Keeping pace with a fast-moving industry

Keeping pace with a fast-moving industry

The business world moves at a much faster pace than when Just Recruitment started 40 years ago. Here’s how the recruitment industry has evolved to keep up.

By Tim Gibson

Keeping pace with a fast-moving industryWind the clock back four decades and the world seemed to turn at a very different pace. Although they existed, email and the internet were by no means in widespread use, and social media would have sounded like an idea from science fiction.

...everything can happen so much more quickly and seamlessly in the 21st century.  

It’s a similar story with tablets and smartphones, the antecedents of which appeared in fantasy TV series like Star Trek and Buck Rogers, giving every impression of being utterly otherworldly.

All of which goes a long way to explaining why the speed business transactions moved at was considerably slower back in the 1980s. Because everything happened at a steadier pace, no one had a choice in the matter.

“I don’t think it’s the case that we did things particularly slowly back then,” reflects Jenny Wrightson, who founded Just Recruitment Group Ltd in 1983. “We were always working to optimum efficiency. It’s rather that everything can happen so much more quickly and seamlessly in the 21st century. And what we’re seeing is that there’s a whole generation that has been brought up in the digital age, and therefore has no patience for processes that don’t happen in lightning-quick fashion.”

This has profound implications for a business such as Just Recruitment, especially as so many of the candidates it works with are of the millennial or “digital native” generation.

“We find that many of the people we’re looking to place in jobs are accustomed to instant communications,” Mrs Wrightson continues. “If they express an interest in a job, they expect to receive further details in the time it takes for one of our consultants to reply to an email. Likewise, they expect to be interviewed in a matter of days, and even to be in post within a week or so.”

Fortunately, technology exists that enables Just Recruitment to meet these expectations – which is good news for candidates and employers alike. The sophisticated job-matching software employed by the company uses a massive database to cross-refer candidates with opportunities, enabling an almost instantaneous identification of vacancies for which they may be suitable.

“Contrast that to 40 years ago and you’ll get a sense of how far things have moved on,” says Mrs Wrightson. “When we started out, a candidate would come to our offices and have their CV typed by one of our staff. This would then be photocopied, shared around the agency and posted out to prospective employers. If a match was identified, the process of shortlisting and interviewing candidates could last as much as a couple of months. Which means a quarter of a year could easily elapse between us meeting a candidate and them starting in a new role.”

Now, Mrs Wrightson says it is possible for a candidate to make contact with Just Recruitment in the morning and have a job lined up by the close of play. In some cases, they will even report for duty the next day.

“Obviously, some appointments take longer to fill,” she declares, “especially for more senior positions. But a lot of the opportunities we handle on behalf of clients can be filled in no time at all, and it’s all thanks to the speed at which the digital world operates.”

Keeping pace with a fast-moving industryAlongside big-data-munching job-matching software and speedy modern communications, it is fair to say the processes employed by the recruitment industry have evolved, as organisations like the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and initiatives like the Recruitment Industry Benchmarking (RIB) index recognise.

“With the emergence of social networks like LinkedIn, it’s possible to be far more proactive about finding candidates for roles,” observes Mrs Wrightson. “We can develop a profile of a candidate before we’ve even met them, and that greatly improves the efficiency of matching people to opportunities.”

This speaks of a bilateral enhancement to the recruitment process: on the one hand, technology enables candidates to find jobs more easily, and on the other, it enables recruiters to locate suitable candidates with greater alacrity.

“The net result is an industry that’s global, highly efficient and very fast-moving,” concludes Mrs Wrightson. “The nuts and bolts of recruitment are the same as they ever have been, especially the soft skills required by effective recruitment consultants. But yes, the speed at which things move has rocketed. As technology continues to advance, we’re only going to see even greater sophistication in the way jobs are filled, making it a very exciting industry to be a part of.”

 

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Published: 27 July 2023
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2023

Jobs currently available

Customer Services Executive
Sector: Customer Service
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Sudbury, Suffolk
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB14
About the role

Just Recruitment is recruiting for a Customer Services Executive for a manufacturer based in Sudbury, Suffolk.

