead us to grow our business even further by expanding our offering to a full suite of HR services which can be tailored to support a wide range of business requirements.

The post AFFILIATE NEWS: Jackson Hogg believe talented employees are key to a successful business appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

What makes Jackson Hogg different from other recruitment companies is our dedication to our core values of care, trust and respect, and we carry these values through everything that we do. We work closely with clients to understand their needs and delve into their work culture in order to find candidates with the best fit, and the right skills to take their businesses to the next level. Our innovative commercial model, the Jackson Hogg Talent Partnership, offers a flexible approach to recruitment, combining the resources of Jackson Hogg’s delivery team and the convenience of a personal on-site Talent Partner. Our Talent Partnership model is fully scalable and provides our clients of all sizes with a process that improves quality of hire, reduces time to hire and improves the candidate and client journey through the recruitment process. Whats better yet, we also provide HR and training outsourcing support to allow our clients to focus on what they do best. Our model has delivered results across both national and global sites, using our unique blend of bespoke onsite support and specialist head office consultants, ensuring optimal employee fit, and delivering your recruitment objectives whilst saving on recruitment spend.

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You’re returning as EMCON’s delivery partner. Why did you decide to come back?

We were delighted to be so closely involved with EMCON last year and found the event to be an ideal chance to catch up with contacts old and new. It was also great to be able to invite a range of connections and make targeted introductions to exhibiting businesses, which was a great opportunity for us to add value back to our network. We gained an insightful snapshot of how the industry was performing in general and of its areas of growth through having such a relevant cross section in the same place at the same time, so when we were asked to be delivery partner again this year, it was an easy decision for us to say yes.

What are your priorities as far as this year’s event is concerned?

Our priorities this year are around ensuring that we have strong engagement with relevant decision makers across the wider North East region. EMCON is the key engineering and manufacturing event in the North East calendar and we’re keen to make sure that as many engineering and manufacturing businesses as possible benefit from such a well-attended day.

Last year’s ‘Expert Panel Q&A’ was a real highlight of the event. What can we expect from it this year?

We really enjoyed delivering the Expert Q&A Panel last year and had strong feedback on the insights that came out of the discussion on the day. Whilst our experts cut across multiple sectors from renewables to robotics, a lot of the challenges that they talked about facing were the same and it was a fantastic opportunity to share this with the audience. This year we’re excited about drawing out more of these stories with high profile business leaders who are making great things happen in the region.

You’re heavily involved with the engineering, manufacturing and technology sectors. How is the current economic climate affecting business growth and recruitment?

The engineering, manufacturing and technology sectors have been incredibly busy over the last couple of years and this has allowed us to grow from a team of 3 to almost 40 since 2016. A large proportion of North East companies in these sectors are SMEs, and whilst they are keeping an eye on the wider economic climate, their main focus is continuing to build good businesses. Most of our clients have grown through this period and we are seeing a number of them driving innovation in their products and processes to take advantage of opportunities both nationally and internationally. Recruitment challenges are predominantly led by the market for talent being so competitive and organisations are having to work hard on their candidate proposition to make themselves attractive to potential employees. Retention of current staff in this climate is also a big focus. At Jackson Hogg, we are addressing this by working in much closer partnership with our clients to support them across the whole organisation and helping them to build achievable talent strategies and keep growing with good people.

The post SPOTLIGHT ON: JACKSON HOGG RECRUITMENT appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

The question and answer session is being held as part of EMCON 2018 – the Engineering and Manufacturing Convention – held later this month in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

More than 1,000 visitors and 100 exhibiting companies are due to celebrate the sectors’ diversity and innovation and attracts both regional and national companies.

The panel is made up of respected business experts and innovators Brian Palmer, James Ritchie, Matt Boyle, Elaine Greenwood and Andy Ramsey. They will discuss their experiences and reveal how they achieved in the session Navigating Growth – Is Your Business Ready for Expansion?

Richard Hogg, Managing Director of Jackson Hogg Recruitment, who is compering the breakaway event, said: “I’m really excited to be involved with such talented business people who are willing to impart their valuable experience and knowledge to benefit others in the industry.

“It’s important to share our expertise and ideas to help grow other North East businesses and in turn strengthen the region’s economy.”

Panel member Brian Palmer, Chief Executive of Northumberland-based Tharsus, makers of advanced machines and robots said: “I’m pleased to be taking such an active role in EMCON 2018 which promotes the talent and innovation of North East engineering and manufacturing.”

