Wagstaff Wisdom

Ruth was a guest on this episode discussing Menopause in the Workplace—she didn't want to do it! Why? Because it makes her uncomfortable. She finds the topic difficult to navigate, both personally and professionally, and she's worried about saying the wrong thing. However, alongside expert guest speaker Jo Jinks from Synergise HR, they not only discussed the legal aspects but also broke down misconceptions and provided actionable insights for line managers, along with practical advice for employees. If you feel the same as Ruth, this is well worth a listen.  

Biannually we explore the latest trends in the UK jobs market. But this year, we're not just tackling any labour review—we're diving headfirst into Labour's Market Review.   With the Labour Party now in power, we're anticipating significant changes to employment law and workers' rights following their proposals in the King's Speech, including their 'Plan to Make Work Pay' and other key reforms. This LinkedIn Live event is a double dose of Labour—the market and the government—and we've assembled the perfect panel to help us navigate these changes.   Joining Ruth on this episode was Paul Chamberlain, Partner and Head of Employment at JMW Solicitors, along with fellow recruitment and people strategy associates, Phillippa Hart and Charlotte Sykes. Together, they took an honest and insightful look at what's happening in the labour market, the challenges, and opportunities ahead, and what these political shifts mean for employers across the UK, including but not limited to:   • Zero hours contracts • Day one rights • Ending fire and re-hire • Extending SSP and maternity rights • Flexible working   This wasn't your typical Labour Market Review. It's Labour's Employment Market Review, an engaging and informative exploration of what the future holds. We hope you enjoy

Advertisements continue to be effective; our data provides clear evidence of this. Even passive candidates are inclined to apply for the right job. Occasionally, a compelling advert is all it takes, and with the right internal resources, you can manage your own recruitment initiative. During this session, Ruth welcomes Michelle Davies from Candidate Source who will unveil effective strategies and provide you with straightforward actionable steps to craft a winning advertisement

The talent of our future is Generation Z & Generation Alpha. How can we engage, inspire, & recruit these generations into engineering & manufacturing? This topic remains a continuous focus among our engineering and manufacturing clients, the contrast between the aspirations of current and future generations and the career opportunities our businesses can provide. In this LinkedIn Live Ruth welcomes Fiona McGarry from MAKE UK to explore the motivations of the next generation, discusses the engagement required from business leaders, plus they will have an honest conversation around diversity, and true equality in the workplace.

Searching for a job can be a challenging journey with many aspects to consider. Among these, one of the core areas is the application process. Job seekers typically apply for positions through recruiters or directly to companies via their Talent Acquisition teams. But how exactly should you approach these talent teams? • Is it different from applying through a recruitment consultancy? • What are Talent Acquisition teams looking for in applicants? • And what if you're truly passionate about working for a specific company, but there aren't any immediate job openings? We want to help, and we have invited a seasoned Talent Acquisition Manager, Martin Johnson, to join us on a LinkedIn Live event. He will share his valuable insights and tips on engaging with Talent Acquisition teams we will cover: • The Job Application Landscape: Understand the differences between applying via a recruiter and directly to a company. • Engaging with Talent Acquisition Teams: Learn the best strategies for approaching talent teams effectively. • What Talent Teams Look For: Gain insights into what sets apart a promising candidate in their eyes. • When No Openings Are Available: Discover how to express your enthusiasm for a company, even when there are no immediate job opportunities. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the job search process and discover the secrets to engaging with Talent Acquisition teams effectively. Whether you're actively job-hunting or planning for your future career, this event promises to deliver informative and practical guidance.

Are you tired of recruitment becoming a financial black hole? • Cost of advertising • Cost of Agencies  • Cost of getting it wrong Are you tired of recruitment taking up too much time? • Sifting CV's • Ineffective interviews – if they turn up! • Managing rejection at offer stage In this epiosde we talk about how to transform your approach to hiring by putting the spotlight on cost and return on investment (ROI), where we will discuss: • Tips on evaluating the real cost of recruitment and how to realign your budget • Explore strategies to ensure your recruitment investments pay off • How to save time and maximise efficiency in the recruitment process

As the A levels results came in on Thurs 18th August, there was also the mention of Btec and T Level results. For many people T Levels are totally unknown, which is not surprising, this is the first year students achieved T Levels results, and only 1,000 students participated. At Wagstaff we think T Levels could be brilliant, they are a great way for engineering and manufacturing businesses to engage with students, offering substantial work experience which enables relationships to be developed with the students who could be their talent of the future. We also think the UTC's who offer the T Levels are great education providers, and again many people do not know about UTC's! Considering all of this we thought it would be good to try and fill in some of the knowledge gaps. We have invited Colleen Bower of The Baker Dearing Education Trust to be our guest on a LinkedIn live, Colleen will be speaking with Ruth and sharing key information on what T Levels are, what the benefits are for students, why they choose them, and how T Levels can benefits businesses. We also learn more about UTC's.   

First Impressions matter, and if your application process is unpleasant for candidates they will abandon it. 93% of engineers have abandoned applications Anecdotally, many have shared how put off they can be by the first interaction. This webinar is a tactical, tips laden guide to simple improvements you can make to your application process to ensure you capture ideal engineering candidates. In this Webinar Ruth is joined by Martin Johnson. Martin has been leading in-house TA teams of engineering, advanced manufacture, and life science businesses for over 15 years. Currently supporting the executive leaders of Avania to hire world class talent. His experience of engaging the highest calibre candidates, often not actively looking with a seamless application and engagement process is the bedrock for this talk.  

