Sheffield engineering recruitment firm to double workforce in growth drive

A recruitment firm providing specialist support to engineering and manufacturing companies in the Sheffield City Region has set its growth ambitions in motion.

Metalis, which operates out of the RiDO-operated Fusion@MagnaBusiness Centre in Rotherham, is aiming to double its number of employees and open new offices in West Yorkshire and the East Midland in its pursuit to help companies in the engineering sector affected by the skills shortage.

Founded by business partners Luke Bell and Sam Wilkinson, Metalis launched in April 2019 and has since secured significant contracts with several South Yorkshire engineering and manufacturing companies. It employs seven members of staff, which it aims to double within the next quarter.

The duo received business support from a business start-up programme for young people provided by Rotherham Council in 2016, with part of the support including access to office space at the Fusion Business Centre.

Luke Bell, founder of Metalis said: “Finding and retaining members of staff is a perennial problem which can stifle business growth. Many businesses invest vast sums of money each year in a bid to plug skills gaps within their workforce.

“When we first began developing the business, we realised quite early on that although the Sheffield City Region is home to some amazing engineering companies, many faced similar problems when it came to finding the staff needed to grow.

“Today we are setting our sights on further growth, not only in South Yorkshire, but our long term goal is to see the business provide specialist support to engineering and manufacturing companies as well as construction and civil engineering businesses based throughout the UK.”

Julie Hall, RiDO Business Centre coordinator at Fusion@Magna said: “Metalis is not only helping a number of significant employers in the Sheffield City Region’s engineering sector to overcome recruitment challenges they face, but they are also helping businesses throughout the UK.

“One of the advantages of being based in a centre like Fusion is that you instantly become part of a business community. Luke has benefitted from ongoing support and guidance from the RiDO team, as well as offering the flexibility to take on additional office space as their business has evolved.”