The entrepreneur, who is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, added: “It provides companies with an opportunity to network, share ideas and instils confidence in the capabilities of North East industry.

“EMCON also highlights the very real and exciting opportunities available to young people in the region as it is vital we retain their future talents.

The other members of the panel are James Ritchie, who is CEO of Tekmar Group PLC of Newton Aycliffe, which is a market leader in subsea cables, umbilical and pipe protection systems. He grew the business to a record turnover in 2017 and is the youngest CEO of a UK-listed company.

Matt Boyle is the former CEO of Gateshead-based Sevcon, which he transformed into a multi-million pound electrical engineering business before it was sold last year to BorgWarner for £150m. He is now Chief Executive Officer at Collingwood Solutions ltd.

Elaine Greenwood is UK Light Rail Representative for Stadler Rail UK. The Swiss railway rolling stock manufacturer has grown from a company with just 18 employees in 1989 to a staff of 7,000 with offices across five continents. At the end of the 2017 financial year, turnover at Stadler Rail stood at $2.5bn USD, with forecasts predicting further growth to $4bn by 2020.

Andy Ramsey is the founder and Managing Director of AR Controls. AR Controls supplies control panels and electrical design, inspection and testing services to major manufacturers, including Caterpillar and Nissan. Having recently completed a £600,000 expansion at its Sunderland site, Andy is looking to expand the company further by increasing its headcount by a third over the next two years.

EMCON 2018 is being held in the Xcel Centre on October 18 and includes a number of events providing advice on entering new overseas markets, supply chain opportunities and funding for digital projects.

It also sees the return of the Incubator Zone, aimed specifically at micro and small businesses in County Durham, and Education Zone which offers an opportunity for engineering students to meet potential employers.

For details visit https://emcon.show/

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Why is Jackson Hogg supporting EMCON?

EMCON is a key event within manufacturing and engineering in the North East and we’ve seen the growth and development of the show over the last few years, as Durham Oktoberfest. As an affiliate partner of CDEMN and with our strong focus on engineering, manufacturing and technology sectors, we’re delighted to be supporting the newly rebranded EMCON in its 11^th year.

What will Jackson Hogg bring to EMCON?

Over the last few years we have expanded our network not only nationally, but internationally. I think that it is those connections that we have, and our ability to get the right people in the room, that makes us well placed to support this event.

What plans does Jackson Hogg have for EMCON?

We are currently in talks with EMCON about how we can deliver more tangible results for exhibiting and attending businesses before, during and after the event. These include measures to increase engagement and opening the various networks to all members.

Why is Emcon important for the industry?

EMCON provides the perfect platform for businesses to showcase the latest products, designs and innovation. It is a prime opportunity for people to engage with the attending businesses directly as well as networking with a wide range of contacts. We’re also aware of a number of contracts which have been won as a result of connections made at the event, which benefits the region as a whole.

What are the latest trends in Engineering and Manufacturing employment?

With employment levels at such a high, engineering and manufacturing recruitment is in overdrive. Businesses are having to work hard and move fast to get their hands on talent. Competition and demand for skilled personnel at all levels is the highest we’ve seen in some time.

What changes have you seen over the last decade?

The relationship between external recruiters and business has developed into strategic partnerships, where we support all levels of recruitment and become an integral part of our clients’ strategies for growth.

What issues do recruiters encounter in the industry?

We are often constrained by the ability to transfer candidates with industry specific skills and experience into a new setting. Clients who are willing to be open minded and look at the underlying raw ability are able to secure good people quicker.

What advice would you give someone considering entering the industry?

There are a host of career paths you can take into engineering and manufacturing. I believe there is still a gap in the public perception of what a career in these industries can look like and where it can take you. Do your research and speak to friends and family who are already in this sector. Some of the world’s most well-known technology involves products and services based in the North East and anyone who has ambition and drive should consider looking into engineering as a potential route to take.

What do you see as the solution to the skills shortage?

I think there are two main things that we can do. One is to make the most of the existing talent that is in the market and harness the skills that we have in the region already. The other is to properly educate the students of today around the variety of careers and opportunities in order to attract the top talent of tomorrow into the industry.

How do you think Brexit will affect the UK skills market?

We are yet to see a huge impact here in the North East. When everything is complete, I have no doubt that the large companies that hire a lot of EU nationals will notice the change, and some of the big employers may experience skills shortages. What is important now is that we work at feeding the market with fresh new talent, so that we avoid this happening.

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