How skills shortages quietly erode margins in manufacturing

Most manufacturing leaders can tell you exactly where their margin pressure comes from. Energy costs. Materials. Supply chain volatility. Pricing pressure from customers. What’s less visible, and often far more damaging, is how skills shortages quietly bleed margin over time, without ever appearing as a single line item. By the time the impact is obvious, … Read more

What “good” engineering recruitment actually looks like in 2026

Most engineering leaders will say the same thing when asked about recruitment: “We’re not short of CVs — we’re short of the right people.”   In 2026, that gap between activity and outcome has widened. Despite high levels of hiring effort, manufacturing and engineering-led businesses continue to struggle with delivery pressure, long time-to-hire, and inconsistent … Read more

Why unfilled engineering roles quietly cost manufacturing businesses more than you think

Cost of unfilled engineering roles

In late 2025, the UK manufacturing sector continued to list skills shortages as the biggest barrier to growth, with three-quarters of manufacturers saying gaps in talent are holding them back. Nearly as many cited recruitment and retention challenges as a key constraint on performance and competitiveness.  This isn’t a temporary blip or HR problem – … Read more