Talent retention taken to new levels

Published on: 28th May 2013

Over 3,500 engineers, students and apprentices have already signed up to a flagship industry scheme designed to match engineering talent with new job opportunities, it has been announced today.

The national web-based Talent Retention Solution (TRS) brings together specialists whose jobs may be at risk or people who want to work in engineering – with companies that are looking to recruit skilled staff to satisfy growth in their companies.

Launched in 2011, TRS, was created by business for business. The scheme has now grown to include over 600 companies of all sizes supporting a number of sectors including aerospace, electronics, energy, construction and automotive. These include not only some of the UK’s largest companies – such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan, BAE Systems and Siemens – but a range of midsized and smaller sized firms.

This number of companies on TRS is set to nearly double with the addition of the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and British Glass as the latest sponsors of the scheme. Their participation in the scheme will immediately allow their member companies automatic access to TRS.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

What I like most about the TRS is how simple it is. It’s like an ‘eBay’ for engineers that matches vacancies with talent.

With successful manufacturers constantly telling me they struggle to recruit engineers, I hope the popularity of the TRS will encourage even more people to sign up – especially small businesses who can use it for free.

Allan Cook, Chair of the Skills and Jobs Retention Group, which led the development of the TRS, and Chairman of Atkins, Selex ES and Finmeccanica UK, said:

I am delighted with the service TRS is providing and how employers in our sector plan to expand it further. The involvement of our latest sponsors – ECITB and British Glass – is a further boost for TRS, given their tremendous reach with companies across a wide range of industries including nuclear, oil & gas, construction and glass manufacturing. This will enhance the scheme, adding to the companies that have supported TRS since its launch in 2011.

Many more companies and individuals will benefit from the exceptional access to talent that TRS offers. SMEs, students, apprentices and experienced engineers can all register at no cost – it’s a simple and effective way to see the career opportunities available in our most important and exciting industry. This is a win-win situation for employers, potential employees and the whole industry.

Companies seeking to recruit engineering talent or people interested in working in engineering and who want to find out more are encouraged to visit the TRS website.