As a Customer Services Executive, you will play a key role within the sales and marketing team — delivering exceptional service to both new and existing customers while managing ongoing accounts.

You will answer customer questions, solve problems, and provide information about the company’s products and services — all while building strong relationships and ensuring long-term customer satisfaction.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Assess incoming enquiries from direct communication or the sales team
  • Create quotations and tender documentation
  • Follow up on quotations at appropriate points in the process
  • Manage the CRM system
  • Manage the lead generation tools
  • Processing incoming sales orders
  • Liaise with the order fulfilment team for the smooth supply of products to customers
  • Manage any after-sales requirements
  • Help project manage key projects and clients

Role requirements include:

  • Must possess excellent communication skills, both oral and written
  • Previous experience in a similar role is preferable
  • Experience within the engineering/manufacturing sector is preferred
  • Good knowledge of and proficiency in Microsoft Office and basic database skills
  • Must be able to understand business calculations and be competent to correspond via email in a professional manner
  • Must be an excellent face-to-face communicator
  • Telephone communication skills are of a high standard
  • One of the keys to success is to develop professional relationships with decision makers, and so the ability to ‘connect’ with people and build networks should come naturally
  • You will be based at the Sudbury office, with occasional requirements for site and customer visits

Skills and qualifications to include:

  • A highly capable person with strong planning and scheduling skills
  • Self–driven, results-oriented, and with a positive outlook and a clear focus on high-quality standards
  • An independent person with good organisation and planning skills, who is capable of objectively assessing and improving their own and the department’s performance
  • Must be reliable, tolerant, and be able to work under pressure. The ability to be professional at all times and represent the company in a professional manner is a prerequisite
  • Tenacity and the ability to see things through to the end goal are desired traits
  • Must be able to work alone as well as work within a team
  • When required, able to work extra hours to accommodate the business needs, which may include occasional travel


Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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Technical Sales / Applications Engineer
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: £26,000 - £34,000 per annum
Location: Tiverton, Devon
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB13
About the role

Just Recruitment is seeking a Technical Sales / Applications Engineer for a leading client in Tiverton, Devon — an excellent opportunity for a graduate, higher apprentice, or experienced engineer to develop their career within a technical engineering environment.

Reporting to the Technical Sales Manager, this role will focus on the promotion and sales of company products to prospective, new and existing customers.

Scope:

  • Providing a Technical Sales Service to Customers
  • Dealing first-hand with customer enquiries, by telephone and digital meetings where required
  • Solving Design Problems and providing new design solutions
  • Checking and validating applications, preparing costings and quotations
  • Preparation of drawings
  • Assisting the manufacturing team with design builds

Required qualifications/experience include:

  • Ideally qualified to HNC minimum in mechanical engineering
  • Consideration given to applicants with a Mechanical Design background and good CAD skills
  • Knowledge of Machine and Production processes is advantageous
  • Working knowledge of 3D design tools such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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Procurement Manager
Sector: Purchasing and Merchandising
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Sudbury, Suffolk
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB11
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing manufacturing business based on the outskirts of Sudbury, in the search for a talented Procurement Manager to join their expanding team.

Required skills and qualifications:

  • CIPS Qualified - min level 5.
  • Substantial experience in a procurement leadership role within the food, ingredients, manufacturing, or FMCG sectors.
  • Experience in leading and developing high-performance teams.
  • Strong Negotiation and Supplier Management skills.

The key purpose of this role is to lead the delivery of greater strategic and operational value of the procurement function and help to deliver business-critical goals.

This is a hands-on, strategic, and operational role that requires a confident leader with deep procurement expertise and the ability to inspire and develop a team.

You will work closely with the Supply Chain Manager to shape and implement a fit-for-purpose procurement strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals across quality, cost, sustainability, and risk management. This role is pivotal in maintaining robust and value-driven supplier relationships while enabling continuous improvement in all procurement activities.