Despite changes for the better in education, The next 10 years will see the shortage of engineers get worse, not better. In that time  you need to make sure that the few engineers that remain will choose your business over competition, and stick with you once they join. It takes more than just money, and this webinar will explain how you can implement a powerful tool called and Employee Value Proposition to attract your ideal engineering candidates. Ruth is joined by Adam Payne. Adam has decades of leadership in automotive and aerospace manufacturing. He will be bringing the theory to life for you with andecdotes and advice.  

In this session of Wagstaff Wisdom, the conversation centers on the campaign #NoWrongPath, emphasizing the importance of diverse career journeys and perseverance, especially in light of Scotland's exam results day. The guests, Paul and Noah from Team Brit, share their unconventional career paths, illustrating the message that there is no single "right" path in life. Paul recounts his early academic struggles, a transition from music to engineering, and ultimately joining the Army, only for his military career to be cut short by a diving accident that left him with severe physical challenges. Meanwhile, Noah shares his experience of transitioning from a promising motocross career to life after a paralyzing accident. Both guests highlight how they eventually found new passions in motorsport through Team Brit, reinforcing the campaign's message that even when life takes unexpected turns, new and fulfilling opportunities can emerge. Over time, the team expanded to compete in full-scale motorsports, including the British GT and McLaren Trophy.  The ultimate goal is to race at Le Mans, a feat never achieved by a team like theirs. Paul and Noah reflect on how racing fulfills their need for adrenaline and personal growth, with Noah emphasizing the continuous learning and challenges in motorsport. The conversation shifts to their positive outlook on life, where both draw inspiration from challenges and seek the silver lining in difficult situations. They share advice on careers, noting that success often comes from perseverance and exploring various paths.   

Neil Hussey's journey is a testament to perseverance and adaptability in the face of life's unexpected turns. From his early days in a private boarding school, where he thrived in sports but struggled to find his academic focus, to his eventual career as a Technical Sales Engineer, Neil's path has been anything but straightforward. Despite initial setbacks, including missing out on university and facing redundancy, Neil leveraged his curiosity and passion for understanding how things work to build a career in engineering. His story is one of resilience, constant learning, and the power of keeping an open mind.

It's our very own Ruth Forster's time in the hot seat! Ruth Forster is the founder of Wagstaff Recruitment and Careers Coaching, specializing in permanent and interim recruitment within the engineering, manufacturing, and automated distribution sectors. Ruth's career journey reflects resilience and determination, emerging from a background where school was a struggle and her path forward was unclear. Having experienced a profound loss early in life and navigating self-doubt, Ruth found her footing through a YTS placement in a local authority, which ignited her passion for recruitment. Today, she leads a successful business, empowering others to find their voice and build their careers.

Charlotte Sykes is an accomplished businesswoman and the founder of Career Workshops and Recruitment (CWR). With over a decade of experience, Charlotte provides a range of services, including coaching, training, and recruitment, to individuals, schools, and businesses within the local community. Having grown up in various parts of the world, including America and Europe, Charlotte's career journey reflects a passion for connecting people and creating opportunities. She values consistency, creativity, and community involvement, and her business embodies her dedication to fostering growth and development in others.

Karen Dungey is an experienced professional who has navigated a diverse career path, currently serving as the Course Coordinator at South Staffordshire College. With a background in catering and hotel management, Karen's journey has seen her transition from aspirations of joining the army to working in hospitality, retail management, and recruitment. She later moved into roles focused on mentoring and training, especially supporting young people and those facing educational challenges. Her experiences, including overcoming redundancy during a previous recession, have shaped her commitment to helping others find their way through career transitions and personal challenges.

A new epiosde for our #NoWrongPath series where we hear from Phil Holwell.  Phil Holwell is an accomplished engineering professional who currently holds the position of Senior Vice President of Engineering at PERI Formwork Systems in the United States. With a career spanning over two decades, Phil has worked across multiple industries, including construction equipment and rail manufacturing, for renowned companies such as JCB, Caterpillar, Bombardier, and JLG. Known for his passion for how things are built, Phil's journey reflects a blend of resilience and adaptability. Despite challenges in mastering math and sciences during his school years, Phil's perseverance and love for engineering have propelled him to the forefront of his field, where he now leads engineering and technology advancements in the construction industry. Phil has developed his career through engineering working for large UK & US brands including JCB & Caterpillar. Now living and working in the US, Phil shares with Ruth his career and thoughts on today's market considering how graduate and experienced people can secure roles in 2020.

Jon Walker is a seasoned professional with a diverse career trajectory that spans multiple industries. Initially driven by a passion for sports during his school years, Jon's career path took a turn as he decided to join the military at a young age, following in his stepfather's footsteps. His military career lasted nearly five years, where he developed skills in engineering and gained invaluable experience. After leaving the military, Jon explored various roles, transitioning from retail to management and eventually landing in the sales sector. His adaptability and resilience have been key to his success, especially during challenging times like the 2020 pandemic, when he faced redundancy but persevered to secure a new role in a highly competitive job market. Jon's journey highlights the importance of transferable skills, continuous learning, and staying focused in the face of adversity. An honest and insightful interview in COVID times, with a technical glitch half way through the interview! to add to the reality of life in 2020 - although it probably was operator error on Ruth's part! We hope you enjoy

  In this interview, we welcome Julia Doherty as the first guest in a new interview series called "My Career Journey," We have witnessed various career journeys filled with unexpected twists and turns and these interviews aim to highlight how career paths have evolved over time, particularly in today's world, where people are expected to have an average of 12 jobs during their lifetime. Many individuals are changing careers, even after reaching senior positions in industries like marketing, finance, and even healthcare. We have known Julia for about 12 years andher diverse career path, starting in recruitment, moving into digital marketing and social media, and finally transitioning into the outdoor adventure space is well worth listening to. We do a deep dive into Julia's career history, particularly focusing on what led her to make such varied career shifts, while also teasing out the unknown details of her career before recruitment.