Addressing Recruitment Shortages in a Highly Technical Engineering Firm

A stage and event tooling company supplying rigging tools to various event and staging organisers has seen a surge in business enquiries in recent years. The teams have been under constant pressure to meet demand, leading to the following challenges:

• Aging Workforce: The average age of staff across the organisation is over 50, and several key employees, including tool makers and designers, are concerned about the lack of young, motivated talent joining the company.
• Retention Issues: Management is eager to recruit new talent but faces difficulty retaining trainees. Most new recruits leave within two years, often for rival firms, increasing the burden on existing staff who must continuously train replacements.
• Increased Workload Pressure: The combination of high demand, training demands, and the constant loss of new staff has intensified workplace pressures.

Nimble Legacy’s Approach

Nimble Legacy’s response was to align solutions with the company’s overall strategy:

1. Strategy Redefinition and Communication: We collaborated with management to redefine and communicate the strategy organisation-wide, ensuring everyone was aligned with long-term goals.
2. Management Plans and Training Upgrades: Management plans were created to oversee strategy implementation, including transitioning to modern modelling software that was easier to learn and use.
3. Upskilling and Mentorship: We helped upskill all staff and revamped the training programme for smoother integration of new apprentices. Each staff member was paired with a mentor or mentee, supporting knowledge transfer and skill development.
4. Career Pathways and Employee Engagement: A clear career progression pathway was introduced, giving all employees a role in shaping the company’s future.

Results

Within 12 months of intervention:

• Software Upgrades and Training Improvements: The company successfully upgraded design software, improved training, and streamlined onboarding for new apprentices.
• Improved Workplace Morale: Overall morale improved significantly, with reduced workplace pressures.
• Enhanced Efficiency: Delivery backlogs decreased by 50%.

Nimble Legacy’s intervention helped build a more sustainable workforce, setting up the company for future growth.