You will also oversee raw material planning and call-offs, ensuring that the business maintains the right balance between availability and inventory control — essential for production continuity and working capital efficiency.

This role includes direct line management of a Procurement Specialist, supporting their development and day-to-day activity management.

Key duties include:

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive procurement strategy aligned with business objectives, operational needs, and sustainability goals.
  • Identify, evaluate, and manage suppliers across raw materials, packaging, and indirect categories to ensure quality, continuity and cost-effectiveness.
  • Collaborate with the Supply Chain Manager and other departments to align procurement with broader supply chain goals and business plans.
  • Contribute to the company’s sustainability, traceability and ethical sourcing commitments through strategic supplier partnerships.
  • Oversee the procurement of raw materials, packaging, indirect goods and services, and CAPEX items, ensuring optimal quality, cost and delivery performance.
  • Manage tendering processes, contract negotiation and supplier onboarding activities.
  • Ensure the ERP system is updated and used effectively for procurement activities and reporting.
  • Monitor and report on procurement KPIs, savings and supplier performance metrics.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and service providers, driving continuous improvement and innovation.
  • Lead supplier performance reviews, audits and corrective action processes.
  • Identify and assess risks within the supply base and implement mitigation strategies to ensure business continuity.
  • Lead, mentor and develop the procurement team to achieve high levels of engagement, performance and professional growth.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous learning within the team.
  • Support the wider Supply Chain team by contributing to cross-functional initiatives and projects.
  • Ensure adherence to company procurement policies, financial controls and ethical standards.
  • Support internal and external audits with relevant documentation and compliance reporting.
  • Drive process improvement initiatives and embed best practices across the procurement function.

Build and nurture key working relationships with Production, Quality Assurance, Finance, Warehousing, Sales and Commercial Teams, Suppliers, Logistics Providers and Regulatory Bodies.

This is an excellent opportunity to drive change within a business — offering a great working environment.

Working hours for this role are Monday to Friday, 8am - 5pm, although some flexibility is required.

Please note that due to the location of the business, you must have access to your own transport.

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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Purchasing Supervisor
Sector: Purchasing and Merchandising
Location: Ipswich
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: JC24
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a growing, industry-leading organisation in Ipswich to recruit a Purchasing Supervisor.

Working collaboratively within a fast-paced, team-oriented purchasing function, you will take responsibility for taking the highly successful Purchasing Team to the next level of procurement. Reporting to the Purchasing Manager, the emphasis of the role is to work with existing team members to build key skills and to improve current processes. It will involve resolving daily issues, building and maintaining supplier relationships and helping to build the future purchasing team.

Duties include:

  • Primary responsibility for the daily management of specific team members.
  • Provide structured training and guidance to proactively encourage individual and team development, ensuring team succession planning.
  • Empower the team to take ownership of their roles/responsibilities.
  • Responsible for managing up and organising updates/meetings with the Team Manager.
  • Actively work with other supervisors and management to ensure a consistent approach within the department.
  • Resolution of daily issues—including data collation of issues.
  • Manage supplier relationships and performance.
  • Lead on supplier lead time reviews and relevant internal updates.
  • Present data on monthly spend and KPIs, and non-conformance tracking.
  • Lead on-demand planning, working with the external Sales Team and suppliers to provide forecasting.
  • Participate in pricing reviews.
  • Deliver guidance and training daily to the team.
  • Proactively work on team engagement through coaching, mentoring and regular 1-2-1s.

Key skills/qualifications required include:

  • CIPS level 4 achieved or prepared to undertake.
  • Leadership skills.
  • Ability to develop and maintain commercial awareness, internally and industry-wide.
  • A proactive approach with a “can-do” attitude and the ability to motivate others.
  • Analytical skills with strong problem-solving ability.
  • Proven negotiation skills.
  • Good understanding of supply chain procedures.
  • Proven advanced level of Computer literacy - Microsoft Excel/Word/Access.
  • Sound Administrative experience. Knowledge of ERP.

Hybrid working will be available after successful completion of the probationary period (min. of 3 days in the office, up to 2 days at home).

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more