Five ways to kick start your career in 2024

Just Recruitment is seeking a General Workshop Engineer for a Colchester-based company. Ideally, you will have general engineering workshop experience and be looking for opportunities for professional growth and development within a specialist field.

If you are a skilled individual with a passion for precision and a desire to create exceptional tooling, we want to hear from you!

Please note that you need to have your own transport due to the company’s rural location.

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.30pm (40 hour week).

Key responsibilities include:

• Operating Specialised Machinery, which may include:
  • CNC engraving machines.
  • Chemical etching equipment.
  • Grinding and polishing equipment.
  • Operating a Band Saw.
• Precision Finishing: Perform detailed manual finishing, deburring, and hand-tooling to achieve the highest standards of accuracy and sharpness.
• Some physical lifting will be involved.
• Quality Control: Conduct stringent quality checks at every stage of the production process, ensuring dies meet exact specifications and the company’s high-quality benchmarks.
• Maintenance: Assist with routine maintenance and calibration of machinery to ensure optimal performance.
• Collaboration: Work closely with the design and production team to ensure seamless workflow and project delivery.
• Problem Solving: Identify and resolve any issues arising during the die-making process to maintain production schedules and quality.

Company benefits include:

• A supportive, collaborative, and friendly team environment.
• The chance to work with cutting-edge technology and contribute to exciting projects.
• 28 days paid annual leave, including bank holidays, plus a day off on your birthday.
• Uniform provided after successful probation.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Health cash plan.
• DIS insurance after 2 years.

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. 
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

Just Recruitment seeks a Design Technician to produce, check and process technical drawings for a company based in Ipswich, Suffolk, as part of its wider technical department.

Ideally, you will have a construction or architectural background, strong CAD skills, and excellent overall computer literacy.

Duties include:

• Produce, check and process incoming design drawing requests, technical documentation and technical calculations.
• Liaise with clients and Area Technical Managers.
• Deal with telephone and email enquiries.
• Keep up to date with Part L and Thermal Calculations.
• Keep up to date with industry Codes of Practice and Building Regulations.

Essential key experience & skills required are:

• Basic level CAD experience.
• Ability to read and understand architectural drawings.
• Advanced level of grammar and spelling.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Includes an end-of-year bonus and an excellent benefits package.
Hybrid working is available after successful completion of the probationary period, with a minimum of three days in the office and up to two days working from home.

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

Just Recruitment is partnering with an expanding manufacturing company on the outskirts of Sudbury to recruit a dedicated and reliable Warehouse Operative on a permanent basis.

The key purpose of this role is to support the business with the movement of raw materials and finished products as required.

In order to be considered for this role, you must possess a valid counterbalance forklift licence.

Key duties include:

• Carrying out warehousing tasks, including order picking, storage allocation and record keeping.
• Carrying out dispatch duties, including consolidating finished goods for daily loads.
• Taking responsibility for ensuring goods are checked in and out using the stock management system.
• Replenishing stock throughout the day and assisting with stock checks.

Role requirements include:

• Counterbalance forklift driving licence and experience in driving forklift trucks.
• The ability to follow written instructions, quality and safety standards.
• The ability to communicate with colleagues at all levels and the confidence to escalate any issues to ensure quality and safety.
• Computer literate - able to input data into the systems and maintain accurate records.
• Conscientious with strong attention to detail.

This role operates on a three-week rotating shift pattern, Monday to Friday:

• Weeks 1 & 2: 8:00am – 5:00pm
• Week 3: 4:30pm – 1:30am

This role offers a competitive basic salary, shift allowance, and benefits package — an excellent opportunity to join a growing business.

Free parking is available on-site, and due to the company’s location, 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.

Just Recruitment is recruiting for a Design Engineer to join a manufacturer based in Sudbury, Suffolk.

Due to expansion and an increased order book, an experienced Design Engineer is required to join the design team. The Design Engineer will work with other Design Engineers, Project Managers, and other internal company personnel to create final design solutions working to detailed project and technical specifications and sales layout drawings, in line with the project and production plan. They shall also provide design and technical support to the sales team for the production of functional design specifications for inclusion within sales documentation and presentations.
Previous project management experience would be advantageous as the role will sometimes require taking projects from initial concept, through design and manufacturing, and project managing the installation. This will involve liaising with external suppliers, sub-contractors and customers where required.

Key responsibilities include:

• Mechanical engineering design using AutoCAD, Inventor, and Vault, working to project and technical specifications.
• Provide design calculations for frame structures, airflow, and energy requirements.
• Produce designs to the conforming standards and certification requirements.
• Preparation of production drawings for parts, fabrications, and assemblies.
• Creation of bills of materials.
• Carry out drawing modifications as and when required to existing drawings using revision control, change processes and procedures.
• Liaise with purchasing and manufacturing departments for the distribution of information and assist with technical queries.
• Participate in project design reviews and provide technical solutions to design problems.

Experience/skills requirements include:

• A skilled and experienced Mechanical Design Engineer using AutoCAD & Inventor/Vault/Solidworks.
• Experienced in understanding 2D sales layout approval drawings.
• Experience with working to standards and certifications.
• Experience with manufacturing techniques, including sheet metal fabrication and welding.
• Experience in M&E design for manufacturing.
• Knowledge of building services and construction management is desirable.
• HNC Mechanical Engineering qualified or equivalent qualification minimum.
• Minimum 3 years of previous experience in a similar design role with transferable skills.

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

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.

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.

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.