North East manufacturers in FMCG, food and automotive should get their peak season staffing plans in place now. Our Senior Recruitment Consultant Peter Hedges explains why, and introduces a new free weekly report on the region’s labour market.
Peak season always seems to come round faster than expected. For manufacturers across Tyne & Wear, County Durham, Northumberland and Teesside, that often means sudden gaps on the production line, absence nobody planned for, and new contracts arriving when the team is already stretched.
Peter Hedges specialises in manufacturing recruitment in the North East. He works with operations and HR managers in FMCG, food and automotive every day, and he hears the same problems at this time of year.
“Someone’s called in sick again, a new contract has landed, or peak has crept up faster than expected,” says Peter. “Operations managers are trying to plug gaps on the floor and HR teams are dealing with absence they didn’t see coming. The last thing they need is agency faff and candidates who can’t do the job.”
A two-speed labour market for North East manufacturers
Peter has launched the North East Manufacturing Labour Market Pulse, a free weekly report for manufacturers across the region. Each edition covers:
- Current North East labour market trends
- The skills shortages hitting manufacturers right now
- Regional investment and growth activity
- Recruitment insights with practical action points
- The challenges shaping engineering, maintenance and production hiring
This week’s big theme is what Peter calls a two-speed market. It’s getting easier to find candidates for some roles, but technical and engineering vacancies are still very hard to fill.
“That split is exactly why planning ahead matters,” says Peter. “General operative roles might be easier to fill than a year ago, but if you need a maintenance engineer for peak, you should have started looking yesterday.”
Temporary staff for peak season, fast but not rushed
When you need temporary staff urgently, we’ll respond the same day. We screen, assess and match every candidate before you see them, so you get people who can do the job from day one, not just someone to fill a shift.
If you’re facing a seasonal surge, we can scale your workforce up quickly without the usual last-minute panic.
“Reliable matters more than available,” says Peter. “If someone’s been let down by an agency before, it’s usually because they were treated as a number. We get to know the business properly, so the people we send actually fit.”
Beyond temporary cover: building a workforce that stays
Our work is built on three pillars: Recruit, Develop and Retain. The temporary workers who get you through peak can become part of your long-term workforce, with learning and development and retention support to help you keep them.
You’ll have a named contact rather than a portal, backed by a team who know the North East talent pool, the local market and the businesses in it.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can you supply temporary staff for manufacturing?
We respond to urgent staffing requests on the same day. Every candidate is screened, assessed and matched before you see them.
Which manufacturing sectors do you recruit for?
Our manufacturing recruitment in the North East focuses on FMCG, food and automotive, covering roles from general operatives to engineering, maintenance and production.
Which areas do you cover?
We work with manufacturers across Tyne & Wear, County Durham, Northumberland and Teesside, from our base in South Tyneside.
What is the North East Manufacturing Labour Market Pulse?
It’s a free weekly report from Peter Hedges on labour market trends, skills shortages, regional investment and recruitment advice for North East manufacturers.
Get ready for peak season
Short-staffed or planning ahead? Call us on 0191 428 6444, email info@we-are-zenith.com or find out more about our recruitment services.
Sign up for the Labour Market Pulse: The report is free for anyone working in manufacturing, engineering, operations or HR. To join the weekly mailing list, connect with Peter Hedges on LinkedIn or email peter@we-are-zenith.com with “Labour Market Pulse” in the subject line.
